SPIRITUAL SUICIDE? - One Bread, One Body, 1/30/2009

The January issue of My People Newspaper is now online. Articles include:

Financial Crisis Has Moral Dimension
Migrants Challenge Christians To Love
In Defense of Life: Teaching Confusion
Mary Continues To Call For Conversions
Pius XII Left Rich Legacy

http://www.presentationministries.com/mypeople/latestMyPeople.asp
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Friday, January 30, 2009

Hebrews 10:32-39, Psalm 37:3-6, 23-24, 39-40, Mark 4:26-34
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/013009.shtml

SPIRITUAL SUICIDE?

"Do not, then, surrender your confidence; it will have great
reward." —Hebrews 10:35

Satan is trying to get us to surrender our confidence, to draw back (Heb
10:38-39), to give up, to commit spiritual suicide. To keep the faith, we
have to endure "a great contest of suffering" (Heb 10:32). This contest
lasts a long time. Relief in our sufferings seems indefinitely delayed
(see Heb 10:37). Any benefits from our sufferings seem to be invisible or
negligible.

Under these circumstances, we naturally feel like giving up. Satan will
even let us give up without appearing to give up everything. He'll let us
keep the trappings of Christianity as long as we're lukewarm in our
commitment to Jesus (see Rv 3:16). So it's very easy to give up and not
even look bad to other Christians.

How many church-goers are just going through the motions? We can look like
a Christian while actually being quite unlike Christ. How many spouses are
divorced in heart and spirit although not on paper? How many parents have
long ago given up discipling their children? How many churches have given
up on trying to evangelize?

If you've given up on life and on God, repent. The Lord will take you
back. If you're keeping the faith but wondering how long you'll have to
suffer, fix your eyes on Jesus, and you will rejoice in the measure you
suffer for Him (1 Pt 4:13).

Prayer: Father, may my faith move mountains and not vice versa (see Mt
17:20).

Promise: "Take delight in the Lord, and He will grant you your heart's
requests." —Ps 37:4

Praise: Although dying of cancer, Denise did not complain and continued to
serve others in a Christ-like way.

(For a related teaching, order our tape "Spiritual Adultery" on audio AV
53-1 or video V-53.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
December 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, June 17, 2008

The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.

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