A few passages are troublesome to us regarding what they say about God hating someone. Malachi 3:13 and Romans 9:13 say God loved Jacob but hated Esau, yet the Lord commanded Israel to not hate an Edomite, who were descendants of Esau (Deuteronomy 23:7). Scripture does not contradict itself. The Bible shows us Esau did not know God as Jacob did, an

1. A Prayer for Unity in the Church I wish in this election process that at least the church was unified, but we are not. We have swallowed the same fears and anxieties that those who don’t know Christ have. This has caused infighting and division in our churches. Just the fact that you can’t have a conversation about issues with someone who may se

1. Biblical Meditation and MemorizationMost Christians know that reading Scripture is a part of Advent. Every year, churches revisit the opening chapters of Matthew and Luke to think about Jesus’ first coming. Other passages are typically included as well, such as the prophecies in Isaiah about the Messiah. We can easily read these parts of the Bib

As it turns out, there are Bible verses that mirror “a fool and his money are soon parted.”Solomon’s wisdom is one of the first and best places to look. The Proverbs of Solomon contain some of the greatest insights on money and finances.For example, in Proverbs 19:10, Solomon argues that “luxury is not fitting for a fool; much less for a slave to r

They also take Scripture out of context to craft a specific message to do with a specific agenda or to declare how God wants us to be happy, that he is “for” our position. The prosperity gospel is one example. Christian Nationalism is another. So are the queer and feminist versions. The true gospel is about Christ – about how he is good and gloriou

Do we let our belief that God will fulfill his promises move us to the point that our community feels it alongside us? Herod did not surrender to God’s will, but he wholeheartedly believed that God’s plan was reliable. We must live with such belief if we want to have a faith that matches Herod’s.3. Herod Took ActionWe see Herod choose to commit a t

1. 2 Kings 5:8-15 – Healing of Soul and Body“Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, ‘Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed’” (2 Kings 5:10).In this passage, Naaman, a commander of the army in Aram, learned about a prophet in Israel who could cure his leprosy. He traveled there and inqu

Bring our questions into the light.For me, meeting with God in this vulnerable place brings deep healing and renewal. I experience him as my safety, a refuge from all that rages on the outside. I hear his inaudible voice deep within my soul. I gain new perspective on my situation, as well a fresh understanding of his heart.2. God Is Compassionate“J

God’s response to Job begins in Job 38 and continues through Job 41. Rather than providing specific reasons for Job’s suffering or his daughters’ death, God emphasizes his omnipotence and the human’s limited understanding. God asks Job rhetorical questions that highlight creation’s complexity and grandeur: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s fo

Pray for opportunities to serve others with Christlike love.Open their homes to guests to edify believers and spread the faith to those who are not believers.Go into their communities and reach out to others by speaking the gospel as they do good works.Offer aid to the impoverished and those without shelter.Go visit sick people (if there’s no risk

How Is God the Lord of Peace?God is peace itself, the source from which true peace flows. Isaiah 9:6 calls him the “Prince of Peace,” describing how he brings peace to those reconciled with him. God doesn’t just provide peace. Just as “God is love,” he embodies peace. As the Lord of Peace, he alone holds authority over it and shares it according to

How Does the Gospel Give Us the Mind of Christ? Actions flow from belief and thinking, so transformed lives emanate from renewed thinking. Paul also explains this in Romans, later in 12:2. “And be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of G

1. David Was the “Runt of the Litter” Yet Became KingDavid was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse, a farmer and sheep breeder in Bethlehem. When King Saul displeased the Lord and God rejected him as the king over Israel, God told the prophet Samuel that he was to go to Bethlehem and find Jesse, as one of Jesse’s sons would be king.Samuel went. How

How many of us would respond just as the man did? If God asked us to sell our homes, donate our savings, and live as a nomad following him, would we be willing to do it? Do we value our comfort and success over a dynamic relationship with the Lord?The way to Heaven is narrow, and God is jealous of our hearts. We cannot let the love of money, status

Mark Lowry Performs ‘Mary, Did You Know?’ from CCM Magazine on GodTube.11. “Angels We Have Heard on High”Sweetly singing o'er the plains And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strainsAngels we have heard on high Sweetly, sweetly through the night And the mountains in reply Echoing their brief delightGloria, in excelsis Deo Gloria, in excel

Yet, there is a way in which my children expect me to respond to their needs. They know that I love them and they reasonably anticipate that I’m going to show up for them. I think we ought to have that same kind of expectation of the Fatherly care of God. Even if it means that our “help” requires something extraordinary.But we don’t tend to think t

There is the possibility that these judgments represent a shift in the natural order of things, but like many other weather and natural events in other parts of the Bible, God can shift the order of things whenever he wants to, climate change or not.What is Humanity’s Responsibility toward Creation?"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Gard

Since Judah had disobeyed God, their sin had deceived them, and they didn’t understand why God enacted such radical judgment. Therefore, God reminded them of their sin, injustice, and idolatry through Ezekiel. God gave him very vivid and harsh messages, warning of Jerusalem’s fall and the destruction of the temple. One vision showed how God’s glory

1. Forrest Smithson: Pointing People to Jesus1908 London OlympicsA hoax developed around this man of God who captured the hearts of Olympians with his fervent faith. Forrest Custer Smithson, an American, participated in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, winning the 110-meter hurdles.Smithson was a theology student from Yale University — later bec

In quite a tangible way, giving of ourselves by giving gifts in Christ’s love to others is an offering to the Lord.The Bible also teaches that receiving a gift with gratitude is a sign of a healthy, humble spirit. The Apostle Paul exemplified our giving and receiving nature when he quoted the Lord Jesus in Acts 20:25, “It is more blessed to give th