And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49
“With the saints the great end for which they lived was always present to their minds, and they thought every moment lost in which they did not make some advances toward eternal bliss. How will their example condemn at the last day the trifling fooleries and the greatest part of the conversation and employments of the world, which aim at nothing but present amusements, and forget the only important affair—the business of eternity.”
Aurelia Petronilla in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 31 May reading.
Some ancient sources say she was the daughter of Peter, the disciple of Jesus. Others label her his spiritual daughter. Regardless, she had close ties with the rock on which Christ built the church.
She beckons us to give ourselves to the business of eternity. This follows the example of Jesus.
I want to pause to honor my friends, Michael and Nina Cherenkov, who for one month have served the needy in some of the most dangerous places in Ukraine, to show the love of Christ.
Wrapping up ministry in Kyiv today, then to Ternopil, and into Poland to return to USA.
They have taught that the business of eternity is moving toward evil with good, toward danger with faith, toward need with provision, toward the lost with love, and toward atrocity with generosity.
They focus not on trifling fooleries or present amusements and have boundless joy. Thanks Michael and Nina for the privilege of giving ourselves to the business of eternity in Ukraine.
Do you know anyone who gives themselves to the business of eternity? If so, follow their example. If not, follow God’s leading in making this your aim today.