Pride comes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18), and humility before honor (Proverbs 15:33). Throughout the Bible, we see how pride leads to downfall, yet God offers redemption through humility. Humanity’s original sin begins in Genesis 3, where Satan appeals to the pride and sense of entitlement of Adam and Eve, stirring in them the desire not just for wisdom and independence but to “be as gods” (Genesis 3:5). Rather than being content with the abundance God had already provided, they fixate on what was withheld, aspiring to equality with God, if not superiority over Him. This prideful ambition, fueled by a focus on lack rather than abundance, separates them from God and introduces sin into the world. This pattern of pride and entitlement leading to a fall is echoed throughout the Bible, with God using humbling experiences to draw His people back to a reliance on Him. God frequently confronts pride in individuals, guiding them back to humility. In the story of Pharaoh, it is his pride and sense of entitlement to authority over the Israelites, which leads him to resist God’s command to release them, despite witnessing powerful signs and wonders. Scripture describes how Pharaoh’s heart becomes hardened, which is akin to resentment, as he repeatedly refuses to humble himself before God, resulting in devastating plagues upon Egypt. As Exodus recounts, “the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh” (Exodus 10:27), ultimately allowing Pharaoh’s pride and entitlement to run their course. Only after his pride is entirely broken by the final plague does he momentarily relent, permitting the Israelites to go (Exodus 12:29-32). Similarly, King Nebuchadnezzar exalts himself in Babylon, declaring, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built … by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). This statement reveals not only his pride but a deep sense of entitlement to glory and permanence, assuming that his success is unshakable, even though God had warned him in the dream Daniel interpreted that it would be taken away. In response, God humbles him, driving him into the wilderness until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty, saying, “Those that walk in pride he is able to abase” (Daniel 4:37). Only then was he able to return to his position by the Grace of God. Though a man after God’s heart, King David was not immune to pride and entitlement. In a moment of self-sufficiency, he orders a census of Israel, assuming ownership of the nation’s strength rather than trusting in God’s provision. Recognizing his sin, David humbles himself, repenting before God (1 Chronicles 21:7-13). Even prophets and leaders face the humbling power of God; Jonah, for example, runs from God’s command, pridefully deciding that the people of Nineveh are unworthy of God’s mercy. His sense of entitlement over God’s judgment leads him to resist his mission, yet through humbling trials, Jonah ultimately fulfills God’s purpose (Jonah 2:1-3:3). Through these stories, we see how God, in His wisdom, allows humbling circumstances to bring His people back to reliance on Him, showing that pride and the entitlement it often breeds leads only to separation from God. God consistently teaches that humility is the path to restoration and honor, often by allowing people to experience the humbling consequences of pride. In the Beatitudes, Jesus echoes this truth, declaring, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). He teaches His disciples to serve others, proclaiming, “Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). Through humility, individuals open themselves to God’s grace, finding forgiveness, purpose, and honor. This theme of humility culminates in the ultimate act of obedience and self-sacrifice: Jesus Christ. Humbly, God, manifest in the flesh through Jesus, addresses this issue directly. Jesus, though divine, “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). Rather than claiming power, He humbles Himself to death on the cross, demonstrating that true exaltation lies in humility and surrender to God’s will. Through Christ’s humility, the door to redemption is opened wide, offering humanity a path back to God. In His self-sacrifice, Jesus models humility and embodies the power of humility to restore what pride has broken. Through His humble obedience, Christ reverses the cycle of sin, offering us the grace and strength to overcome pride through faith in Him. Paul summarizes this beautifully in Philippians 2:8-9: “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” The humility Christ modeled and empowered is a theme woven throughout Scripture, as we see God’s consistent call to humility leading to restoration and honor. The Bible’s overarching narrative moves from pride to humility, with humanity’s pride causing separation from God and Jesus’ humility bringing restoration. From Lucifer’s rebellion to humanity’s original sin in Eden, pride and the desire for autonomy from God mark the beginnings of sin and separation. While Satan’s rebellion initiates sin in the spiritual realm, humanity’s disobedience brings sin into the physical