Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully.” –2 Corinthians 9:6 Some people think that God gives sparingly or bountifully depending on what we deserve. However, God often gives bountifully, no matter what we do. For example, when humanity was giving sparingly, God gave so bountifully that He gave His Son in the Incarnation. Our degree of giving does not so much affect God’s degree of giving; rather, it affects our degree of receiving. When we give bountifully, we open ourselves to receive God’s bountiful giving. Thus, it is better to give than...

“My command to you is: love your enemies.” –Matthew 5:44 Loving our enemies means to treat them as well as or better than we treat our friends (see Mt 5:45; Lk 15:29). Loving enemies means praying for them (Mt 5:44) to be blessed by the Lord and then answering our own prayer by bountifully giving to them (see 2 Cor 8:4-5; see also Lk 15:22ff). Loving enemies means showing affection for them in a way they can receive it (Lk 15:20). Loving enemies means honoring them in exceptional ways (Lk 15:22-24). Loving enemies is obviously impossible. It is pure grace....

“You have heard the commandment, ‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ But what I say to you is: offer no resistance to injury.” –Matthew 5:38-39 Most of us grew up in a Christian environment. We’re accustomed to Christian terminology and activities. Because of this, it’s difficult for people to see Christianity objectively. From the point of view of many outsiders, Christianity is “complete absurdity” (1 Cor 1:18). For example, Jesus commanded us to love our enemies (Mt 5:44), “offer no resistance to injury,” even turn the other cheek, give a bonus to anyone who has defrauded...

“The lives of all of us are to be revealed before the tribunal of Christ so that each one may receive his recompense, good or bad, according to his life in the body.” —2 Corinthians 5:10 We are all awaiting trial. Jesus will judge us based on our faith expressed in action (see Mt 25:31ff). We will be judged according to our fruitfulness as His stewards (Mt 25:14ff). For instance, Jesus expects those who have been given five talents to produce five more (Mt 25:15ff). We are responsible to bear spiritual fruit — to lead many people to repentance, salvation,...