Tagged: Daily Reflection

“I Myself am the living Bread come down from heaven.” –John 6:51 Jesus said: “The bread I will give is My flesh, for the life of the world” (Jn 6:51). At the Last Supper, Jesus took the bread and the cup of wine and said: “This is My body,” and “This is My blood” (Mt 26:26, 28). When many of Jesus’ disciples broke away from Him because of such statements (see Jn 6:66), Jesus didn’t change His words or explain them away as figurative statements. The early Church realized this; therefore, they took Jesus’ words literally, as He clearly meant...

“The members of the church who had been dispersed went about preaching the word.” –Acts 8:4 The Jewish people loved God’s Word. God called them to meditate on it day and night (Jos 1:8; Ps 1:2). They considered it more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces (Ps 119:72). However, Christians were even more devoted to God’s Word than the Jews. After Jesus spent the day of His resurrection teaching the Bible for about seven miles in the afternoon (Lk 24:27) and for several hours in the evening (Lk 24:45), the early Christians got the message that God’s Word...

“And with that he died.” –Acts 7:60 When we know the risen Christ personally and deeply, our love for Him is stronger than the fear of death (see Sg 8:6; 1 Jn 3:16; 4:18). Satan can no longer enslave, control, or paralyze us through our fear of death (Heb 2:15). Like Stephen, we will speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15), even if it means being martyred. Like Paul, we will consider it a privilege (Phil 1:29) to bear our “share of the hardship which the gospel entails” (2 Tm 1:8) and even to risk our lives daily for love...

” ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus replied: ‘This is the work of God: have faith in the One Whom He sent.’ ” –John 6:28-29 As we enter into the third week of the Easter season, some of you have walked with the risen Christ, listened to Him interpret the Scriptures, and recognized Him in the breaking of the bread (see Lk 24:15, 27, 30-31). Like millions of Christians throughout the centuries, you have cried out: “It is the Lord!” (Jn 21:7) After meeting your beloved older Brother raised from the dead, you’ll never be...

“Yet I know, my brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did.” –Acts 3:17 Contrary to the old sayings, ignorance is not bliss and what you don’t know can hurt you and others very much. In addition to sin, ignorance was the cause of the worst crime ever committed – our murder and execution of God by crucifixion on Calvary. Paul taught: “None of the rulers of this age knew the mystery; if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor 2:8). We “perish for want of knowledge” (Hos...