world, leading to a cycle of self-exaltation and brokenness. This parallel underscores the Bible’s consistent message: self-exaltation leads to downfall, and only humility, repentance, and obedience lead to restoration. In contrast to Satan’s pride and humanity’s fall, the Bible offers a redemptive path through the humility of Jesus Christ. His sacrificial love, rooted in ultimate humility and obedience, opens the way for redemption, restoration, and eternal life. Thus, the story begins with pride and brokenness, but it ends with humility and honor, as Jesus reconciles humanity to God, offering eternal fellowship to those who embrace humility and faith. It serves as a guide for our lives today. This ultimate truth offers a timeless message: in humility lies true honor, and in surrender to God’s will, there is life. The Bible invites us to release self-exaltation and pride, embracing humility as the path to earthly peace and eternal fellowship with God. This message is as relevant today as ever. In multiple aspects of our lives, relationships, work, and especially our conversations, pride often tempts us to place ourselves above others, dismissing their views with condescension. In divisive spaces like political debates, we too often talk past one another, letting our self-assuredness or need for validation overshadow genuine engagement. One common way pride manifests itself today is entitlement, the belief that we inherently deserve certain privileges or recognition. Entitlement can manifest subtly, as in thoughts like, “I deserve better than this” or “How could this happen to me?” Such thinking reflects an expectation that our experiences and desires should take precedence, often leading to resentment and dissatisfaction. This entitlement shifts our focus toward what we perceive as lacking rather than on the abundant blessings God has already provided, distorting our perspective and fostering discontent. In these moments, asking ourselves, “Who am I to expect this?” can be a powerful reminder that every blessing is a gift of grace rather than a right. This question is not meant to diminish our worth, as God deeply values us, but rather to keep our hearts centered in humility and gratitude. Like pride, entitlement disrupts our ability to see blessings as gifts and others’ perspectives as valuable, drawing us further from the humility God desires for us. Recognizing entitlement as a form of pride challenges us to release these expectations and adopt a spirit of humility, viewing blessings as gifts rather than rights. A humble approach acknowledges that each of us travels a unique path daily, shaped by what we see, hear, and experience along the way. We exchange these perspectives in conversation, expanding our limited view of reality. This openness doesn’t imply that every perspective is accurate, but it reminds us to listen and to weigh each view carefully against the truth of God’s Word. Recognizing that we all may hold misconceptions keeps us grounded. The humility that Jesus modeled, seen in His compassionate response to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11) and in washing the disciples' feet (John 13:14-15), is rooted in respect and understanding. If we genuinely follow His example, it can transform our interactions. A prideful approach, fueled by entitlement or self-assuredness, erodes relationships and fosters disdain. Humility, however, invites mutual respect, fostering constructive dialogue even amid disagreements. If we cannot align on every issue, we can at least uphold a reverence for one another, embodying Christ’s humility as we seek truth and unity. After all, this is what language is designed for: to communicate truth, to bridge perspectives, and to foster understanding. When we approach each conversation with a heart grounded in humility, we align with God’s purpose for our words: to speak life, seek wisdom, and build each other up in love. Humility is not only a posture in conversation but a heart attitude that aligns us with God’s wisdom, softening our hearts to receive His guidance and love. By releasing entitlement and embracing this spirit of humility daily, we allow God to shape our character, bringing growth, harmony, and, ultimately, closer fellowship with Him and others. Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

We all have reservations. We all have times when we think we are not ready for the next step. Whether this is the next step in education, a new job opportunity, or an addition to the family. Sometimes these feelings are warranted by real limitations, whether we lack experience, face physical or mental challenges, or simply feel our hearts are not ready to devote ourselves to that next endeavor. Whatever the case may be, the mere existence of these reservations shows a reverence for the situation we are addressing. We experience the same phenomenon with matters of God. Our knowledge of our sinful past can prevent us from taking that next step, even in what some would consider easy-to-conduct tasks, such as attending church, participating in a Bible study, or witnessing to others. This does not get any easier as our journey leads to