Love Sacrifice
“O Lord, allow me to help others, not for others to help me. Give me the strength to love, not to be loved. Give me the strength to be understanding, not to be understood.” Love, the way it was taught by our Lord, not the way it is misunderstood and distorted by people, is an expression of sacrifice.”
Elder Ephraim of Arizona
#love #understanding #jesuschrist
Monday January 20, 2025 / January 7, 2025
31st Week after Pentecost. Tone five.
Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John.
Martyr Paphnutius (1938).
New Hieromartyr Basil, priest (1939).
Martyr John (1940).
Martyr John (1942).
New Martyr Athanasius of Attalia and Smyrna (1700) (Greek).
St. Cedd, bishop of Lastingham (664) (Celtic & British).
St. Brannock (Brynach) of Braunton (6th c.) (Celtic & British).
St. Kentigerna, hermitess of Loch Lomond.
The Scripture Readings
17
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18
of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”
19
concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
20
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22
By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.
27
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
28
By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
30
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.
31
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
42
But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
43
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-
44
where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’
45
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-
46
where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’
47
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire-
48
where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’
49
For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
50
Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.
1
Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.
Acts 19:1-8 Forerunner
1
And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples
2
he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3
And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4
Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6
And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
7
Now the men were about twelve in all.
8
And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
John 1:29-34 Forerunner
29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
30
This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’
31
I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.
32
And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
33
I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
34
And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.
https://rumble.com/v6ahag7-love-sacrifice.html
https://old.bitchute.com/video/y4A5FK7MJwIR/