death-defying
"Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Who sent His angel to deliver the servants that trusted in Him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God." —Daniel 3:95
Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we must be able to look death right in the face and say: "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Cor 15:55), for "death is swallowed up" (1 Cor 15:54) in the victory of Jesus, "the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25).
The Holy Spirit can free us, for the Spirit we have received is no cowardly or fearful Spirit (2 Tm 1:7). The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of love in our lives (Gal 5:22), and love is as strong as death (Sg 8:6). In fact, love is stronger than death. For example, when Jesus, Who is God and Who is Love, died on the cross, Love was stronger than death, and Jesus rose from the dead. The love of Christ impels us (see 2 Cor 5:14) to risk our lives to do God's will and to lay down our lives for the Lord and His Church (see Jn 15:13; 1 Jn 3:16).
In these last days of Lent, let us pray and fast to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit of love, fearlessness, and life. In this way, we will live in, with, and for the risen Christ forever.
Prayer: Father, by Your grace I defy death.
Promise: "If the Son frees you, you will really be free." —Jn 8:36
Praise: Marsha saved her husband's life by donating her kidney to him. She trusted that Jesus would keep both her and her husband safe.
Reference: (For a related teaching on Power in the Spirit, order, listen to, or download our CD 64-1 or DVD 64 on our website.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 28, 2018
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