The Practice of Virtue
Stand firm in your faith, love and care for one another, and exhibit meekness and humility to live a virtuous life.
St. Polycarp of Smyrna emphasizes the importance of standing firm in faith, loving one another, and being united in truth. He encourages believers to show meekness, kindness, and generosity towards each other, reminding them of the power of doing good deeds. Polycarp also stresses the need for mutual submission, blameless conduct, and sobriety to reflect the character of the Lord and avoid bringing blasphemy to His name.
Text
Stand fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the example of the Lord, being firm and unchangeable in the faith, loving the brotherhood, and being attached to one another, joined together in the truth, exhibiting the meekness of the Lord in your intercourse with one another, and despising no one. When you can do good, defer it not, because "alms delivers from death.""
Be all of you subject one to another? having your conduct blameless among the Gentiles," that ye may both receive praise for your good works, and the Lord may not be blasphemed through you. But woe to him by whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed! Teach, therefore, sobriety to all, and manifest it also in your own conduct.
Sermon Outline
- Stand Firm in Faith
- Love and Care for One Another
- Exhibit Meekness and Humility
- Do Good and Practice Virtue
- Do good when you can
- Teach sobriety to all
Key Quotes
“alms delivers from death” — St. Polycarp of Smyrna
“Be all of you subject one to another, having your conduct blameless among the Gentiles,” — St. Polycarp of Smyrna
Application Points
- Make a conscious effort to stand firm in your faith and be a good example to others.
- Practice meekness and humility in your interactions with others.
- Do good and practice virtue when you have the opportunity.