Contrary to the old saying, ignorance is not bliss. What you don't know will hurt you. God's people perish for lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6).
Of course, the Lord is merciful and will even make excuses for us in our ignorance: "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34). Nevertheless, there comes a time when there's no excuse for our ignorance of God, His Word, and His plan of salvation. "God may well have overlooked bygone periods when men did not know Him; but now He calls on all men everywhere to reform their lives" (Acts 17:30). "For if the word spoken through angels stood unchanged, and all transgression and disobedience received its due punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore a salvation as great as ours?" (Heb 2:2-3)
Jesus wants us to know Him and His Word. He spent the first Easter Sunday explaining the Scriptures. On Easter afternoon, He taught the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:27ff). In the evening, He "opened their minds to the understanding of the Scriptures" (Lk 24:45). The Holy Spirit commanded the early believers to devote themselves to the apostles' instruction (Acts 2:42). "Each day they studied the Scriptures to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
In this age of the Spirit, there's no excuse for ignorance. "Do not continue in ignorance, but try to discern the will of the Lord" (Eph 5:17).
| PRAYER: | Father, I'm sorry for staying ignorant. I choose this day to seek wisdom. |
| PROMISE: | "The man who claims, 'I have known Him,' without keeping His commandments, is a liar." –1 Jn 2:4 |
| PRAISE: | "Amen! Praise and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving and honor, power and might, to our God forever and ever. Amen!" (Rv 7:12) Risen Jesus, You merit our constant praise! |
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