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Friday, November 15, 2013

A Voice from the Past - Augustine

(speaking of the Apostle Paul) He prescribes, that love should be maintained; he rebukes, because love is not maintained; he prays, that love may abound. O man! learn by his precept what you ought to have; learn by his rebuke that it is by your own fault that you have it not; learn by his prayer whence you may receive what you desire to have.

Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 AD, On Rebuke and Grace, Book I, Chapter 5 (translated by Peter Holmes and Rev. Robert Frost Wallis, The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Volume V, Philip Schaff, T & T Clark and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1997, p. 473)

Why do we lack the love we should have? How do we obtain it?

2 comments:

  1. Good quote Mike. I think that God-like love involves sacrifice and death to our flesh. It is usually not seen and rarely one says thank you. To love someone takes a heart that has been slayed and molded by grace.

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    1. I agree, it is grace that breaks down our old self and enables us to love others. And it is only by breaking down our natural tendencies that this can take place.

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