Daily Devotional

To those who were on Paul’s side, he said, “Who are you to declare me a saint?” and to those who were against Paul, he said, “Even though I am not aware of anything against myself (my conscience is clean), I am not thereby acquitted.” Paul’s overall intention here was to break division, to make the people refrain from taking sides, and to make them realise that both Paul and Apollos are imperfect yet powerful instruments in the hands of God.

Trust God. He will not instruct you unless He knows you will benefit from that act of obedience. Even if you don’t trust God, just obey; your miracle doesn’t depend on your trust; it depends on your obedience. After the great fish catch, Peter knelt before Jesus, saying: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” Do you know how many great and wonderful miracles you have missed just because you followed worldly wisdom?

The key to overcoming the temptation of jealousy and quarrelling is seeking the Holy Spirit through constant prayer. Did you notice that in today’s Gospel passage, immediately after the healing and casting-out-of-demons session, Jesus retreated to a quiet place to pray? This is an important lesson. Jesus did not “need” prayer, yet He never took prayer for granted. If you value prayer, you will always make time for it. Even if it means rising early or staying up all night, you will never let a day pass without spending time in communion with God.