Do whatever falls into your hands, in your circle and in your situation, and believe that this is and will be your true work; nothing more from you is required.It is a great error to think that you must undertake important and great labors, whether for heaven, or, as the progressives think, in order to make one’s contribution to humanity. That is not necessary at all.
It is necessary only to do everything in accordance with the Lord’s commandments.
Just exactly what is to be done?
Nothing in particular, just that which presents itself to each one according to the circumstances of his life, and which is demanded by the individual events with which each of us meets. That is all.
If you set about to act in this way in every instance, so that your works will be pleasing to God, having carried them out according to the commandments without any deviation, then all the problems of your life will be solved completely and satisfactorily.
And now, from Fritz (but I don't know if this is a saying of his, or if he's quoting someone else)…
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hi my dear brother in Christ
ReplyDeleteI got a book called 'Reflections of a humble heart' by the elder ofthe blessed memory.Have you come across him? He lived in the 15th century and it was published by Nikodemos orth. Publications N.Y.
'Do whatever falls into your hands, in your circle and in your situation, and believe that this is and will be your true work; nothing more from you is required.'
;
It is a great error to think that you must undertake important and great labors, whether for heaven, or, as the progressives think, in order to make one’s contribution to humanity. That is not necessary at all.
It is necessary only to do everything in accordance with the Lord’s commandments.'
The second paragraph clarifies the first.However like any teaching or principal, even passages of scripture they must be balanced with other scripture lest they become a heresy. Some Christians would take the first paragraph and use it as an excuse to lie back and wait for God to move them- via a bolt of lightening or such like.We must be watching and praying for His direction listening to the spirit within in order to see doors of service and ministry He has opened for us.
On the other hand for those who are always expecting great things to do and are not at rest within their spirits-always striving, striving,striving this word of course so apt so liberating that they can wait on God and be ready for every good work.
The devil will certainly want us go to one extreme or other-spiritually lazy or spiritually frantic. Like Paul we must learn to be content in all situations and be led by the Spirit - doing the good works that He has already prepared for us. Greetings in Christ.
You know, I'm not quite sure I understand what you are saying. It would never occur to me that anything in the passages quoted from Elder Theophan could be construed as giving a Christian permission to be lax or lazy in his following of Christ.
ReplyDeleteWhat the elder says to me is, that at every moment we can be ready to follow the call of Christ to do every small or large deed that is required by our conscience, which has been molded in accordance with the commandments. What he warns against is to think that only great and visible and profitable undertakings done for God's sake are important. Many people, thinking that only these great deeds matter, excuse themselves for not doing the little deeds.
Of course you are right Romanos and I apologise for using the word heresy which was much too strong, even though I was not implying that what was quoted was wrong (Am I digging myself into a hole I can't get out of?).
ReplyDeleteWhat I meant was sometimes Christians can be so passive that they will never move. If they see a brother in need they will excuse themselves from helping because they will argue'God didn't tell me to help them so I won't'.That's the danger that I think people get into- and I know you or the writer would not agree with me that that attitude is wrong.
Actually I think I need a bit more of this 'resting in God' at the moment as am feeling a bit burnt out- stressing out with things I must do.
Anyway thanks for the post it has come at a good time and I will continue to meditate on it.I also love the art work:who did it?
I attach a Tersteegen hymn which I hope you like.
THE LAND OF REST
Wanderer, rest thy weary feet;
Shapes and sounds forgotten now-Close thine eyes in stillness sweet,
With thy God alone art thou.
In the deeps of silence rest,
Let Him work His high behest.
Silence! reasonings hard and keen Still--O longings sad and deep--Waken to the morn serene,
Tangled dreams depart with sleep;
In the calm eternal day
Night's wild visions past away.
In the silence of that dawn
God shall speak His words of grace,
Light that round thy waking shone
is the radiance of His Face;
Yearning of His heart to thee,
Fills the deep immensity.
Gently loosens He thy hold
Of the treasured former things--
Loves and joys that were of old,
Shapes to which the spirit clings--
And alone, alone He stands,
Stretching forth beseeching hands.
Lo, the soul Thy love has bought,
Through the ages, Lord, am I,
Knowing nought, and willing nought,
Thine alone eternally--
Thine, the Bride Thy love has won,
Gift of God to Christ His Son.
In Thy strength my soul is still
Clay within the potter's hands,
Moulded by Thy tender will
Mightier than all commands;
Shaped and moved by Thee alone,
Now, and evermore Thine own.
'That's the danger that I think people get into- and I know you or the writer would not agree with me that that attitude is wrong'.
ReplyDeleteI meant:
That's the danger that I think people get into- and I know you and the writer WOULD agree with me that that attitude is wrong.
"If they see a brother in need they will excuse themselves from helping because they will argue, 'God didn't tell me to help them so I won't'. That's the danger that I think people get into…"
ReplyDeleteExactly, but what Elder Theophan is saying amounts to this: The fact of the brother in need (not just a fellow Christian in need, but anyone) being placed in your path, that is the "God told me to help," that is the call of Jesus Christ.
Does the "religious" Christian actually think that he must hear a little voice saying, "Go help!" or maybe a big voice saying the same? Although we've learned to think that God performs His wonders and comes in His visitations in such an explicit way, this is cinema, this is not necessarily scriptural.
God most often speaks to us in the events that engulf us and through His divinely breathed Word, the Bible, those two ways. That's why He gave us brains. The brain is the biological organ that "sees" and "hears" God, that discovers Him and learns His will. In this aspect, it joins the eyes and ears as a sensory organ. It's the organ by which we know God. That's really most of what it was designed for. Most anything else it's good for was an added bonus thrown in.
I never thought this post would lead to a discussion as we've been having, but it ties in well with one on Kenny Ching's blog. Here's the link: http://zealousconvert.blogspot.com/2008/06/i-can-tell-people-are-scrapping-for.html
The comment I left there is added thought on the idea of helping those in need that cross our paths.
Finally, the artwork, well, yes, it's very nice. I used to have a link to the website where these paintings came from but, alas, I removed it, and I can't find it again. If I ever run across it, I'll send it to you.
Thanks Romanos I agree totally with you and the elder-I apologise for side tracking the post. Despite that sometimes conversation and discussion often brings out greater truths and stimulates further reflection on an issue.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this discerning and encouraging, post, Romanos.
ReplyDelete