other theological matters, such as those that make up the new birth experience as written in the Bible. Are we ready for water baptism? Are we prepared for the baptism of the spirit? These are issues we all have or will deal with. Theological debates do not seem to ease this in any way. Arguments are made about what is or isn’t essential, what practices recorded are or are not normative, and whether gifts are for today or just for that season. Amidst this confusion, I find clarity by looking through the lens of nothing being impossible for God. There is no box grand enough to contain him. Following his word as it is written will lead us into the Kingdom. I’m wagering my soul on it. Combining all the above, the confusion in the world, and knowing none of us are worthy of the gift of salvation, along with an earnest eagerness to seek the humility Jesus taught, we can have a border wall around our salvation that seems impenetrable. While talking with a brother in Christ about issues we and the people around us face, I told him, “We sometimes put things out of our own reach.” It was just one phrase in a meaningful conversation but had a profound impact. At first, it seemed counterintuitive. If it is within our reach to place it there, surely, we can reach again and grab it when the “time is right." I found myself examining the phrase before we were finished with the conversation. Quickly, a memory of an old analog scale we used at home for baking came to mind. It served as a perfect analogy for this concept. We keep the scale on the top of our cabinets, partially for décor and primarily because we don’t have a better spot. After we are done using it, I stand on my own two feet, albeit on the tips of my toes, and place the scale on the cabinet, using the tips of my fingers to get it past the webbing so it sits level. The next time we need to use it, I cannot simply reverse the process. To get my hand close enough to grasp this thing, I put it out of my reach; I need the help of something (a stool) to lift me to within reach. Maybe you see where I am going with this. Just as with the storage of the scale, putting God’s gifts out of our reach is not only possible but also probable. However, no stool is tall enough to help us in this regard. The uplifting help we need can only be provided by the gift-giver himself. Oh, what a wonderful God we have who is so patient with us. He allows us to work through these things at our own pace and makes himself available to meet us wherever we are and at any time. The saving faith we have, the means to the grace only he can provide, is itself only possible through his word. This only makes sense considering, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible…” (Colossians 1:16 NKJV) Some lessons we learn from conversation, teachings, and through the experience of others. Sometimes, our stubbornness leads us to act against our own best interests, learning lessons the hard way. We can get ourselves into situations that we cannot get ourselves out of. So, when faced with doubts regarding readiness throughout our walk with God, it is essential to remember it is not us; He makes us ready.

Because we are conscious beings, and we are conscious of the fact that we are conscious, and awareness as a process of realizing biblical meanings is essential to have an embodied rather than merely conceptual understanding, I thought to approach the beginning of Genesis from the perspective of awareness. The first aspect that seems interesting to me is that of the beginning. What does the beginning actually mean? From an etymological perspective, the word Bereshit (בראשית) is made of three elements: - The prefix ב [be] which means "in" - The root ראש [rosh] which means "head", "start" -The suffix ית [ith] which means "ing", "ness" Literally: In_head_ness. The suffix "-ness" means "state: condition: quality" and is used with an adjective to describe the state, condition, or quality of being that adjective. Therefore, "in-head-ness" suggests that creation is a product of the head, God's head. But God is immaterial, God is a spirit, The Spirit - could this mean that God is a mind? If so, that would mean that Creation is God's imagination, and we exist as His thoughts - thoughts endowed with free will, which can choose to reflect something other than God. And we indeed do this, and when we do, we suffer unnecessarily. Then, after heaven and earth were created, a lack was observed, and God said, "Let there be light." What is this light, especially since the light-bearers ( The Sun and The Moon) were created much later? I propose a thought experiment: Imagine we are standing in front of a plot of land and don't know what to do with it. We observe it, see the sky above, and notice the lack of order and meaning above the earth. We wonder about the potential utility of this plot of land.Suddenly, an idea comes to us, and our entire being is illuminated. This is a revelatory act, a moment of awareness where knowledge is separated from nescience - "And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness." I prefer contemplation to take its place instead of a certain conclusion.

