Category: Daily Reflections

“Moved with pity, the master let the official go and wrote off the debt.” –Matthew 18:27 The Lord God is “moved with pity” when we humbly beg Him to have mercy on us (Mt 18:27). He is so moved when someone asks Him for forgiveness that He celebrates (Lk 15:23) and rejoices (Lk 15:10). Father Al Lauer, long-time author of One Bread, One Body, was fond of quoting the saying, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” God’s nature toward pleas for forgiveness from repeat offenders is to be moved with pity, while our human nature tends toward anger...

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord, your God, ask of you but to fear the Lord, your God?” –Deuteronomy 10:12 “The Lord, your God, shall you fear, and Him shall you serve.” —Deuteronomy 10:20 If you go to church, you will usually be exhorted to love and serve the Lord (Dt 10:12). In a good church, you will even be told to love God “with all your heart and all your soul” (Dt 10:12) by keeping His commandments (Dt 10:13). However, there’s still something missing. Before we can love, serve, and obey the Lord fully, we must fear Him...

“Do nothing to sadden the Holy Spirit.” –Ephesians 4:30 We either sadden or gladden the Spirit by the use of our tongue. Our tongues control not only our bodies but even the movement of the Spirit (Jas 3:2). Therefore “never let evil talk pass your lips; say only the good things men need to hear, things that will really help them” (Eph 4:29). “Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander, and malice of every kind” (Eph 4:31). Also, we must control our tongues so that “seldom is heard a discouraging word.” For example, the great...