Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“When someone stronger than he comes and overpowers him, such a one carries off the arms on which he was relying and divides the spoils.” –Luke 11:22 Lent is the imitation of Jesus’ forty days in the desert where He overcame the temptations of Satan and cast him out (Mt 4:3-11). We should not only imitate Jesus in resisting temptation but also in driving Satan out. Furthermore, we should disarm and despoil Satan (Lk 11:22) and bring down his strongholds (2 Cor 10:4), especially through use of the weapons of prayer and fasting (Mt 17:21, NAB; Gospel of Life, 100)....

“Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations.” –Deuteronomy 4:6 Because of their disobedience, the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years. They may have assumed they were obeying God, but Moses warned them that they were not obeying carefully enough (Dt 4:6). Jesus’ disciples probably thought they were obeying Him. However, Jesus proclaimed that He expected them to obey even the smallest part of a letter of the law (Mt 5:18; see also Ps 119:112). Then they were to obey the spirit of the law (2 Cor 3:6) and...

“My heavenly Father will treat you in exactly the same way unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” –Matthew 18:35 We Christians know that we must forgive or we will not be forgiven. Jesus even taught us to pray for this (Mt 6:12). Therefore, we Christians usually say that we have forgiven, for we know we have no acceptable alternative. Nonetheless, have we forgiven by God’s standards? Have we forgiven from the heart? If we have truly forgiven, we: should realize that forgiveness is a miracle of God’s grace, for “to err is human; to forgive is...

“Now I know…” —2 Kings 5:15 As sovereign ruler of the nation, King Joram of Israel was in the right position to know God’s power. He had access to any information he needed. Maybe he had too much information: when Naaman approached him to find God’s healing, Joram presumed the king of Aram wanted to provoke him (2 Kgs 5:7). As a captured slave, the little orphaned, pre-teen girl was seemingly not in a position to know the power and strength of God (2 Kgs 5:2). Guess which of the two knew of a healing prophet in the land of...

“I want you to remember this…” —1 Corinthians 10:1 When you’re talking with Jesus, it seems like He’s always changing the subject to repentance. You might mention how tragic the most recent natural disaster was (see Lk 13:4). Jesus maneuvers the conversation to our need to reform (see Lk 13:4-5). You might mention to Him how pretty your Church building looks (see Mk 13:1ff). But Jesus turns the conversation into the need to be watchful and on guard against tragedy and sin. You’re hard at work, and Jesus talks about reforming your life (Mt 4:17). Why is repentance always on...