Just some thoughts for the day. 1) The people flying the rainbow flag also believe in hate speech: it's the hate flag. 2) Conservatives are not culture conservatives & Copyright infringes free speech. If you’re a kid inheriting stories, you should be able to do what you please with those stories, you were too young to give consent. The Age of the Second Reformation is in our grasp – seize it! 3) “Did man create God or did God create man?” is a dumb question, whatever your answer I agree with you. The part of the brain that processes religion (the story part) does not process time linearly. In stories, everything that happens happens simultaneously and it’s the retelling that attributes an order and codifies what are past, present, and future events. 4) Sins are reverse, rank-ordered Priorities. Comparing two things in the middle grey area for sinfulness is less important than the degree to which they morally differ (which attributes how much time one should spend pondering any given issue!). 5) More should read Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Ingraining an understanding of mankind’s propensity for medieval thinking is, by many orders of magnitude, more important than telling them they already live in 1984. 6) Non consensual taxes, including inflation, are part-time slavery. 7) As humans, we need the extreme that the Death Penalty provides so the social fabric of society fixes itself: men making sure their kids won’t be an embarrassment to the family name, women getting invested in making sure their kids are taught properly, individuals being more untrusting, to the point of taking action, of all levels of State (schools, taxes,...). Moderation can be achieved without removing the Death Penalty: as a society, chose one crime – and one crime only! – that is to warrant capital punishment. The extreme will rewire society’s brains through fictional/non-fictional storytelling. I chose bicycle theft.

Part way through Jesus’ ministry, the gospel of Matthew includes a short passage that includes someone who felt ready to become one of Jesus’ followers, and in this passage, he approaches Jesus to share this idea. In two short verses, we get a powerful picture of Jesus. Matthew tells us that “A teacher of the Law came to him. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘I am ready to go with you wherever you go.’” (Matthew 8:19 GNT) Before even looking at Jesus’ answer, it is worth paying attention to the person making this request. Matthew’s gospel tells us that the man making this statement was “a teacher of the Law”. This detail is significant because as we read all the gospels, it appears that Jesus reserved His harshest words and messages for the religious leaders, and included among the various groups of religious leaders where those who taught others the Law. However, while most of the religious leaders and teachers of the Law hated Jesus, this one, earlier in Jesus’ ministry, had made up his mind to follow Jesus. Simply making the statement that he did was both powerful and profound when we consider that this religious leader declared publicly that he wanted to switch sides on a spiritual level. Then Jesus shared His response: “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest.” (Matthew 8:20 GNT) On one hand, Jesus’ response doesn’t really answer this leader’s question. Does this response mean that Jesus accepted this teacher of the Law, or does it imply that this teacher then decided against being a disciple? None of the gospels tell us for certain, however, in Jesus’ response, we can see a significant clue into this teacher’s mind. By this point in Jesus’ ministry, He was drawing a crowd and His fame was growing. It is likely that this teacher wanted to be a part of Jesus’ group because it was popular and famous. Jesus could see the motives behind this man’s request, and in His response, Jesus challenges this man even though Jesus doesn’t reject him. Jesus’ response emphasizes the negative angle of following Him, which in this case meant this man giving up his home and past. We don’t see a conclusion to this teacher’s story, and we don’t know whether this teacher still chose to follow after Jesus directed him to the challenges of following, but in this event, we see a powerful truth for all of us: When we choose to follow Jesus, we are trading our past lives for future lives, and even though our new life with God has an “eternal-life” guarantee, we will still face challenges while living for Jesus in this age of life. This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

