Update: The seven deadly sins (the quiz was in this post) named in Dante's Purgatorio in order going from closest to Hell to closest to Paradise are:
1) Pride
2) Envy
3) Wrath/Anger
4) Sloth
5) Avarice/Greed
6) Gluttony
7) Lust
Odd that lust would be the closest to Paradise... (hey, maybe I'm better off than I thought, most of my sinning is close to Paradise - uh, just kidding. unfortuately, I also sometimes fall victim to gluttony. and greed, too. i think my wife and parents can attest to the sloth. and the anger. if pressed, i'd say i'm not above envy. then, my archnemesis pride. yep, i got all lucky seven i gotta deal with).
Jesus said, "Go and sin no more." Paul says, "We're no longer slaves to sin." All of which means, I have a choice in this lifelong battle. Just looking at the horizon, I don't see much slackening. Wish me luck, and same to you. Vaya con Dios.
American Fast
-
So, let's talk about Christian fasting.
Last week I had to prep to teach Isaiah 58, which basically says "Ya'll are
fasting to get me to hear you. Why don...
3 years ago
4 comments:
"Be last of all and servant of all." When we can accept this command of Jesus that will greatly take care of the top of the list. Thanks for the post.
Thanks, Gary.
In theory and belief, I totally accept Christ's command. It's in practice where I fail:
My wife orders me to do something, I don't like her tone, and I spout back. The eye-rolling; the snide comment returns fire. The ire starts soon after. We get entrenched in our positions, and pride holds us to them until forgiveness takes place. If my immediate practical thought was, "Be last of all," none of this would take place. But it hardly ever is. I'm a work-in-progress. Certainly, I need to think more, care more, and love more.
And yeah, I need to accept Jesus' command. "If you love me, you'll obey my commandments." I need to love Him and too many times I fail.
That crazy Dante! And to think: he made quite a living off of this fecal biproduct.
For the rest of us schmoe's (not to confused with Schmoo's, wich you are Rich), an intelectual discourse isn't needed. Simply a prayer, faith and a change of heart.
God Bless
-Doug
Wow... I noticed that I took the 'h' out of 'which' and put a 'c' in 'Shmoo'... I guess it all balances out.
-doug
Post a Comment