Tagged: verse for the day

AWAITING TRIAL

“The lives of all of us are to be revealed before the tribunal of Christ so that each one may receive his recompense, good or bad, according to his life in the body.” —2 Corinthians 5:10 We are all awaiting trial. Jesus will judge us based on our faith expressed in action (see Mt 25:31ff). We will be judged according to our fruitfulness as His stewards (Mt 25:14ff). For instance, Jesus expects those who have been given five talents to produce five more (Mt 25:15ff). We are responsible to bear spiritual fruit — to lead many people to repentance, salvation,...

DIS-LOCATED?

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” —2 Corinthians 5:17 An old maxim used by realtors says the worth of a piece of property can be evaluated by the three L’s: location, location, and location. It’s where the property is located that counts. The “three L’s” apply even more fully to Christianity: it’s where you are located that makes the eternal difference. To be Christians, we must be in Christ. The New Testament refers to being in Christ over ninety times. This expression is not merely Christian jargon: it proclaims the Good News that being located in...

UNIMAGINABLE LOVE

“Thus, you will be able to grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love, and experience this love which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may attain to the fullness of God Himself.” –Ephesians 3:18-19 God’s Word promises that by His grace we can fully grasp and personally experience Christ’s love. This is impossible for us, but nothing is impossible with God (Mk 10:27). It’s difficult to imagine experiencing the fullness of Christ’s perfect, infinite, and crucified love. Nonetheless, He will do in our lives more than we can ever...

HIS BURDEN IS LIGHT (MT 11:30)

“All of us, gazing on the Lord’s glory with unveiled faces, are being transformed from glory to glory into His very image by the Lord Who is the Spirit.” —2 Corinthians 3:18 The biblical word “glory” can be translated as “weight,” a covering heavy enough to be felt. The Israelites sang of the Lord: “He has covered Himself in glory” (Ex 15:1, JB). As we bask in the Lord’s glory and worship Him “with unveiled faces,” for example, in Eucharistic adoration, we are clothed in God’s light (2 Cor 3:18; 4:6). We are covered with the weight of God’s glory,...

TEACH THE OLD TESTAMENT

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets.” –Matthew 5:17 When the Bible speaks of “the Law and the Prophets,” it refers to the Old Testament. Peter preached from the Old Testament on the day of Pentecost, and three thousand people received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:17, 25, 34). “The ministry of the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:8) began by the preaching of the ministry of the Law and the Prophets. Jesus’ Transfiguration featured the Law, represented by Moses, and the Prophets, represented by Elijah (Lk 9:30). When Jesus was transfigured into a greater glory...