Category: Prayers

“The son grew angry at this and would not go in.” —Luke 15:28 The parable of the prodigal son is not meant primarily for the younger, sinful son but rather for the older, righteous son. Jesus specifically addresses the parable to “the Pharisees and scribes” (Lk 15:2-3). Jesus is trying to teach people who go to Church, who pray, who read this publication, who have never left the loving house of the Father (see Lk 15:31). It’s easy to forget that most of us resemble the audience Jesus addressed more than we resemble the sinful son. The eldest son is...

“He may be likened to the man who, in building a house, dug deeply and laid the foundation on a rock.” —Luke 6:48 What if a structural engineer advised you to have the foundation of your house checked just in case you may have a problem? You probably would have it checked if there was even the slightest chance of your house collapsing. Today, Jesus is suggesting that you check the foundation of your life. Are you founded on Jesus? (1 Cor 3:11) Have you lost your life for love of Jesus? (Lk 9:24) Are you, as a member of...

“I made myself the slave of all so as to win over as many as possible.” —1 Corinthians 9:19 How much do you want people to give their lives to Christ? Would you be “the slave of all so as to win over as many as possible”? Would you make yourself “all things to all men in order to save at least some of them”? (1 Cor 9:22) Are you running the race and fighting the fight? (1 Cor 9:26; 2 Tm 4:7) Would you discipline and master your body (1 Cor 9:27) to make it an instrument of justice...

“Why, the very fact that you have lawsuits against one another is disastrous for you. Why not put up with injustice, and let yourselves be cheated? Instead, you yourselves injure and cheat your very own brothers.” —1 Corinthians 6:7-8 When Paul told the Corinthian Christians not to take each other to court, he: agreed that we should resolve our differences as soon as possible. Jesus Himself commanded us to lose no time in being reconciled with other Christians (Mt 5:24-25). stated that we should ask the Church, rather than unbelievers, to help resolve our differences (1 Cor 6:5-6). To have...