Category: Bible Reading & Meditation
Jesus “began to teach them: ‘How blest are the poor in spirit: the reign of God is theirs.’ ” –Matthew 5:2-3 Jesus proclaims that He alone knows the secret to happiness. He says that happiness is: choosing to be poor rather than rich (Mt 5:3), sorrowing in repentance for our sins rather than feeling good (Mt 5:4), becoming lowly rather than getting high (Mt 5:5), hungering for holiness rather than getting what we want (Mt 5:6), giving others a break rather than getting our rights (Mt 5:7), having nothing but Jesus rather than having everything (see Mt 5:8), dying for...
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“He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ‘Take this,’ He said, ‘this is My body.’ ” –Mark 14:22 At the Passover meal, Jesus took bread and said: “This is My body.” Then He took a cup of wine and said: “This is My blood, the blood of the covenant” (Mk 14:24). Jesus means this literally. Despite losing many of His disciples because of this (Jn 6:60, 66), Jesus insisted that His flesh was real food and His blood real drink (Jn 6:55). Do you believe that Jesus gives us His body and blood in Holy...
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“It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin.” –Tobit 12:8-9 The archangel Raphael told Tobit and Tobiah that “almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin.” This seems to be a strange teaching, for we believe that sin is expiated by Jesus’ saving death and that we accept this expiation by our faith in Him. However, Jesus showed He accepted the reception of expiation through almsgiving when He said to the Pharisees: “If you give what you have as alms, all will be wiped clean for...
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“David himself addresses Him as ‘Lord.’ ” –Mark 12:37 Demons believe in God (Jas 2:19). In the Gospels, demons address Jesus by various titles: “Son of God” (Mt 8:29; Lk 4:41), “Holy One of God” (Lk 4:34), “Son of God Most High” (Lk 8:28). However, the demons never address Jesus by the title “Lord.” This is because the title “Lord” means ownership, and demons have rebelled against being ruled by God. Scripture says, “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3), and demons do not live according to the Spirit of God. How...
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“Tobiah arose from bed and said to his wife: ‘My love, get up. Let us pray.’ ” –Tobit 8:4 Look what happens when a married couple welcomes God into the bedroom. They marry “for a noble purpose” (Tb 8:7), such as convincing the world that Jesus loves the Church by reflecting God’s love in their marriage (Eph 5:25, 32). They pray together, lead holy lives, and pass godly faith to the next generation. You may think that what happens in your bedroom impacts only you and your spouse. On the contrary, your “private” actions impact your children, extended family, and...
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