Tagged: verse for the day

” ‘Pay back what you owe,’ he demanded.” –Matthew 18:28 Jesus commands us to forgive people from our hearts (Mt 18:35). In the context of today’s parable, that means we must, in our hearts, consider the account paid off. The books have been balanced and the slate wiped clean. How can we determine if we’ve forgiven others from our hearts? If we continue to look for some kind of reward or return from those who hurt us, we have not truly forgiven from our hearts. If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, you have not closed the books...

“He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places.” –Luke 1:52 August 6 and 9 are the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. August 9 is the feast of St. Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), who was martyred in a concentration camp. Yesterday we celebrated the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who was starved almost to death in a concentration camp and eventually martyred by lethal injection. Our recollections during the last few days have been sobering. They could even be depressing when we admit...

“Do nothing to sadden the Holy Spirit with Whom you were sealed against the day of redemption.” –Ephesians 4:30 We want to love God the Holy Spirit, for we are begotten of the Spirit (Jn 3:8), are filled with the Spirit (see Acts 2:4), and follow the lead of the Spirit (Gal 5:25). Nevertheless, we can sadden or grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). This means we have been marked or branded as owned by God. The Spirit’s work in our lives should be an exterior expression of this interior...

“Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily.” –Habakkuk 2:2 The Lord has a great plan for all people, and each one of us has been given a glorious part in that plan (see Heb 11:40). When we recognize our part in God’s plan, we have “the vision” (Hab 2:2). We should write down this vision as accurately as possible and discern the various circumstances of our lives accordingly. Many Christians have difficulties in getting the vision. They are ignorant of God’s Word and therefore of God’s plan and their part in that...

“You are not judging by God’s standards but by man’s.” –Matthew 16:23 Peter’s mouth spoke the words of heaven, revealed directly from the Father above (Mt 16:16-17). Shortly thereafter, Peter’s mouth spoke the words of the kingdom of darkness (Mt 16:22-23). “Blessing and curse come out of the same mouth. This ought not to be” (Jas 3:10). “Does a spring gush forth fresh water and foul from the same outlet?” (Jas 3:11) We have a civil war raging in our hearts (Jas 4:1ff), and so we are prone to shift between behavior obedient to the Lord and behavior obedient to...