Life's Inanities and Ironies

 Hey there, fellow seekers of faith! In a world where "grace" is often thrown around like a get-out-of-jail-free card, it's easy to skim over one of the Bible's most straightforward teachings: obedience. I recently came across a powerful homily that hit me right between the eyes on this topic, and I felt compelled to turn it into a blog post. Titled Obedience: Often Ignored and Seldom Preached or Taught, it reminds us that true love for Jesus isn't just about warm feelings—it's about action. As Jesus Himself said in John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Let's dive in and let God's Word do the talking. The Misunderstood Side of Grace We've all heard it: "We're saved by grace, not by works!" And that's absolutely true—Ephesians 2:8-9 makes that crystal clear. But somewhere along the way, many Christians (myself included at times) have twisted grace into something loose and permissive. It's like treating ...

  Scripture Reading: Luke 4:18 (ESV) " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we stand on the unshakable foundation of God’s holy and authoritative word. In Luke 4:18, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ declares his divine mission—a mission rooted in the eternal truth of scripture and fulfilled before our very eyes. When Jesus read these words from the prophet Isaiah and said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21), he affirmed the absolute reliability of God’s promises and his identity as the promised Messiah. This is not just a story from the past; it is a living command that calls every believer to action today. As we open this sacred text, let us hear the voice of God speaking directly to us, revealing the mis...