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Friday, January 31, 2003

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St. John Bosco


Hebrews 10:32-39
Psalm 37:3-6, 23-24, 39-40
Mark 4:26-34

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all surrender all

"Do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what He has promised." —Hebrews 10:35-36

Surrender is both the way to victory and the way to defeat. If we surrender our wills to Jesus, we will be more than conquerors (see Rm 8:37). But if we surrender our confidence (see Heb 10:35) and hope, we will sin and thereby surrender to the devil and be defeated. Those in heaven are there because they have surrendered to Jesus. Those in hell are there because they have surrendered to the devil. All surrender all — but to whom?

The defeated devil, who has no hope, is trying to get us who have a future full of hope (see Jer 29:11) to lose hope and to surrender to him. It takes an extremely talented liar to convince people who can be full of hope that they should join the ranks of the hopelessly damned. But the devil is the father of lies (Jn 8:44) and the most effective liar. However, Jesus is the Truth (Jn 14:6), Who sets us free (Jn 8:32, 36).

Believe the Truth. Jesus is our Hope — our only Hope. Surrender all to Him.

Prayer:  Father, I will die rather than surrender my hope in You.

Promise:  "We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life." —Heb 10:39

Praise:  St. John Bosco could honestly say: "I have always labored lovingly and carried out my priestly duties with zeal."

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape on Spiritual Warfare on audio AV 57-3 or video V-57.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend David L. Zink, June 12, 2002


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 13, 2002