Meditate on the Word - For a Decent and Investigative Christianity (EN)

 The presence of God is a constant reality in the lives of Christians, but we can often become distracted by daily demands and forget to live in full awareness that He is with us. This detachment from the perception of divine presence can weaken our faith and lead us to act as if we are alone. However, God has given us the Holy Spirit, who not only seals us as His property but also guides, comforts, and reminds us that we belong to Him. The Seal of the Holy Spirit: Guarantee and Presence In Romans 8:23 , we read about the “firstfruits of the Spirit,” which guarantee our adoption as children of God and our final redemption. This seal of the Spirit is a mark of divine ownership that assures us of protection, destiny, and authenticity as God’s people. Yet, the seal is more than a future guarantee; it is also a daily reminder that God is present in our lives. In Jeremiah 32 , the prophet is instructed to buy land in Anathoth, seal the deed, and place it in a clay jar. This act symboliz...

  The greatest failure of humanity, illustrated by the life of Judas Iscariot, serves as a warning to all about the consequences of wasting opportunities and making wrong choices. The story of Judas is one of the most well-known in the Bible, not only because of his betrayal of Jesus but also because of what that betrayal symbolizes: the rejection of the greatest opportunity for transformation and salvation. Judas had everything within his reach to be an example of redemption. He was chosen by Jesus, after a night of prayer, to be one of the twelve apostles. This gave him the privilege of walking alongside Christ, hearing His teachings, witnessing miracles, and seeing the very Son of God in action. He participated in the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, saw the blind receive their sight, and witnessed the dead being raised. Despite all this access to the truth, Judas did not take the opportunity to fully surrender to Jesus. His mistake was not just an isolated act of betray...

 Forgiveness is a deeply transformative act, and while many focus on the importance of forgiving others, self-forgiveness is equally crucial. The way we judge ourselves, often harsher than the judgment we receive from others, can leave us trapped in a cycle of guilt, shame, and self-condemnation. In this article, we will explore the steps toward self-forgiveness, drawing from a reflective devotional journey to understand how to extend grace and mercy to ourselves, just as we are called to do with others. Facing the Reality of Our Mistakes When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, their first reaction was to hide—using fig leaves to cover their shame and guilt. This instinct to conceal our mistakes is common to all of us. We often try to mask our errors with excuses, distractions, or defensive behaviors. However, just as hiding did not solve Adam and Eve’s problem, avoiding or denying our mistakes only prolongs the pain. Facing the reality of our sins head-on is the first step...

 God's mission is the expression of His eternal purpose for creation, especially for humanity. Since the fall of man, God has been working throughout history to redeem and restore the broken relationship between Himself and humanity. God's mission, or Missio Dei , is centered on bringing all things back into harmony with His will, and the Church is called to be the primary heir and collaborator in this divine mission. The Church as the Redeemed The Church is made up of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. Redemption is a central concept in the biblical narrative, where God rescues His people from the slavery of sin and death into the freedom of life in Christ. As the redeemed, members of the Church are called to live in a way that reflects this new reality. They are called to be light in a world of darkness, living according to the principles of the Kingdom of God and proclaiming the gospel of salvation to all people. The Church as the Elect The elect are those ...

  A pericope is a specific section or passage of a text, particularly a sacred text, that is considered a cohesive unit of thought. In the biblical context, a pericope is a passage that can be read and understood independently, conveying a complete idea or a specific message. In Ephesians 1:3-14, we find a theologically rich pericope where the apostle Paul presents a doxology, an expression of praise to God, highlighting the spiritual blessings that believers receive in Christ. This passage is considered one of the deepest declarations of faith in the New Testament, exalting the work of the Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — in the salvation of believers. Main Themes and Structure Spiritual Blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-6): Verse 3: Paul begins by praising God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ." These spiritual blessings refer to everything we receive from God through Jesus, such...