Category: Verse for the day

“You must perceive that a person is justified by his works and not by faith alone.” ––James 2:24 Jesus loves you (Jn 15:9; Eph 5:2). His Word is “living and effective” (Heb 4:12). It’s clear He will not lead us astray. Have you looked lately at judgment passages in the Bible? Our eternal destiny is linked to what we do in this life. It’s not up for debate: Are we ready for our life review? “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book...

Jesus said: “Who do you say that I am?” –Mark 8:29 Many of you have acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah (Mk 8:29). You have even accepted Him as your Savior. After being overwhelmed by life’s problems, you’re happy to be saved. But who wants a Lord? Who wants to be told what to do and give up getting their own way? Nevertheless, some have even accepted Jesus as Lord. The next step is to know the Lord so deeply as to recognize He is Lord God. Now we not only obey Him but worship Him. After we acknowledge Jesus as...

“A second time Jesus laid hands on his eyes, and he saw perfectly.” –Mark 8:25 In today’s Gospel reading, it took a bit of extra time and a second prayer for the blind man to be fully healed. In tomorrow’s Gospel reading, we will see that St. Peter also needed some time to be fully formed. Through divine inspiration, Peter recognized that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God (Mk 8:29). Shortly afterwards, Peter showed that he still needed more growth, as he allowed the devil to speak through him (Mk 8:33). In a few years, however, Peter was...

“Do you still not understand?” –Mark 8:21 Jesus multiplied five loaves to feed five thousand men and several thousand women and children (Mk 6:38-44). He repeated this miracle on another occasion using seven loaves (Mk 8:5-9). Both times there were more leftovers than the food Jesus started with (Mk 8:19-20). After these two amazing miracles, the Pharisees blindly asked Jesus for a sign (Mk 8:11). Jesus sighed “from the depths of His spirit” (Mk 8:12). Jesus’ disciples were also blind to reality. He questioned them: “Do you still not see or comprehend? Are your minds completely blinded? Have you eyes...

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I hold to Your promise.” –Psalm 119:67 The Bible tells us not only to rejoice in trials but even to “count it pure joy” (Jas 1:2). We’re so happy because tested faith “makes for endurance” (Jas 1:3). This endurance will eventually make us “fully mature and lacking in nothing” (Jas 1:4). We rejoice “in every sort of trial” (Jas 1:2) because we desire maturity more than comfort and pleasure. We desire to serve God and His people powerfully and effectively more than we desire to feel good. Ultimately, we want to...