Tagged: verse for the day

“Furthermore, God has set up in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, healers, assistants, administrators, and those who speak in tongues.” —1 Corinthians 12:28 Does your church have what it takes? Are you working according to your spiritual gifts as listed in 1 Cor 12:28? First, we need apostles to establish the Church and to give it the world vision of God’s kingdom. Second come the prophets, those gifted to speak God’s personal “now” word to us. Third, teachers must be raised up to teach us how to live in Christ. This is no academic...

“I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.” —Luke 7:6, RSV-CE Before receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, the Church leads us to pray: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.” This is not putting ourselves down but expressing the greatness of our awesome, all-holy God. When we realize God’s majestic glory, we conclude that He doesn’t owe us anything. Thus, we see life as a gift and a privilege. We are not worthy to pray even for a moment, and to have God’s permission to pray always is shocking (see Lk 18:1)....

“The son grew angry at this and would not go in.” —Luke 15:28 The parable of the prodigal son is not meant primarily for the younger, sinful son but rather for the older, righteous son. Jesus specifically addresses the parable to “the Pharisees and scribes” (Lk 15:2-3). Jesus is trying to teach people who go to Church, who pray, who read this publication, who have never left the loving house of the Father (see Lk 15:31). It’s easy to forget that most of us resemble the audience Jesus addressed more than we resemble the sinful son. The eldest son is...

“He may be likened to the man who, in building a house, dug deeply and laid the foundation on a rock.” —Luke 6:48 What if a structural engineer advised you to have the foundation of your house checked just in case you may have a problem? You probably would have it checked if there was even the slightest chance of your house collapsing. Today, Jesus is suggesting that you check the foundation of your life. Are you founded on Jesus? (1 Cor 3:11) Have you lost your life for love of Jesus? (Lk 9:24) Are you, as a member of...

“I made myself the slave of all so as to win over as many as possible.” —1 Corinthians 9:19 How much do you want people to give their lives to Christ? Would you be “the slave of all so as to win over as many as possible”? Would you make yourself “all things to all men in order to save at least some of them”? (1 Cor 9:22) Are you running the race and fighting the fight? (1 Cor 9:26; 2 Tm 4:7) Would you discipline and master your body (1 Cor 9:27) to make it an instrument of justice...