25 November 2013

Daily Reflection Verses


--------------------------------------
Monday – 25 November 2013
-------------------------------------

Verses:           
Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20
Daniel 3:52 - 56
Luke 21:1-4

Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

 

Daniel 3:52-56

52 Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of our fathers: and worthy to be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever: and blessed is the holy name of thy glory: and worthy to be praised, and exalted above all in all ages.
53 Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory: and exceedingly to be praised, and exceeding glorious for ever.
54 Blessed art thou on the throne of thy kingdom, and exceedingly to be praised, and exalted above all for ever.
55 Blessed art thou, that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and worthy to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
56 Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of praise, and glorious for ever.

 

Luke 21:1-4

21 And looking on, he saw the rich men cast their gifts into the treasury.
And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in two brass mites.
And he said: Verily I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
For all these have of their abundance cast into the offerings of God: but she of her want, hath cast in all the living that she had.



INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

UNDEFILED!
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine. – Daniel 1:8
Today, information is king. We are not even content when we go to websites only to find out that the information we read has not even been updated – since five minutes ago!
This is the buffet laid before us – unending dishes of the latest trends, bottomless picks of knowledge, fancy plates of fame and fortune. They all look sweet to the eyes, and our souls salivate at the sight.
But Daniel, in today’s reading, knew something that we all could learn from. No matter how attractive the royal offerings looked, he knew his foundations. He discerned that what was laid before him would lead him to compromise his faith. So he stood his ground and held on to his non-negotiable.
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God.” Let us, like Daniel, resolve to not defile ourselves with the world’s ways; rather, to strive to live blamelessly before God. – Mich  


Prayer:
Lord, please renew my mind that I may think like You and follow Your ways. Amen.

Wise Words:
“Apart from God, every activity is merely a passing whiff of insignificance.” – Alfred North Whitehead

Source:
New International Version (NIV)
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
Living Water 2013

24 November 2013

Last Sunday in Ordinary Time


----------------------------------
Sunday – 24 November 2013
--------------------------------------
Verses:          
2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalm 122:1-5
Colossians 1:12-20
Luke 23:35-43


FIRST READING: A Reading from the Second book of Prophet Samuel (2 Samuel 5:1-3)

David Becomes King Over Israel

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.



RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Psalm 122:1-5)

A song of ascents. Of David.

I rejoiced with those who said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Our feet are standing
    in your gates, Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built like a city
    that is closely compacted together.
That is where the tribes go up—
    the tribes of the Lord
to praise the name of the Lord
    according to the statute given to Israel.
There stand the thrones for judgment,
    the thrones of the house of David.




SECOND READING: A Reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians (Colossians 1:12-20)

12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.



GOSPEL: A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Luke 23:35-43)
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”





  
INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

FIRST PLACE
“He is the beginning… so that he might come to have first place in everything.” – Colossians 1:18

I dabble in the arts, and as far as my artistic yield is concerned, I am the master, the one who decides the shapes and colors and textures of whatever I make. I have first and last say about what happens to my so-called creations.

As a created being, I should be happy to allow Jesus, through whom and for whom  I was created, to have first place in everything about me. However, I still find myself struggling when my feelings do not jive with what God wants – like loving my enemies and praying for my persecutors. But as I reflect upon Jesus’ love, I realize the folly of trying to be my own master.

In desiring not His will but His Father’s, Jesus fulfilled the reason for which He was placed here on earth. He then received His heavenly reward and is exalted as King of kings. By giving Jesus first place in my life, I can hope to fulfill, by grace, the reason for which God created me. I am willing to be whatever God wants for me, for in this way I shall be truly blessed and eagerly look forward to my heavenly reward. – Nelia  


Prayer:
I am willing, Lord Jesus, to be just exactly what You want me to be. Amen.

Wise Words:
“There are no ‘if’s in God’s world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety – let us pray that we may always know it!” – Corrie ten Boom

Source:

New International Version
Living Water 2013

23 November 2013

'Faith Alone' or 'Faith and Good Works'?


