We are building a new life in Christ (Lk 14:28) and fighting a battle against the evil one. Before we go any further, we must "sit down and calculate the outlay," to see if we have enough strength to do the job (Lk 14:28).
Many people plan for the future financially, but few prepare spiritually. Many lives collapse because of failure to accept the grace necessary to persevere. Many marriages fall apart because the couple did not strengthen their relationship in preparation for future challenges. Parents often regret not having spent more time with their children because later they see their relationship with the children is not deep enough to weather the storms of adolescence. Even many Christians will not have the spiritual strength needed to survive the mass apostasy (2 Thes 2:3; Mt 24:10-12). They will fall away before Jesus' final coming because they were not prepared (see Mt 25:1-13).
Let's live today as if it were our last day. We must go deep and grow strong in our personal relationship with Jesus. May Jesus become so real to us that nothing will ever shake our faith. We must be prepared for anything by doing everything to deepen our relationship with Him.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I face the realities of my weakness, life's overwhelming demands, and Your saving grace. |
| PROMISE: | "Work with anxious concern to achieve your salvation." –Phil 2:12 |
| PRAISE: | Many believers in Africa rise in the middle of the night to listen to radio Scripture teachings only available at that time. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College