Humanity had an initial purpose described in Genesis, and even though we know and understand this, the coming of Christ represents a new Genesis that includes humanity's fall into sin. This essentially means that humanity's Genesis IS also its fall into sin, because for this reason we say that Christ became the sin for us through His crucifixion. And then one might ask why preserve the initial description, and a possible answer would be: to maintain a contrast through which we can understand the meaning behind the weight of becoming. Because with humanity's fall, humans essentially became self-aware beings, but in an unpleasant way, by not accepting what it means to be human. What we see within ourselves is unpleasant, and so we tend to flee from ourselves. Jesus, by accepting the cross, shows us that we must traverse these unpleasant dimensions. Genesis provides a hint about what will happen if we accept to explore what we find within ourselves.Jesus does something more: He assumes and integrates everyday life within Himself, though this everyday life is different from the initial meaning. The toil humans now experience differs from the original labor described in the Genesis Paradise. Falling into sin means that we have inappropriately entered the world of principles, identifying ourselves with the product/fruit of imagination. We cannot imagine without an informational base. After accumulating sufficient knowledge, and given that knowledge was already corrupted (by Lucifer), we were enticed within ourselves to use imagination and create reality variants that do not conform to actual reality. An example: In reality, an animal does not use another animal for labor as we do, though parasitic animals exist by exploiting other animals' existence. We observed this and used animals for purposes other than their intended design. We took a horse and rode it, literally or with harnesses, using it for field work, transportation, hunting, or entertainment. We went even further. Naturally, you would not find rubber together with iron and other materials that constitute a machine, let alone have them move by themselves as we've managed to do. We've transformed reality so much that we've created "iron horses". This is a monster, an abomination simply because it does not exist in reality. But Jesus was a carpenter, and for the first 30 years of His existence, He lived a completely human life. He grew in understanding the world in which He made Himself human, including from the perspective of gaining wisdom. This means Jesus integrated within Himself through this experience ALL consequences of humanity's fall into sin, with the exception that He did not sin - He did not violate any of the Old Testament laws. It is correct to say that Jesus Christ came into existence in a state of apparent separation from the divinity He was. His divinity functioned only by not allowing the human nature of Christ to be touched by sin due to its innocence, because Lucifer could not seduce Him internally, as that is a "place" where Lucifer has no access. When Jesus reached the age of maturity and wisdom, He was tempted only externally, and through His human wisdom alone, He rejected temptation because it was, evidently, sufficient. And thus, He showed us how we too can live and become. After the emergence of Jesus Christ, although we are fallen beings and whether we want it or not, we live with the consequences of the fall, we come into existence with purpose and meaning - with destinies that include ALL aspects. We are destined in the sense of this new Genesis, meaning that each of us comes with a profession, with our own mental and spiritual idiosyncrasies, with our similarities and differences, with our particularities. Through precisely these, we can be redeemed, and all we need to do is accept and live our own destiny, fully experiencing our becoming, each according to its cross.

“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.” (Mark 2:1-4 NIV) This weekend’s thought is based on the opening verses of Mark, chapter 2. Every time I read this event, regardless of the gospel, I am amazed by the perseverance of this man’s friends. Most people jump ahead to how Jesus responds to this man’s unusual arrival. However, for me, the length these men go through to get help for their paralyzed friend is powerful. Nothing stopped them on their mission - even if it meant damaging a home in the process. I’ve heard people talk about this roof being composed of removable slats, so no lasting damage was done. In this scenario, all that would be needed to fix the roof would be replacing the slats later. Luke 5:19 describes the men lowering their friend through the tiles of the roof. However, Mark’s gospel describes these men digging a hole in the roof, prompting me to think this was a more significant renovation than simply moving some shingle-like tiles. Part of me would like to think that these men stayed behind after their friend was healed to help repair the hole they caused. This would be the nicest, most thoughtful thing to do, but nothing in the gospels gives us any resolution to the hole in the roof. Instead, the gospels simply focus on the length these men went to get their friend in front of Jesus. These men demonstrated faith. Not long ago, I faced a setback at work. A project I hoped would work didn’t go as planned, and a case could be made that time, materials, and money were wasted. However, the case could be made that knowledge was acquired, so all was not lost. As I write this, I am on the fence regarding which angle is most accurate, though there is truth in both perspectives. I am challenged by the perseverance of these men. They didn’t let any setback stop them. When this project failed, giving up was a strong temptation. Giving up usually feels easy. However, giving up isn’t something I will do. These men challenge all of us to persevere past the setbacks of our lives, and to keep pressing forward. While this past week may have been a setback on one hand, enough knowledge was gained to make future projects successful! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) 🙏 📖 ✝️ 👍

