“Truth is like a lion. You do not have to defend it. Let it loose. It will defend itself.” Saint Augustine
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18 (NIV)
Saint Augustine lived in the late fourth and early fifth centuries (354-430). He converted to Christianity at the age of thirty-three. His influence on Christian thought is still prevalent today. Augustinians currently have “Orders” in more than fifty countries worldwide. Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai is an Augustinian-influenced church.
According to the Augustinian website, they believe, “The activity of our journey is shaped by Augustine’s own experience and counsel and is characterized by three essential elements: the constant search for God by means of a deep interior life; the practical love of neighbor; and the constant pursuit of truth.”
Are these three elements any different from what each of us believes as followers of Jesus?
Seeking God
Loving our neighbor
Pursuing truth
1 John 3:18 makes it clear that what matters is our actions in truth. More than saying we love others, our Lord wants us to show our love by what we do to help those in need. Our love of others is motivated by the love Christ showed for us by being a living sacrifice – standing in the gap so we could have a personal relationship with God.
We have learned we will not find the truth on social media or televised news reports. Nor will we find it talking to our friends. The real truth for us depends on the level of our commitment to Jesus.
“So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
Prayer:
Lord, every day, we come to You to share our thankfulness for what You have done for us – Your sacrifice, creation, faithfulness, and guidance. We also bring our greatest needs to You and lay them at Your feet. At this time, there are many imposing pressures from the world. It is hard to shut out the noise and avoid the attention-seekers who cleverly find ways to distract us and pull us away from what is most important to us – our faith journey with You. Help us overcome these diversions and focus on what matters. Thank you, Jesus. Amen
“Lord, I lift your name on high.
Lord, I love to sing your praises.”
© 1989 Rick Founds