Pastor Steven J. Cole in his Lesson 14 “Salvation by Grace Thru Faith Alone”, he asked the question: (For Roman Catholics' view of salvation that we are saved thru Faith and Works) “When you add you works, then the question would immediately becomes: How many works do I have to add to get salvation? And you know what the answer to that? You don’t know…” (35:43 - 36:33 audio recording)

Well, my answer to the question of Pastor S. J. Cole is: 
For as long as we are alive and we want to be saved, we must do good works. We continue to do good works until the end of our life on Earth. We must remember that we die only once, and after that is we face judgment (Hebrew 9:27). The good works that we continually do will be perfected on the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). We are justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24).  
What do you think Jesus would tell us during the Judgment day? 
Jesus would say, “Whatever you did or you did not do to the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did/did not do it to me.” (Matthew 25:40,45) “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” (Rev 22:12) 
So, it is not just by faith alone but by faith and good works. Even demons have faith and they tremble (James 2:19). Faith without work is dead (James 2:20).

Reflect on the following texts:

Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” 


James 2:14-26 (NKJV)

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


Matthew 20:1-16 (NIV)

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”



Philippians 2:12 (NIV)

Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.


Revelation 22:12-16 (NIV)

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”


What's the point with the texts? The point is that we will be judged according to what we do or not do. Having faith to Jesus is not enough. It must be accompanied with good works, otherwise faith will be useless. It doesn't matter if we do good works more than other people do for as long as we will be paid by what we deserve - salvation. It is Jesus who will give us the reward for what we do, no one else.

Daily Reflection Verses


---------------------------------------
Saturday – 23 November 2013
---------------------------------------
Verses:           
1 Maccabees 6:1-13
Psalm 9:2-4, 6, 16, 19
Luke 20:27-40

1 Maccabees 6:1-13

Now king Antiochus was going through the higher countries, and he heard that the city of Elymais in Persia was greatly renowned, and abounding in silver and gold.
And that there was in it a temple, exceeding rich: and coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields which king Alexander, son of Philip the Macedonian that reigned first in Greece, had left there.
Lo, he came, and sought to take the city and to pillage it: But he was not able, because the design was known to them that were in the city.
And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled away from thence, and departed with great sadness, and returned towards Babylonia.
And whilst he was in Persia, there came one that told him, how the armies that were in the land of Juda were put to flight:
And that Lysias went with a very great power, and was put to flight before the face of the Jews, and that they were grown strong by the armour, and power, and store of spoils, which they had gotten out of the camps which they had destroyed:
And that they had thrown down the abomination which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls as before, and Bethsura also his city.
And it came to pass when the king heard these words, that he was struck with fear, and exceedingly moved: and he laid himself down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not fallen out to him as he imagined.
And he remained there many days: for great grief came more and more and more upon him, and he made account that he should die.
10 And he called for all his friends, and said to them: Sleep is gone from my eyes, and I am fallen away, and my heart is cast down for anxiety.
11 And I said in my heart: Into how much tribulation am I come, and into what floods of sorrow, wherein now I am: I that was pleasant and beloved in my power!
12 But now I remember the evils that I have done in Jerusalem, from whence also I took away all the spoils of gold, and of silver that were in it, and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Juda without cause.
13 I know therefore that for this cause these evils have found me: and behold I perish with great grief in a strange land.

 

Psalm 9: 2-4, 6, 16, 19

I will give praise to thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will relate all thy wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing to thy name, O thou most high.
When my enemy shall be turned back: they shall be weakened and perish before thy face.
Thou hast rebuked the Gentiles, and the wicked one hath perished: thou hast blotted out their name for ever and ever.
16 I will rejoice in thy salvation: the Gentiles have stuck fast in the destruction which they have prepared. Their foot hath been taken in the very snare which they hid.
19 For the poor man shall not be forgotten to the end: the patience of the poor shall not perish for ever.

 

Luke 20:27-40

27 And there came to him some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is any resurrection, and they asked him,
28 Saying: Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he leave no children, that his brother should take her to wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
30 And the next took her to wife, and he also died childless.
31 And the third took her. And in like manner all the seven, and they left no children, and died.
32 Last of all the woman died also.
33 In the resurrection therefore, whose wife of them shall she be? For all the seven had her to wife.
34 And Jesus said to them: The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35 But they that shall be accounted worthy of that world, and of the resurrection from the dead, shall neither be married, nor take wives.
36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal to the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
37 Now that the dead rise again, Moses also shewed, at the bush, when he called the Lord, The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
38 For he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live to him.
39 And some of the scribes answering, said to him: Master, thou hast said well.
40 And after that they durst not ask him any more questions.


INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

DEATH CONQUERED!
“He is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.” – Luke 20:38
When I was young, I wanted to do whatever my will dictated. I joined gangs, went to clubs, attended parties, and in the process, wasted time. All the while, what I thought was good was a big mistake. I only cared for the moment, not what was ahead. I didn't know then that I was very much away from God.
From that pit of darkness, God plucked me out and gave me a new life. My mind was renewed as I began to read and study God’s Word, which brings forth His plan for me. Now I am a servant of God, a minister of His Word, a recipient of His blessings. Yes, we have a God who planned everything, and He is in total control. We have a God who designed salvation, conquered even death, to bring eternal life for His people. He alone authored and put it into effect, and I am very glad to be a part of it.
How about you – have you committed your life to Him? Don't wait another day, don't delay. Do it now before it’s too late! – Nestor


Prayer:
Dear Jesus, please give me renewed strength so that I can look forward to each day as a pleasure of work for Your kingdom. Amen.

Wise Words:
“God just doesn't throw a life preserver to a drowning person. He goes to the bottom of the sea, and pulls a corpse from the bottom of the sea, takes him up on the bank, breathes into him the breath of life and makes him alive.” – RC Sproul

Source:
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
Living Water 2013

22 November 2013

Daily Reflection Verses


-----------------------------------
Friday – 22 November 2013

-----------------------------------


Verses:           
1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59

1 Chronicles 29:10-12

Luke 19:45-48

1 Maccabees 4

36 Then Judas, and his brethren said: Behold our enemies are discomfited: let us go up now to cleanse the holy places and to repair them.
37 And all the army assembled together, and they went up into mount Sion.
52 And they arose before the morning on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month (which is the month of Casleu) in the hundred and forty-eighth year.
53 And they offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of holocausts which they had made.
54 According to the time, and according to the day wherein the heathens had defiled it, in the same was it dedicated anew with canticles, and harps, and lutes, and cymbals.
55 And all the people fell upon their faces, and adored, and blessed up to heaven, him that had prospered them.
56 And they kept the dedication of the altar eight days, and they offered holocausts with joy, and sacrifices of salvation, and of praise.
57 And they adorned the front of the temple with crowns of gold, and escutcheons, and they renewed the gates, and the chambers, and hanged doors upon them.
58 And there was exceeding great joy among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away.
59 And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness.

1 Chronicles 29:10-12

David’s Prayer

10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
“Praise be to you, Lord,
    the God of our father Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
    you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
    to exalt and give strength to all.

 

Luke 19:45-48

Jesus at the Temple

45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.




INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

INTEGRITY
They did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard. – Luke 19:48
“Cross my heart!” “I’m telling the truth!” I’ve uttered these words, especially as a kid. We played tricks on one another, and when I was finished but the others weren’t, it was difficult to get them to believe I was no longer playing tricks on them.
Why would someone doubt our authenticity? Surely, it would be because of our past tricks or dishonesty. Conversely, others believe what we say because of our history of truthfulness. Even if the Pharisees and Sadducees wanted to pin Jesus down, they simply could not because of His integrity. Many people witnessed years of His teaching, miracles and authentic love. It was not just a single act that the people marveled at, but rather a life of integrity.
Whenever we encounter a person who questions our integrity, the normal reaction is to question and fight back, which fuels the cycle of doubt. Why not try some introspection and ask why others find it hard to believe us? Perhaps it’s time for us to change and become better witness of Jesus. – Mars


Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for my loose words and unfulfilled promises. Teach me to live with integrity. Amen.

Wise Words:
“Few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle. The people you rub shoulder with everyday need that kind of challenge. Not prudish. Not preachy. Just cracker jack clean living. Just honest to goodness, bone-deep, non-hypocritical integrity.” – Chuck Swindoll



 


Source:
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

New International Version (NIV)