Daily Office - Thursday, April 2
Silence and Stillness before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:26-31
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
Then Peter spoke up, "We have left everything to follow you!"
"Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brother or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - along with persecutions - and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last first."
Devotional
Anthony (AD 251-356) grew up in a wealthy family in Egypt, receiving an excellent education and upbringing from his Christian parents. One Sunday, Anthony heard the words: "Go sell all you have and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven," and he felt God speaking directly to his heart. Unlike the rich young ruler, he responded to Jesus in faith.
Selling his possessions, Anthony went off into the solitude of the Egyptian desert, not just for a few days or week, but for twenty years! He renounced all possessions to learn detachment: he renounced speech in order to learn compassion; and he renounced activity in order to learn prayer. In the desert, Anthony both discovered God and did intense battle with the devil.
When Anthony emerged from his solitude after twenty years, people recognized in him the qualities of an authentic "healthy" man - whole in body, mind and soul. God soon catapulted him into one of the most remarkable ministries of that day. He preached the gospel among the rich and the poor, performed many healings expelled demons, and more. Emperor Constantine Augustus sought out Anthony's counsel. He served tirelessly in prisons and among the poor.
In his old age, Anthony retired to an even deeper solitude to be totally absorbed in direct communion with God. He died in the year 356 at the age of 106 years old.
Question to Consider
What impresses you most about the story of Anthony's life?
Prayer
Lord, it is clear that layers of Anthony's false, superficial self were shed during his time with you. Crack the hard shell over my heart that obscures and buries my true self in Christ. Transform me into the kind of person you desire me to be. In Jesus' name, amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:26-31
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
Then Peter spoke up, "We have left everything to follow you!"
"Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brother or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - along with persecutions - and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last first."
Devotional
Anthony (AD 251-356) grew up in a wealthy family in Egypt, receiving an excellent education and upbringing from his Christian parents. One Sunday, Anthony heard the words: "Go sell all you have and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven," and he felt God speaking directly to his heart. Unlike the rich young ruler, he responded to Jesus in faith.
Selling his possessions, Anthony went off into the solitude of the Egyptian desert, not just for a few days or week, but for twenty years! He renounced all possessions to learn detachment: he renounced speech in order to learn compassion; and he renounced activity in order to learn prayer. In the desert, Anthony both discovered God and did intense battle with the devil.
When Anthony emerged from his solitude after twenty years, people recognized in him the qualities of an authentic "healthy" man - whole in body, mind and soul. God soon catapulted him into one of the most remarkable ministries of that day. He preached the gospel among the rich and the poor, performed many healings expelled demons, and more. Emperor Constantine Augustus sought out Anthony's counsel. He served tirelessly in prisons and among the poor.
In his old age, Anthony retired to an even deeper solitude to be totally absorbed in direct communion with God. He died in the year 356 at the age of 106 years old.
Question to Consider
What impresses you most about the story of Anthony's life?
Prayer
Lord, it is clear that layers of Anthony's false, superficial self were shed during his time with you. Crack the hard shell over my heart that obscures and buries my true self in Christ. Transform me into the kind of person you desire me to be. In Jesus' name, amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Recent
Archive
2020
March
Daily Office - Friday, March 20Daily Office - Tuesday, March 17Daily Office - Monday, March 16Daily Office - Wednesday, March 18Daily Office - Thursday, March 19Daily Office - Saturday, March 21Daily Office - Sunday, March 22Daily Office - Monday, March 23Daily Office - Tuesday, March 24Daily Office - Wednesday, March 25Daily Office - Thursday, March 26Daily Office - Friday, March 27Daily Office - Saturday, March 28Daily Office - Sunday, March 29Daily Office - Monday, March 30Daily Office - Tuesday, March 31