traudel
1/27/2006 5:07:00 PM
Bible Verse
-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 --
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices
with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
True love, God's kind of love, is directed outward toward others, not inward
toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against
our natural inclinations. It is possible to practice this love only if God
helps us set aside our desires and instincts, so that we can give love while
expecting nothing in return. Thus the more we become like Christ, the more
love we will show to others.
<><><><>
January 27th - Phoebe, Dorcas and Lydia
The woman walking up the Roman Road hugged a secret. Hidden beneath her robe
was the entire future of Christian theology. For she bore with her a letter
to the church in Rome that would spell out, like no other document ever
written, the implications and significance of the gospel.
Paul had a problem. In Corinth he had written a letter to the distant Roman
church. He could not slip the letter into an envelope, lick a couple stamps
and drop it into a mailbox; there was no postal service. Instead, he must
find someone to carry the letter.
That someone was the woman, Phoebe. We know about her only from two verses
that Paul wrote (Romans 16:1, 2): "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a
deaconess of the church at Cenchrea [the port of Corinth], that you may
receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she
may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as
well."
Almost certainly Phoebe accompanied the letter; It is widely believed that
she carried it. As F. W. Boreham points out, Paul could write the letter but
at that time could not carry it. Phoebe could not have written the letter,
but she could carry it. As Christians we need one another.
This day, January 27th, is remembered in honor of Phoebe and two other early
Christian women, Dorcas and Lydia. All three shared one pre-eminent quality:
they helped others.
Dorcas was known for her assistance to the poor. So highly regarded was she,
that when she died, the saints of Joppa appealed to Peter. He prayed over
her and God raised her from the dead.
Lydia was a seller of purple cloth. After Paul shared the gospel with her,
Lydia and her entire household were baptized-his first convert in Europe.
She insisted Luke and Paul stay at her house. Her prosperous home became the
original church at Philippi.
As these three individuals of the New Testament show, middle class women
were already beginning to play an important role in the Christian world.
Sources:
1. Boreham, F. W. "The Lion and the Mouse." Cliffs of Opal. (London:
Epworth, 1948).
2. Tenney, Merrill C. Pictorial Bible Dictionary. (Nashville: Southwestern
Co. 1972).
<><><><>
The two feet upon which one walks to perfection are mortification and the
love of God. The latter is the right, the former the left foot.
By the aid of these, St. Francis Assisi climbed to the loftiest
perfection. He led a life so austere and rigid that at the point of death he
felt that he must ask pardon of his body for having treated it so ill; and
his love of God was so remarkable that he gained not only for himself, but
for his order as well, the noble title of Seraphic.
When St. Francis de Sales wished to lead anyone to live in a Christian
manner and renounce worldliness, he would not speak of the exterior of the
adornment of the hair, of rich dress, and similar things-but he spoke only
to the heart and of the heart, for he knew that if this fortress is
captured, all else surrenders and that when the true love of God comes to
possess a heart, all that is not God seems to it of no account.
St. Philip Neri adopted the same course with his penitents. He was not
accustomed to dwell very much upon any vanities in dress, but he would
overlook them as much as possible for some time, that he might more easily
arrive at his object. When a lady once asked him whether it was a sin to
wear very high heels, his only answer was, "Take care not to fall." A man
also came frequently to see him, wearing a collar with long stiff points.
One day, he touched him lightly on the neck and said: "I would oftener give
you such marks of friendship if your collar did not hurt my hand." And with
these reproofs alone both corrected their faults. A clergyman of noble
birth, dressed in bright colors and with much display, came to the Saint
every day for a fortnight to consult him in regard to the affairs of his
soul. During all. this time he said not a word to him in regard to his
dress, but only took pains to make him feel compunction for his sins.
Finally, becoming ashamed of his style of dress, he changed it of his own
accord, made a good general confession, and giving himself wholly into St.
Philip's hands became afterwards one of his most intimate and familiar
friends.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". January - Perfection)