In Jesus’ prayer on the night He was arrested, He prays for His followers. The followers Jesus prays for are not just the small group of disciples, but all of His followers who live throughout history. A big theme of Jesus prayer is connection and unity. Just like Jesus is one with the Father, He wants to unite His followers into being one with both Him as well as God. We can see this theme clearly throughout a number of the sections in Jesus’ prayer, but as Jesus begins to wrap His prayer up, we see a picture of oneness that is a little unique from some of the others. In His prayer to the Father, Jesus says, “I have honored my followers in the same way that you honored me, in order that they may be one with each other, just as we are one. I am one with them, and you are one with me, so that they may become completely one. Then this world’s people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me.” (John 17:22-23 CEV) It is amazing to me that Jesus tells us that He honored His followers in the same way the Father has honored Him. Some translations say glory instead of honor. This idea is powerful because it reveals how God’s nature is to step down. When we give someone or something glory, we lift it up, and by doing so, we place it above us. While it might not technically be worth more than we are to someone else, honoring something or someone is more in the eye of the one giving the glory or doing the honoring. As an example, if I give honor to a friend for something they accomplished, I am lifting them above me (or perhaps up beside me if it is something I had also accomplished). Honor and glory lift others up. My friend in this example might not feel as though he is worthy of the honor because he might be focused on someone or something else who is even better than he is. This means that honor is in the eye of the one giving honor – and Jesus says He has honored His followers like God had honored Him. God the Father lifted up Jesus, and Jesus lifted up His followers, and we are called to continue the cycle of honor by returning it to God. We complete our connection and unity with God by giving honor to Him for everything He has done for us through the Father, through Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit. When we close this circle by returning honor to God, we become one with Him and this oneness becomes a witness to those living around us that God loves us. While God’s love doesn’t always mean that we are protected from bad events, it does mean that we have Someone who is willing and happy to walk through life with us as we continue to live, learn, and grow towards being the person God created us to be. This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

As Luke’s gospel transitions into telling us about the Last Supper Jesus ate with His disciples on the night He was betrayed and arrested, Luke’s gospel includes an interesting detail that I had somehow missed every other time I have read this passage. Luke begins talking about Jesus’ Last Supper event by saying: “When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles. He said to them, ‘I have wanted so much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer!’” (Luke 22:14-15 GNT) In this introduction to this meal, Luke’s gospel includes a detail that the disciples probably missed or discounted at first and this detail says that Jesus’ suffering was about to begin. While Judas Iscariot already had made a deal with the religious leaders to sell Jesus to them, the other disciples appeared to be oblivious to the hints that Jesus was sharing with them about what was about to take place. I wonder in my mind if Jesus held back saying everything at this point because it might have changed what actually happened. Perhaps if Jesus came out and said that He would be dying on a cross less than 24 hours later, Judas Iscariot might have realized that his betrayal would actually result in Jesus’ death and chosen not to go through with it. Also, if Jesus had clearly said what would happen the following day, it is possible that many of the disciples – Peter included – would have fought to the death when the mob was arresting Jesus. While the disciples scatter, part of me wonders if this is because they didn’t realize that Jesus would ultimately be crucified as a result. If they realized in the moment of Jesus’ arrest that it meant Jesus would be dead 24 hours later, they might have fought and died with Him rather than scattering. Several of the gospels describe Peter getting violent when the mob came, and I wonder if he would have been joined by other disciples if Jesus had shared that His death was right around the corner. Instead, Jesus speaks of suffering, and this is significant for us. In many ways, Jesus’ suffering for us is more powerful than His death. There were many opportunities and ways Jesus could have died earlier on in His ministry. He could have been stoned, thrown off of a cliff, or drowned at the bottom of the Sea of Galilee just to name a few. None of these deaths would have shown us how much God loves us. However, the cross, which was torture in itself, and all the torture and abuse leading up to the cross was Jesus’ choice. While it would have been easier to die a different way, Jesus knew the path to the cross would best show God’s love for us, and that is what Jesus came to help us see. At the start of the Last Supper, even though the disciples missed the significance of Jesus’ opening words, at least some of them remembered later on to share with Luke as he was writing. In our own lives, even if we miss the significance of an event, a challenge, a problem, or a promise in the moment, we can trust that God has something significant in mind that He will explain to us in the future. This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

