Search Results

Is God ever ashamed of my depression? Question and Answer To speak of the Lord Jesus being “ashamed” of you is to suggest that there might be something you are doing that is displeasing or embarrassing to God, or that you are not living up to God’s standard by intentional choice. Clinically speaking, depression comes about not so much by...

One of my Bible versions translates the Matthew 18:21–35 teaching on forgiveness to say we should forgive 77 times, the other says 490 times. Which is correct? Question and Answer The number in Matthew 18:22 is difficult to translate. It appears to be a direct reference to Genesis 4:24. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old...

James 4:14 says, “You do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” Since we do not know what will happen tomorrow or even in the next moment, is it biblical for us to plan or prepare for the future? Question and Answer The Scriptures never cease to amaze me! James’s observation that we do not know what life will be like tomorrow strips us...

Why does James use a vapor or mist metaphor for human life (James 4:14)? Question and Answer In order to warn us about the danger of planning for our future without regard for God’s will, James uses the metaphor of mist as a reminder of life’s brevity. If you are standing outside on a cold day, you are able to see your breath. Have you ever...

If Christ already dwells in believers by His Spirit, why does Paul pray for strength for us so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith (Eph. 3:16–17)? Question and Answer When we trust Christ as our Lord and Savior, He takes up residence in us by His Spirit. He indwells every true follower of Christ. In fact, if the Spirit of God...

Does the inner working of the Father in us eliminate our responsibility to participate in Christ being at home in our hearts? Question and Answer No. God’s work within us does not eliminate our responsibility to trust the Lord. Jesus is at home in our hearts through faith (Eph. 3:17). And when we come to faith in Christ as our Lord and Savior,...

Waiting for God Does it seem like you are always waiting in line? It may not be your imagination. Some studies report that the average person spends about two years of their life waiting in line. Delays can make us feel anxious or even angry, especially when we are waiting for God. Waiting is also the theme of the vision described in today’s...

The Danger of Harboring Sin It seems that most dieters underestimate their weight. The opposite happens with people who suffer from anorexia. They tend to see themselves as heavier than they are. Something similar happens when it comes to how we view our own sin. Sometimes we underestimate our sinfulness. We downplay or excuse our sinful...

False Fasting If you have ever fasted, you know it’s not easy. Now it is done for a wide variety of reasons. Many of us have fasted for a medical test. The Christian practice of fasting is intended to focus our mind and heart on God. In today’s Scripture reading, fasting was the concern of a delegation sent to the prophet from Bethel (v.

Faithful Hearts and Strong Hands Marsha was a great organizer in the church. She had a knack for getting people involved. Whenever she made a plea for help from the congregation, she always quoted the same proverb: “Many hands make light work.” As Zechariah continued to respond to the question raised by the delegation from Bethel, he moved...