Romans 9:16
God Gives All—Gregory Nazianzen
I agree that people have certain capabilities—one person has more, another less. But these capabilities alone can’t perfect them.
Some people are proud of their successes. They attribute everything to themselves and nothing to the One who made them, gave them wisdom, and supplied them with good things. Such people need to learn that even in wishing well to someone, they need God’s help. Even choosing what is right is a gift of God’s mercy. For it is necessary both that we should master ourselves and that God should save us.
This is why He doesn’t talk about people who only will or run but about those who also depend on God. That demonstrates mercy. There is a good reason why everything is attributed to God. For no matter how much you run, or how much you wrestle, you need someone to give the reward.
If the Lord didn’t build the house, those who built it labored in vain. If the Lord doesn’t watch over the city, those who watch over it wait in vain. I know, Solomon says, that the race isn’t to the swift, the battle to the strong, the victory to the fighters, or the harbors to the good sailors. But it is God who brings about victory. He brings the ship safely in the harbor.
Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers
God Gives All—Gregory Nazianzen
I agree that people have certain capabilities—one person has more, another less. But these capabilities alone can’t perfect them.
Some people are proud of their successes. They attribute everything to themselves and nothing to the One who made them, gave them wisdom, and supplied them with good things. Such people need to learn that even in wishing well to someone, they need God’s help. Even choosing what is right is a gift of God’s mercy. For it is necessary both that we should master ourselves and that God should save us.
This is why He doesn’t talk about people who only will or run but about those who also depend on God. That demonstrates mercy. There is a good reason why everything is attributed to God. For no matter how much you run, or how much you wrestle, you need someone to give the reward.
If the Lord didn’t build the house, those who built it labored in vain. If the Lord doesn’t watch over the city, those who watch over it wait in vain. I know, Solomon says, that the race isn’t to the swift, the battle to the strong, the victory to the fighters, or the harbors to the good sailors. But it is God who brings about victory. He brings the ship safely in the harbor.
Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment