Tagged: daily bible reading

WILL YOU BE GENTLE OR WICK-ED?

“The smoldering wick He will not quench.” –Matthew 12:20 A man with a shriveled hand comes to the synagogue (Mt 12:10). This man is like a smoldering wick. One of his hands is almost useless. There’s still a little life left in his hand, but it’s just smoldering, barely alive. How did the Pharisees react when they saw a smoldering wick? They reacted with wickedness by exploiting this man in hopes of accusing Jesus (see Mk 3:2). When confronted with healing and life, they wickedly plotted death (Mt 12:14). How does Jesus react when a wick is smoldering? He responds...

A SIN-SICK CHURCH

“Through it all the seed sprouts and grows without his knowing how it happens.” –Mark 4:27. Because the Church was founded by Jesus (Mt 16:18), because Jesus is the Head of the Church (Eph 1:22), and because the Church is the heart of God’s kingdom (see Mt 16:19), the Church will always grow (Mk 4:28) and will last forever (see Heb 12:28). Even if the Church in some areas is as small as a mustard seed, it will surely grow (Mk 4:31ff). Even if Christians are very weak, the Church will become strong, for God’s power reaches perfection in our...

AS I AM, BUT NOT AS I WILL BE

“People who are healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not the righteous.” –Mark 2:17, our transl. Saul, the first king of Israel, was outwitted by some asses shortly before he was anointed king (1 Sm 9:4). Then Saul asked Samuel, the seer, where the seer was. Samuel responded that Saul could see the seer right before his eyes, because Samuel was the seer (1 Sm 9:18-19). Saul seemed to have trouble doing anything right. Saul tried to get out of being made king by “hiding among the baggage” (1 Sm 10:22)....

THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT OF LOVE

“Beloved, if God has loved us so, we must have the same love for one another.” –1 John 4:11 Many saints have reflected God’s love for others (1 Jn 4:11) and took to heart the Lord’s command to go and teach all nations (see Mk 16:15). These saints could testify that God’s love is brought to perfection in us (1 Jn 4:12) when we give our “all” to bring His Kingdom to a disordered world. When we, out of love, give all that we have (Lk 21:4) to obtain Jesus our Treasure (Mt 13:44), we will receive the resources, both...

THE FEAST OF CHRISTMAS

“You give them something to eat.” –Mark 6:37 “Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God” (1 Jn 4:7). “The man without love has known nothing of God, for God is Love” (1 Jn 4:8). “Beloved, if God has loved us so, we must have the same love for one another” (1 Jn 4:11). Jesus said: “This is how all will know you for My disciples: your love for one another” (Jn 13:35). If we have not love, we are nothing (1 Cor 13:2). Do you love Jesus? Then feed His sheep (Jn 21:17), physically and spiritually....