[ Today's Readings ]
“What is there about his word?
There is something utterly unique about the word of God. On the one hand there are demons, who, even when they speak things which are true do so to harm others and must be silenced.
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”
They try to prove their importance by their knowledge. They think they are more impressive because they know this fact. But knowing it, they do not submit to it.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (see James 2:19)
They do not treat the word as it really is.
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers (see First Thessalonians 2:13).
We need to receive it this way, as the word of God, with power to work in us. We need to receive it as powerful.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (see Hebrews 4:12).
The way we do this is to let the word speak for itself. The word comes with its own built-in interpreter.
Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.
We have not received the spirit of the world
but the Spirit who is from God,
so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.
This is the difference between demons who know and tremble and ourselves, who "have the mind of Christ."
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
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