Like water, blood is a fluid that is essential for life. When we donate blood, we help save lives. Those who lose too much blood risk death. For biblical authors, blood was a powerful symbol for humanity itself. God’s blessing of Noah and his sons included the following warning: “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed,
PLOUGHING
Ploughing and sowing were often one operation. The grain was scattered from an open basket and replenished from a sack tied on the back of a donkey. It took about thirty pounds of seed to the half acre, although the Babylonians had invented a primitive seed drill that was in use in some places and was more economical with the seed. The seed was then ploughed in so that it would not be taken by the birds (Matthew 13:4). This method of
Continue reading MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE BIBLE (AGRICULTURE) “PART 2 OF 2”
Continue to love each other with true brotherly love. Don’t forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Don’t forget about those in jail. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, for you know what they are going through Honor your
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (HEBREWS 13: 1-9) “LIVE GOOD & OBEDIENT LIVES”
The head is in many ways the most important part of the body. It is the center of thought and emotion, and unlike other visible body parts (such as the hand or arm) it is essential for life. Biblical writers thought of it as the life of the individual, the body part that symbolized a person’s entire being. In addition, it is the uppermost and most visible
When the Jewish people entered Canaan and took up agriculture after the seminomadic life of forty years in the wilderness, they were entering into work that went back in their own history for hundreds of years and into a country that was extremely rich in plants. Ur of the Chaldees, where Abraham had come from, was sustained by healthy agricultural system based on irrigation ditches from the river bank, stone ploughshares, and flint
Continue reading MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE BIBLE (AGRICULTURE) “PART 1OF 2”
I, Paul the servant of Christ, am here in jail because of you–for preaching that you Gentiles are a part of God’s house. No doubt you already know that God has given me this special work of showing God’s favor to you Gentiles, as I briefly mentioned before in one of my letters. God himself showed me this secret plan of his, that the Gentiles, too, are
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (EPHESIANS 3:1-10) “SALVATION IS FOR EVERYONE”
The apostle Peter (also called Simon and Cephas) was one of Jesus’ earliest disciples, and along with his brother Andrew, was a fisherman. He first met Jesus alone the Jordan River where John was baptizing (John 1:40-42) and traveled with Him through Galilee for a
Outside the Bible, the recognition of twelve months in the lunar calendar made the number twelve an important symbol for the annual cycles of life. In the Bible, this number usually symbolizes completeness, especially with regard to the people of God. Once the twelve tribes of Israel were established, uses of the number twelve became a symbol pointing to the entire people of God.
Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is–nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to al mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness-and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (JOHN 1:1-12) “GOD BECOMES A HUMAN”
Travel in Bible times was very difficult. It was never a pleasure. When people travelled it was either for government affairs, business, or necessity. Traveller on government business were protected (Acts 23:31), and the wealthy businessmen who could afford it sent others in a caravan on their behalf. They had to take calculated
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