ADVENT MEDITATIONS for 2014
 |
| Courtesy of pravoslavie.ru |
Isaiah 61:1 The
Spirit of the Lord God is upon me;
because the Lord hath anointed me
to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable
year of the Lord, and
the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Luke 4: 19 ~ To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
The LORD JESUS omitted
that underlined phrase when HE+ read from the Scroll of Isaiah in the
synagogue at the beginning of His+ earthly ministry, as recorded in Luke 4:18- 19.
There is NO teaching by word or example from
Our LORD CHRIST that His+ Followers are to bear the sword of vengeance.
It is
written: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather
give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay,
saith the LORD." Romans 12:19
O JESUS, our Mighty FORTRESS WHO+ came in the flesh, Who+ would not permit Peter to shed
blood to defend THEE+, turn my heart
away from defending myself, in thought, word, or deed.
Help me, instead, to focus my
heart upon THEE+ and all the anger THOU+ took, for my sake and the sake of all sinners. I praise THEE+ for that.
Help me to turn and think about Thy+ Kingdom instead of indulging in my smoldering anger and rough
attitudes when I am hurt by others.
Make me into Thy+ pure likeness and image
when I am attacked. I yield my Self ALWAYS
to Thy+ defense, O Great SHEPHERD+ and BISHOP+ of my life.
O Gracious JESUS, LORD at Thy+ Birth, help me to have
the innocence of a new-born babe.
This I ask in Thy+ precious, holy Name. Amen.
