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Friday, July 10, 1998

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Hosea 14:2-10
Psalm 51
Matthew 10:16-23

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nobody but jesus

"Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will turn against parents and have them put to death." —Matthew 10:21

The Jewish Christians of the early Church often were rejected by their families when they became Christians and united themselves with Gentiles in the body of Christ (see Eph 3:6). The Jewish Christians were sometimes betrayed by their family members, handed over to the authorities, and put to death. Thus, if Jewish Christians did not turn their backs on their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, sisters, and their very selves, they could not be disciples of Jesus (Lk 14:26). However, if anyone loses his life (Lk 9:24) and his family for Jesus' sake, he will receive "a hundred times as many homes, brothers and sisters, mothers, children and property — and persecution besides — and in the age to come, everlasting life" (Mk 10:30).

The Lord commands us to love the members of our family. If we don't provide for the needs of our family members, we have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers (1 Tm 5:8). However, our personal relationship with Jesus is in a class by itself. Jesus should be first in our lives. Our relationships, even with family members, are a very, very distant second. Our bond with Jesus is supreme (The Catechism, 1619).

Prayer:  Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All (see Jn 20:28).

Promise:  "I will heal their defection, I will love them freely; for My wrath is turned away from them." —Hos 14:5

Praise:  At the family reunion, Kevin witnessed about the presence of Jesus in his life to all present, even to those who never knew or had forgotten Him.

Reference:  (To deepen your relationship with Jesus, order (and pray) our book, Conversion-Conversations, and our leaflet, Accepting Jesus as Lord, Savior, and God.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, November 29, 1997


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 2, 1997