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Psalm 119, which is the longest Psalm in the Bible, is an acrostic poem that teaches us how to live wisely. It focuses on the beauty of God’s truth, using eight synonyms for Scripture (law, precepts, statutes, word, commandments, testimonies, judgments, ordinances). Not only that, but this psalm encompasses the range of human emotions, driving us back to God’s truth in whatever circumstance we encounter.
The psalmist knew that coming to God does not mean immunity from pain. Instead, the psalmist recognized that affliction would come. The important thing when facing affliction is not to avoid it, but to turn to your relationship with the living God. We have an even more privileged perspective now on this relationship. The Son of God took on flesh without the diminishment of His deity so that we could draw near to God.
Facing affliction can drive us closer to God. As the psalmist writes in verse 67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.” Without an eternal perspective, the psalmist could not have made this affirmation. As it is, however, he recognized that God used temporary affliction to teach him what was important. Renewing your mind in the truth can help give you this perspective.
It can be easy to fall into the mindset of the world and see our work as the focal point of our lives—whether a paid job or the work we do for our families. But Psalm 127 teaches us to live with the centrality of Christ in view.
Having a Christocentric view means recognizing that Christ is sufficient for us. He is the One who orders all of life, and we can trust Him to do so. We are not autonomous agents creating our own destiny; instead, we are completely reliant on God. The problem is, we often do not recognize our dependency.
Our achievements and aspirations are in the hands of God. The most careful plans we make are exercises in futility if we cling to them apart from God. Having this perspective will enable us to take time and rest in God. We do not need to rely on our own strength, but we can have peace in knowing that God will care for us.
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These are the last recorded statements of Jesus Christ before His death on the cross. Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and
Mortality and the purpose of life are prominent themes in Thomas Cole’s paintings. Through his paintings, he vividly brings out the human dilemma of mortality, a dilemma we ourselves must wrestle with. Given the inevitability of death, what are we to do with our days? We can try to stave
In the article below, Dr. Boa synthesizes material from several teaching sessions from his series Biblical Principles for Marriage and from portions of his spiritual formation text Conformed to His Image (primarily from chapter 18, “Holistic Spirituality”). Dr. Boa focuses on agape love as one of the five forms of loves (based on the different Greek words). After reviewing all forms, he gives reasons for why agape is the greatest.
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