(Originally Written June 2, 2008 in the Journal)
Lord forgive me of my sins. Do not hold them against me, but forgive me and show mercy on your servant. Today she moved out. Lord be with her and keep her from sin and draw her close to you. Do not destroy us utterly for you have united us. Is the righteous God, the Lord of lords, who is blameless and pure going to rip apart what He has united? Would He that does that which is perfect undo what He has done? Surely not. The Lord is everlasting and unchanging. Yahweh was, is and will be perfect and is the perfecter of all things. May you guard our hearts all evil and wickedness and restore joy and love to this relationship. I will follow you Lord all the days of my life. Deliver my bride to me once again Lord, I beg of you.
Notes on Early Christian Writings
Ignatius' Epistle to The Magnesians
We can only come to the presence of God in Jesus Christ by enduring in Christ all the indignities of this world while yet eluding their clutches.
You ought to obey the bishop, despite his lack of years because he is appointed by God. Do not obey him with mere lip service, but serve him as you serve the Father.
We obey bishops not because they are bishops and seen, but because of the unseen, the Holy Father, whom which knows all our secrets.
"We ought not just to have the name of Christians, but to be so in reality" (Early Christian Writings, 71).
There are two types of coins in circulation. One leads to life, the other leads to death. We must spend what we earn. If you earn the coins of God you will spend them on life; but, if you earn the coins of the world you wills surely spend them on death.
"Unless we are ready and willing to die in conformity with His passion, His life is not in us" (Early Christian Writings, 72).
(Warning against the Judaizing Heresy) The old practice of Judaism show a lack of faith in Jesus Christ. Their prophets were under grace because they were in tune with Christ.
Change from the old, which has grown stale and sour to the new, which is Christ.
Christianity ought not look to Judaism, but Judaism to Christianity.
Be submissive to one another.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Trallians
Ignatius yearns for martyrdom though he is doubtful of his worthiness. He prays for humility.
He warns them to guard against heresy, especially Docetism.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Romans
He encourages the Romans not to interfere with his sentence. "Suffer me to be a libation poured out to God, while there is still an altar ready for me" (Early Christian Writings, 85-86).
Good does not lie in what our eyes can see but in Christ Jesus.
"Christianity lies in achieving greatness in the face of a world's hatred" (Early Christian Writings, 86).
Do not have Christ upon your lips with the world in your heart.
Christ is the faithful mouthpiece by which the Father's words of truth find utterance.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Philadelphians
He encourages the Philadelphians to follow their bishop like sheep to guard against heresy.
"Those who wander in outlandish byways of doctrine must forfeit all part in the Lord's passion" (Early Christian Writings, 94). Ignatius places heavy emphasis on doctrine, but also on practicing what that doctrine is. To him, empty words or lip-service is as deadly as the heresy itself.
God does not dwell where there is disunity or bad blood.
Christ is the doorstep to the Father.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Smyraneans
He calls the Church of Smyrna to be unified in Christ: Jews and Gentiles alike.
He warns against Docetic beliefs. He implores them to acknowledge the flesh and blood birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. He claims that if what Christ did was merely an illusion than his own claims must be illusionary as well.
Christ gives us strength.
He urges them to pray for those who have fallen prey to Doceticism so that they can have a better frame of mind to accept Christ Jesus.
Faith and love are everything; they must come before all.
Endure all things for Christ's sake and you will attain to Him in the end.
Ignatius' Epistle to Polycarp
There is no more important task to the bishops than unity.
Spend time in constant prayer, begging for wisdom.
"The heavier the labor, the richer the reward" (Early Christian Writings, 109).
The mark of a champion is to be able to stand in the face of punishment and still come off victorious. It is our duty to accept trails of all kinds if we are to be accepted by the Lord.
The honor God should be the aim in everything you do.
"A Christian, after all is not his own master; he puts his time at God's disposal" (Early Christian Writings, 111).
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