Tagged: Daily Reflections

THE BIBLE ON PRAYING FOR THE DEAD

“God tried them and found them worthy of Himself.”—Wisdom 3:5 According to the Bible, what happens to us when we die? The Bible seems to imply that some people immediately go to heaven after death. Jesus told the good thief: “This day you will be with Me in paradise” (Lk 23:43). It seems logical that some people also immediately go to hell, although nowhere in the Bible is this stated explicitly. The Bible does say: “It is appointed that men die once, and after death be judged” (Heb 9:27). The Bible does indicate that some of the dead do not...

WHITEWASHED

“These are the ones who have survived the great period of trial; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” —Revelation 7:14 Some saints led very sinful lives. When they encountered the Lord, they realized the Lord’s holiness and their own sinfulness. They confessed their sins, repented deeply, and changed their lives permanently. Some saints were called to the ultimate witness: laying down their lives for Jesus in martyrdom. “They were stoned, sawed in two, put to death at sword’s point” (Heb 11:37). “All of these died in faith” (Heb 11:13) because “they...

ALL OR NOTHING

“The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.” –Deuteronomy 6:4-6 When you ask people if they’ve given their lives to Jesus, they say “yes.” When you ask if they evangelize, tithe, or read the Bible, they often say “no,” as if evangelizing, tithing, or knowing the Bible were not essential parts of our commitment to Christ. This does not mean we must be perfect in fulfilling our...

A “KNOW IT ALL”

“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery.” –Romans 11:25 Sometimes we feel like despairing because life seems to make no sense. We wonder if God is there or if He knows what He’s doing. Nevertheless, despite severe disruptions due to our sins, and those of others, the Lord has everything under control. For instance, He knows that large numbers of Jewish people will be saved after the full number of Gentiles has entered into God’s kingdom (Rm 11:25-26). This will mean “riches for the Gentile world” (Rm 11:12). These may be spiritual riches in that the...

MISSION SUNDAY REVISITED

“I could even wish to be separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen the Israelites.” –Romans 9:3-4 What causes you “great grief and constant pain”? (Rm 9:2) Paul’s grief and pain were due to the fact that not all the Jewish people had accepted Jesus as their Messiah, Lord, and God. Why would you make yourself a slave — even “the slave of all”? Some people make themselves slaves to alcohol, nicotine, other drugs, money, pornography, their businesses, fears, or anxieties. Paul decided to be “the slave of all so as to win over as many...