Tagged: Prayer in English

“In Christ all will come to life again, but each one in proper order.” –1 Corinthians 15:22-23 The English word “assumption” is perhaps an unfortunate translation of the Latin word “assumptio.” “Assumptio” means to be taken up. The English word “assumption” usually means having an unwarranted expectation. Nevertheless, God can work through this translation. The Bible teaches that all Christians will be assumed to meet Jesus in the air when He comes again at the end of the world (1 Thes 4:17). Very few Christians expect to go to hell; we generally assume that we’ll be assumed to meet Jesus....

“Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, Who inspires and perfects our faith.” –Hebrews 12:2 When we are persecuted and, like Jeremiah, thrown in the muddy cistern to die (Jer 38:6), “let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus” (Heb 12:2). When we are tempted to “grow despondent or abandon the struggle” (Heb 12:3), “let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus” (Heb 12:2). When there’s division in our families, “three against two and two against three” (Lk 12:52), let us forgive 70 x 7 (Mt 18:22) and “fix [our] eyes on Jesus” (Heb 3:1). When we get the...

“Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to Me. Do not hinder them. The kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’ ” –Matthew 19:14 When Jesus sees children, He thinks of His Father’s kingdom, for “the kingdom of God belongs” to those who are like children. Jesus teaches that to be like children of the kingdom means to: choose to become lowly (Mt 18:4), choose poverty in spirit, that is, voluntary poverty (Mt 5:3). When we as disciples of Jesus imitate Him by living below our means, the kingdom of God is ours (Mt 5:3), live so faithfully and openly...

“I now say to you…” –Matthew 19:9 Before Jesus’ Incarnation, divorce was considered necessary. Laws regulating divorce even appear in the Bible (see Dt 24:1-4). Before Jesus saved us, polygamy, not monogamy, was widely practiced. Before Jesus, single persons were usually considered cursed. Before Jesus, our understanding of love, marriage, sexual relations, the dignity of the human person, and vocations was very incomplete and perverted. After we accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, we have the grace to develop great marriages of total self-giving. This usually results in large, happy, and beautiful families. In Christ, the divorced do not...

“How often must I forgive him?” –Matthew 18:21 Peter questioned Jesus: “How often must I forgive” my brother? Jesus answered: “seventy times seven times.” We must forgive all who have hurt us indefinitely times indefinitely (Mt 18:22). Other questions about forgiveness are the following: Question: Do I have the power to forgive? Answer: No, “to err is human; to forgive is divine.” Only God has the power to forgive. Q: Then how can I forgive? A: You can decide to accept God’s grace to forgive. This grace is always available. Q: How quickly must I forgive? A: Immediately. Otherwise, you...