Tagged: verse for the day

“I have never shrunk from announcing to you God’s design in its entirety.” –Acts 20:27 Historically, when the Church has been shrinking, the Lord has raised up shrink-resistant men and women who never shrink from speaking the total truth of God’s plan (Acts 20:27). They insist “solemnly on repentance before God” (Acts 20:21). They never shrink from telling people what is for their good, or from teaching them in every way God’s truth (Acts 20:20). The Holy Spirit lavishes us with grace to expand. Yet we must put aside our old, fearful nature which shrinks from the fear of man....

“What you are thus worshiping in ignorance I intend to make known to you.” –Acts 17:23 Without divine revelation, we “grope” for the truth (Acts 17:27). Humanity desires to know the God of truth, for God has made us for Himself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Him (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 30). Without divine revelation, our spiritual vision is blurred and indistinct (see 1 Cor 13:12). By our human reason, we may advance somewhat in our knowledge of God (see Rm 1:19). People without revelation can grow spiritually to some extent. St. Paul attempted to...

“The jailer woke up to see the prison gates wide open. Thinking that the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself.” –Acts 16:27 The jailer was sleeping on the job, and woke up to an earthquake. Next, he was about to commit suicide, but Paul, a prisoner, “shouted to him” (Acts 16:28). Paul risked his life to share the Gospel. We have literally thousands of jailers around us. The world is filled with sleeping, shaking, depressed, confused, and suicidal people. We need thousands of Pauls to risk their lives by shouting and singing God’s praises. When we...

“He will bear witness on My behalf. You must bear witness as well.” —John 15:26-27 As we near the end of the fifty day Easter season, we look forward to receiving the Holy Spirit in a new way this Pentecost. When the Spirit comes, He will bear witness for Jesus. He will expect us to bear witness as well (see Acts 1:8). When we witness for Jesus, we will lead many to Christ and transform the world. However, not everyone will accept our witness. Some will reject Jesus and reject us. Some will even persecute us by expelling us from...

“The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were surprised that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, whom they could hear speaking in tongues and glorifying God.” –Acts 10:45-46 We are two weeks away from Pentecost, a world-changing, life-changing outpouring of the Holy Spirit. God wants to pour out His Spirit on “all flesh” (see Jl 3:1), including on those like Cornelius who have never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel. If we refuse to receive the Holy Spirit in our churches, Jesus will still pour out the Spirit on the...