Sermon for Trinity 15 - Our Godly Devotion - from Rev. William Klock, Christ REC, Portland

Prydain ^ | 9/8/2005 | The Rev. William Klock

[evangelium]

The Rev. William Klock: "Our Godly Devotion"
From the Rev. William Klock of Christ Church REC in Oregon, we have the fine sermon Our Godly Devotion, which is based on Galatians 6:11-18 and the Gospel of Matthew 6:24-34. I thought this portion was quite apt for our day and age:

Think about it: which is something you should fear more, the persecution of men or the ?persecution? of God. The Romans or the Jews could imprison these young Christians. They could beat them. They could kill them. But nothing they could do would disinherit them from God?s promise of eternal life. St. Paul acknowledges that persecution is a real possibility and reminds them of his own scars:

Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (Galatians 6:17)

He?s saying, ?Look at me. I?ve got scars where I?ve been hit by rocks when people tried to stone me. I?ve been beaten. I?ve been arrested. I?ve been in prison. I?ve had to sneak out of more than one town. But you know what ? I?m not afraid, because they can?t hurt me where it matters.? St. Paul was utterly devoted to the Gospel and nothing could shake him from it. I have to imagine that Paul was probably sharing the Gospel with his executioner right up to the last moment. It?s what he did and he did it without fear, know that he could bank on God?s promises and know that pleasing men was far less important than pleasing God.

As Rev. Klock notes elsewhere in this sermon, we cannot serve two masters, and hence we will not be able to please sinful men and please God. May He give us the moral and spiritual strength to always seek to serve Him.

Posted by Will at 12 : 05 am

[evangelium]

ping

[sionnsar]

Thanks to evangelium for posting and pinging this!

Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this moderately high-volume ping list (typically 3-9 pings/day).
This list is pinged by sionnsar and newheart.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com

Humor: The Anglican Blue (by Huber)

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15