The rain in Noah's time resulted in a flood of massive destruction. The rain of fire and brimstone on Sodom also caused mass destruction. "It will be like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed" (Lk 17:30). How can we escape the massive, instantaneous destruction that is to come? Those will be saved who believe in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31; 4:12). "But when the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?" (Lk 18:8)
"Faith comes through hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rm 10:17, our transl.). If Christians accept God's call to share and receive His word, some will hear God, have faith, and be saved from destruction. Otherwise, God's people will "perish for want of knowledge" (Hos 4:6) of Jesus, because "ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Catechism, 133).
The Lord has sent many messengers of His word into the world (see Mt 21:34-37). Satan has responded to these messengers by sending "many deceitful men...into the world, men who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. Such is the deceitful one! This is the Antichrist!" (2 Jn 7) God does not want anyone to be destroyed (Mt 18:14). Therefore, the Lord is now sending forth more messengers of His Word to open the ears and build the life-saving faith of His people. The Lord asks: "Whom shall I send?" (Is 6:8) Let us all answer: "Send me!" (Is 6:8)
| PRAYER: | Father, I will share Your Word in good times and in bad (see 2 Tm 4:2). I will break new ground in spreading Your Word. |
| PROMISE: | "Anyone who is so 'progressive' that he does not remain rooted in the teaching of Christ does not possess God, while anyone who remains rooted in the teaching possesses both the Father and the Son." –2 Jn 9 |
| PRAISE: | St. Gertrude had the spiritual gift of moving people's hearts and leading them to think of nothing but God. |
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