Martha sat in a damp world, cloudy, tearful. And Jesus sat in it with her. I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. — John 11:25 NLT Hear those words in a Superman tone, if you like. Clark Kent descending from…
Prayer Is Essential
Editor’s note: According to our sister site BibleGateway.com, there was a significant increase in searches in 2020 about what the Bible says about politics. Two of the key topics people searched for: praying for government, and obeying government authority. Two of the most popular verses: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession…
Taste and See: Why the Lamb Is One Year Old
All the time talking about meat and antiquity makes me curious to know Matt’s perspective on one particular animal: the lamb. At Local Yocal, the largest demand for lamb is always around the Passover. I am not surprised. In scouring the Bible for mentions of lamb and sheep, one word kept emerging as synonymous with…
The Hidden Power of Acceptance
Have you ever had a time in your life where you did not feel accepted? It’s probably not the most pleasant memory. We’ve all had those times. But I have some great news for you. [Galatians] is a passionate letter written by the apostle Paul. So if you ever hear a Pauline epistle, it’s a…
Praying for Your Child’s Relationship with Siblings
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! — Psalm 133:1 That’s mine! He hit me! She hit me first! It’s not fair! Do we have to play with her? Go away! No! Yes! No! Yes! No! Any family that has more than one child has, at some point, experienced…
Laced with Grace
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. — Proverbs 16:24 I am such a Bible nerd. Not only do I love to learn the meaning behind the Hebrew or Greek words in Scripture, but I like to study certain English words that pop up at me, pogo-stick style,…
A Life of Compassion
Compassion Is Not Abstract Jesus begins His story in Luke 10:30: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Jerusalem is some 2,300 feet above sea level, and Jericho is about 800 feet below sea level.…
Hope Heals: Life When There Should Have Been Death
Editor’s Note: Katherine and Jay were a young couple living the dream in Southern California, but all was nearly lost when Katherine suffered a shocking near-fatal brainstem stroke and struggled to find hope in a life that looked nothing like the one they had before. * * * As fall came and the California permaclimate…
Ruth: Loyalty and Love
REDEMPTION The Old Testament places a great deal of emphasis on the role of the goel. There was a significant redemptive aspect to this person’s function. Every kinsman-redeemer was, in effect, a living illustration of the position and work of Christ with respect to His people: He is our true Kinsman-Redeemer, who becomes our human…
Why Should I Fast? 7 Examples of Fasting in the Bible
Although the Bible doesn’t give a direct command on this issue, examples of fasting appear in both the Old and the New Testaments. One of the most telling passages in which fasting is mentioned is Matthew 6:16, where Jesus is teaching His disciples basic principles of godly living. When speaking on fasting, He begins with,…