Be constant in prayer as well as in reading. Speak with God, and let God speak with you. Let Him instruct you in his commands; let him direct you. No one can make poor those He makes rich, for those who have been supplied with heavenly food can’t be poor. When you know that it is you who will be perfected, golden ceilings and houses with costly marble mosaics will seem dull to you in comparison to the dwelling in which God has lived and in which the Holy Spirit has begun to make his home. Let us then decorate this house with the colors of innocence. Let us illuminate it with the light of justice. Then it will never decay with the wear of age, nor will its wall colors or its gold become tarnished. Those things made artificially beautiful are perishing. Things that can’t really be owned can’t provide abiding assurance for their possessors. But remain in a beauty that is continually vivid, in perfect honor, in permanent splendor. It can neither decay nor be destroyed. It can only be fashioned into greater perfection
Cyprian
A body must be nourished properly. That is, if a body is going to grow properly and work successfully, it must be nourished properly. Cyprian directs the source of our nourishment to Jesus himself. He asks us to immerse ourselves in the beauty of Christ, that our lives might be richly supplied.
We hear a lot these days about proper nourishment of our physical bodies. The food pyramid is constantly changing as our culture seeks the best way to feed the body and sustain an active lifestyle. But when we neglect the spiritual side of ourselves, we fail to understand who God has created us to be.
We must drink deeply of God’s word for it gives us strength, security, promise, and hope. This includes spending time in the written word, as well as communicating (both speaking and listening) with God through prayer. God teaches us how to act, how to live, and what steps to take. God reveals to us what is true, what is honorable, what is indestructible.
Before we begin to believe that reading and meditation are efforts of our own will alone, we must go back to John’s gospel:
Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me.
John 16:12-15John 16:12-15
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
12 I have much more to say to you, but right now it would be more than you could understand. 13 Ws . The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. 14 The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you. 15 Everything that the Father has is mine. That is why I have said that the Spirit takes my message and tells it to you.
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We are told that we cannot properly understand scripture unless the Holy Spirit teaches us. The Holy Spirit takes the message and applies it to our lives. He takes the riches of the Father and disperses them with Christ’s authority so that our needs might be met. He brings every believer into one body for mutual benefit – and so much more.
And the last is not just a side-effect. All along it was God’s purpose not just to nourish us as individuals, but to nourish a unified body that could impact the wider world.
They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer.
A deep sense of awe come over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47Acts 2:42-47
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
42 They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread g broke bread: They ate together and celebrated the Lord's Supper. and prayed together. Life among the Lord's Followers 43 Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked. 44 All the Lord's followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. 45 They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever needed it. 46 Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread g broke bread: They ate together and celebrated the Lord's Supper. together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, 47 while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved.
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- Looking at this passage, identify which elements are causes and which are effects.
- Is your spiritual health affecting the church? How?
This post was originally distributed through PDF in conjunction with the Christian Self Image series, November 2, 2005r 2, 2005
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
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