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  LISTEN CAREFULLY, MY CHILD
  by St. Benedict of Nursia
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Summary: St. Benedict emphasizes the importance of listening to God's
precepts and obeying His advice in order to return to Him and serve Him
with the good things He has given us.

Topics: "Obedience To God", "Faithful Service"
Scripture References: Proverbs 4:20, Ephesians 6:6, Colossians 3:23, Hebrews 12:28, 1 Peter 1:14

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DESCRIPTION
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St. Benedict of Nursia preaches about the importance of obedience to
God, emphasizing the need to listen to God's precepts with an open heart
and willingly carry out His advice. He encourages believers to renounce
their own will and take up the weapons of obedience to serve under the
Lord Christ. St. Benedict stresses the significance of earnest prayer in
perfecting good works, ensuring that God is not grieved by our actions,
and highlights the need to serve God faithfully to avoid His displeasure
and eternal punishment.

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CONTENT
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Listen carefully, my child,

to your master's precepts,

and incline the ear of your heart (Prov. 4:20).

Receive willingly and carry out effectively

your loving father's advice,

that by the labor of obedience

you may return to Him

from whom you had departed by the sloth of disobedience.

To you, therefore, my words are now addressed,

whoever you may be,

who are renouncing your own will

to do battle under the Lord Christ, the true King,

and are taking up the strong, bright weapons of obedience.

And first of all,

whatever good work you begin to do,

beg of Him with most earnest prayer to perfect it,

that He who has now deigned to count us among His children

may not at any time be grieved by our evil deeds.

For we must always so serve Him

with the good things He has given us,

that He will never as an angry Father disinherit His children,

nor ever as a dread Lord, provoked by our evil actions,

deliver us to everlasting punishment

as wicked servants who would not follow Him to glory.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-benedict-of-nursia/listen-carefully-my-child/
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