“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Of all the duties enjoined by Christianity none is more essential, and yet more neglected, than prayer. Most people consider this exercise a wearisome ceremony, which they are justified in shortening as much as possible. Even those whose profession or fears lead them to pray, do it with wanderings of mind that their prayers, far from drawing down blessings, only increase their condemnation. We wish to demonstrate, in our program, first, the general necessity of prayer; secondly, its peculiar duty; thirdly, the manner in which we ought to pray. God alone can instruct us in our duty. The teachings of men, however wise and well-disposed they may be, are still ineffectual, if God doesn’t shed on the soul that light which opens the mind to truth. The imperfections of our fellow creatures cast a shade over the truths that we learn from them. Such is our weakness that we do not receive, with sufficient docility, the instructions of those who are as imperfect as ourselves. A thousand suspicions, jealousies, fears, and prejudices prevent us from profiting, as we might, by what we hear from men; and though they announce the most serious truths, yet what they do weakens the effect of what they say. In a word, it is God alone who can perfectly teach us.
“The last shall be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16).
“He shall spare the poor and needy and save the souls of the poor” (Psalm 72:13).
The first shall be last, and the last first.” These words of our Savior Christ will not fully be accomplished until the general resurrection, when the just whom the world despised will hold the highest place, and the wicked and impious who possessed their kingdom on earth will be banished in shame to the outer darkness. Nevertheless, this great reversal of human stations has already begun in this life, and we see the first tokens of it in the institution of the Church. The ineffable city whose foundations were laid by God himself has her own laws, her own manner of government. But because Christ her Founder came into the world to reverse the order pride had set there, it must needs be that the Church’s polity is directly opposed to the world’s; and we find that opposition chiefly in three things. First, in the world, the rich are everywhere at advantage and are given the first place; in the kingdom of Christ the primacy is with the poor, who are the Church’s first-born and her true children. Secondly, in the world, the poor are subject to the rich and seem born only to serve them; whereas in Holy Church, there is no entrance for the rich except on condition they serve the poor. Thirdly, in the world, favors and privileges are for the rich and powerful, and the poor have no share unless through their protection; but in Christ’s Church, favors and blessings are for the poor, and the rich have no privilege unless by their means.
Why must we forgive? Jesus was unequivocal on this point: As his followers, we are required to forgive those who sin against us (Matthew 6:15). But what if we don’t feel like we’ve forgiven them? How do we know, then, if we have truly forgiven? The Holy Spirit, thank God, often enables people to forgive even though they are not sure how they did it. But forgiving and knowing that we’ve truly forgiven, comes easier when we understand the realities of forgiveness. In our discussion of this subject, we give your prospective from the New Testament point of view.
We have several projects under development that might be interesting to you. Come and download numerous Christian books, listen to our programs, see several video lessons based on Russian Christian art, take a look at pictures of beautiful Alaska. Do you have critical remarks or brilliant ideas about improving our broadcasting? Send us your suggestions and we will do our best to make the programs better.
to our programs, see several video lessons based on Russian Christian art, take a look at pictures of beautiful Alaska. Do you have critical remarks or brilliant ideas about improving our broadcasting? Send us your suggestions and we will do our best to make the programs better.
