Personal name meaning “lady [of the house]” or “mistress.” Sister of Mary and Lazarus of Bethany and one of Jesus’ best-loved disciples. True to her name, Martha is portrayed as a person in charge: she welcomed Jesus as a guest in her home (Luke 10:38); she was concerned with meeting the obligations of a hostess, whether preparing food (Luke 10:40; John 12:2) or
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (MARTHA)
There is nothing wrong with women wanting to look their best. Paul’s point in this passage is that flamboyance and immodesty in dress are out of place in public worship. Our appearance should not be a distraction to others as they seek to commune with the Lord. And this applies to men as well as women!
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (DRESS FOR WORSHIP)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (ROMANS 5:12-21 “ADAM AND CHRIST CONTRASTED”)
Solomon’s list of times and “seasons” must be viewed within the larger context of life an history. He is not necessarily saying, “Hey, it’s twelve o’clock, time to kill-so go out and bump someone off.” Rather, Solomon insists that human life takes place within a larger framework of events that repeat down through history: laughter, tears, killing, healing, destruction, building, death, birth.
Continue reading AGAINST SO MANY BIBLICAL COMMANDS, HOW CAN SOLOMON ADVISE THAT THERE IS A TIME TO KILL, TO TEAR DOWN, AND TO HATE?
Supplying wood for priests to use in offering burnt sacrifices on the altar was a task assigned to the Nethinims, or temple servants (Ezra 2:43). But not enough of these servants returned from the exile in Babylonia and Persia to handle this task.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (WOOD FOR THE ALTAR)
None that makes much military sense, if using traditional tactics is the key to victory. The genius of God’s ways is that they are not our ways. Tactics that should fail do in fact succeed as God’s way of showing His power in our weakness. At Jericho, the victory was preceded by priests blowing horns and circling the city seven times. Against the Philistines, David’s single slingshot led to an amazing victory.
Continue reading WHAT SORT OF BATTLE PLAN HAS A CHOIR LEADING AN ARMY?
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (1 PETER 4:12-19)
This taunt by King Ben-hadad of Syria (1 Kings 20:10) and the reply of his enemy-King Ahab of Israel (1 King 20:11)-are good examples of ancient psychological warfare. Opposing armies often used such tactics. They attempted to gain the upper hand even before they drew their swords by intimidating the other side with taunts and threats.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (PSYCHOLOGICAL WAREFARE)
In the New Testament, a disciple is simply a learner, someone who subscribes to the teachings of another. A disciple of Christ, then, was one who followed Christ to learn His ways in word and deed. Outside of the Gospels, only a handful of verses in the New Testament use the word.
Continue reading WHAT’S THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN A DISCIPLE AN A CHRISTIAN?
SIN’S CONSEQUENCES – The Bible looks upon sin in any form as the most serious of humanity’s problems. Though sinful acts may be directed against another person, ultimately every sin is against God, the Creator of all things. David acknowledged this in his confession in Psalm 51. David sinned against many people (2 Sam 11:1-12; 23), and yet David confessed: “Against You-You alone-I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight” (Psa 51:4).
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (SIN “SIN’S CONSEQUENCES”)