Faith & Lifestyle According to the Bible Archives - Page 2 of 10

September 12, 2022October 15, 2022

Idle Hands are the Devil’s Playthings

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
2 Thessalonians 3:6, 10-12

“Idle hands are the Devil’s plaything”

I’m sure you’ve heard those words before – whether it was by a parent or teacher – they’re often told to children to keep them busy doing something. Usually, my parents would say that to my siblings and I to keep us out of trouble and make sure we get our schoolwork done. In the world, if you’re working in any profession, an idle worker is unwanted by any employer. If an employee is unproductive and idle, that company may lose money, clients, and eventually suffer. Idle doctors cannot give their patients the best care and neglect their duties. These are some examples we can see around us, but we must now look at what it means according to the Bible.

In the Bible, that phrase takes on a new meaning.

August 22, 2022October 22, 2022

5 Bible Verses about Trusting God

photo of people reaching each other s hands

What is Trust?

Trust – it’s one of the most complicated things in the world when it comes to human relationships. This value is something built over time, it’s the foundation of human interaction. One wrong move and that trust you built with someone is broken and changed forever. Cheating, lying, and breaking promises are all key components to breaking your trust with someone. Does this sound familiar? Think about our relationship with God.

From the time of Adam, up until now, God’s chosen people have constantly broken their covenants (promises) with God and cheated on him with other gods repeatedly. In other words, God’s people strayed and gave their sacrifices and hearts to other gods. Yet each time His people betrayed, they were given more chances to fix what they had broken, but they never did. Yet in Revelation, God creates a new thing, a New Heaven and New Earth that become the people that will never betray Him and will live eternally by His side (Rv 21). So if we are living in a time when we have the chance to be trusted by God and become His people, then it’s important to ask why should we trust God?

A better question; why shouldn’t we trust Him?

August 17, 2022August 17, 2022

Jesus Was Blessed by God, and We Can Be, Too. Here’s How…

man in black long sleeved shirt and woman in black dress

#Blessed

I’m sure you’ve heard of “The Beatitudes” that Jesus spoke. The sermon on the mount is what most people initially think of when they picture Jesus preaching in their minds. They are wonderful teachings that instruct believers on how they should act in good times and bad. If you haven’t read them before, let’s read them now.

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:2-12

In all of these verses, Jesus begins with “Blessed are…”. What does all this mean? How do we become those who are blessed? Let’s try to understand these on a deeper level by looking at Jesus, the one who gave us these teachings.

August 2, 2022August 2, 2022

Shepherding God’s Flock – The Role of a Pastor

When you think of a pastor, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of your own church pastor – someone who gives sermons on Sunday mornings. Maybe you think of televangelists that preach on TV. Perhaps you think of Catholic priests or some other denominational preacher. Maybe your pastor is very active in the community, organizing mission trips or leading Bible classes. Or maybe your pastor is making hospital visits or visiting shut-ins. Or maybe you might see pastors in a negative light due to past experiences or certain news reports you’ve read or heard. Regardless of if it’s positive or negative, there are many things a pastor does in the world, at least according to people’s own thoughts or feelings. But what is a pastor’s role according to the Bible?

July 26, 2022July 26, 2022

“Come With Me If You Want to Live!” – Coming Out to Salvation

I love watching all kinds of movies – especially action, Sci-fi, and fantasy movies. One series that has continued for decades now is The Terminator series. In the second film of the franchise, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, an advanced cyborg from the future is sent back to the past to terminate a boy named, John Connor. John and his mother are protected by another cyborg who gives us this famous line:

Copyright Terminator 2: Judgment Day

These two characters are being hunted and will be destroyed (killed), but someone comes and saves them. Doesn’t this remind you of what happens in the Bible? A savior to appear when things seem like all hope is lost?

Previously, we’ve read about what it means to betray God and being destroyed because of that betrayal. Now, let’s learn and understand what God’s true purpose and desire for us as believers is.

July 17, 2022July 17, 2022

The Moment You Think You’re Safe, Think Again, or Destruction Will Come

Previously I wrote a post about what it means to betray God. Betraying God means leaving His Word, receiving false teachings after knowing the truth (like Adam eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil even though he knew not to), and death – both physically and spiritually (Rev. 20:15, 21:8).

July 11, 2022July 11, 2022

Don’t Execute Order 66 – Spiritual Betrayal and Why We Shouldn’t Do It

We’ve all seen it in the media – whether in books, movies, or television – our protagonist(s) are reaching the climax of their saga only to be betrayed by one (or more) closest to them. Let me show a couple of notable examples.

Order 66

Boromir from The Fellowship of the Ring

In both examples, we see someone or a group of people, who helped out our heroes for most of their time and even built a trusting relationship with them, only to have them turn at a crucial moment.

July 4, 2022July 4, 2022

How to Meditate on the Bible Daily

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalms 1:1-2

June 27, 2022June 27, 2022

5 Great Bible Verses for Anxiety

Anxiety is a mental illness that causes frequent feelings of worry, unease, and nervousness. These feelings plague many of us in different ways. And not everyone who experiences anxiety is diagnosed; anxiety is a feeling many people experience from time to time. Maybe it’s your first day at a new school, or you are preparing for a job interview – that nervous feeling is all anxiety.

June 18, 2022June 18, 2022

“Until Death Do Us Part” – And Then Some: The Marriage God and Jesus Desire for Us

Marriage is such an important life step for everyone who decides to take it. Two people decide to spend the rest of their lives together in a loving and life-long commitment. It’s a life-changing event where you are no longer by yourself; you have to think of your partner, too, when making certain decisions. When you enter university, you begin life as an adult and oftentimes parents or other people ask, “So when are you going to get married?”, especially as you grow older. And if you’re not married by a certain age, people may begin to wonder about you. I guess these days, that sort of pressure is lessened as more and more people are getting married later in life, or not at all.

As a single man in my late-30s, who’s also the oldest child in my family, I’ve definitely been asked more than once about when I’m going to get married and “settle down”. When I look at all my friends and younger siblings who’ve gotten married, and some who’ve gotten divorced, it makes me wonder if I really want that. But I’m not here to disparage marriage in any way. In fact, I think it’s a beautiful thing because it’s also an important thing to God and Jesus. There’s a deeper spiritual meaning to it all, so let’s find out what the marriage God and Jesus desire for us today.