As I read through the gospels and specifically about the miracles Jesus did, I am surprised at the places where Jesus heals someone while also knowing that it would bother others. One such example is when Jesus healed the man who was swollen with fluid while visiting a Pharisee’s home (Luke 14:1-6). In this event, we see plenty of evidence that the whole situation was set up to catch Jesus doing something that these religious men could use as evidence to claim Jesus worked on the Sabbath. The question that comes to my mind when I read events like this why would Jesus knowingly place Himself in situations like this knowing that it is a trap. Perhaps Jesus didn’t know this situation was a trap when He arrived, but since He was so connected with the Holy Spirit and the Father in everything He did and said, I would be very surprised if Jesus simply walked unknowingly into this trap. In contrast, if Jesus knew everything about this trap beforehand, and He chose to walk into it, the only two reasons for this that I can see are (1) healing someone who needed help and (2) pushing these religious leaders past their legalistic view of Sabbath observance. We can see both reasons being present in this passage, and this teaches us that God has called us to love and help others regardless of the day of the week we are in, and while His Sabbath day is holy and special, it should never be an excuse to not help someone in need! This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40 NIV) A few summers ago, my family & I took a trip up to the mountains to go camping. This was our second camping trip this season. Several hours before leaving, I searched the directions for the campground in our GPS to add the campground to the recently searched list. When we left, I quickly looked in the recent list, loaded up the directions, and we started driving. At the time, I noticed that the directions looked different than they did earlier, but I didn't question it because the GPS was taking us a more preferred route. Since the GPS factors in traffic, I assumed it calculated heavier traffic on the route it showed earlier. However, about a third of the way into our trip, the GPS instructed us to take a turn I knew was not correct. Knowing the mountain roads, I was certain we needed to keep going straight. The GPS insisted that we turn. About a half mile after following the GPS' instructions to take the turn, I pulled off to the side of the road to look closer at where the GPS was taking us. As it turns out, the GPS was not taking us to our campground for this weekend. Instead, in my haste, I had mistakenly clicked on the campground we had camped at a few weekends earlier, which the GPS was diligently directing us to. After updating our destination to the correct campground, the GPS' instructions aligned with my expectations. In our own lives, we face competing ideas regarding success in life. Is success a large house, an expensive car, investments so large that they grow faster than we can spend them, or being famous and known by millions of people? While some of those measures of success I wouldn't say no to if God had plans for this in my future, each one of those measures is like a GPS set to the wrong destination. Fame, wealth, status, and knowledge, can only take you so far in life - and they are poor measures for spiritual success. In the first century, knowing the scriptures was seen as the ultimate measure of spiritual success. Being able to answer tough questions about scripture and to ask the best questions was what every rabbi-in-training wanted. However, Jesus challenges this idea when pushing back at the religious leaders. According to Jesus, the goal of the scriptures is knowing Him. If reading the scriptures points you to Jesus, then the scriptures have accomplished their goal. If you read the scriptures for any other purpose, your GPS is set to the wrong destination. Salvation does not come from what you know, it comes from who you have a relationship with. While knowing the Bible is good, knowing Jesus is better; knowing Jesus leads to eternal life. If you don't know who Jesus is, pick up your Bible. The goal of the Bible is pointing you to Jesus! ✝️

When reading from Luke’s gospel as Jesus shares the illustration of the Good Samaritan, I am amazed to learn that this entire parable hinges on a follow-up question – and this follow-up question might not have even been asked if it were not for the attitude of the religious leader who asked it. When I read about this event, in many ways Jesus’ parable overshadows the powerful truth He gives the religious leader in response to the leader’s earlier question. To set the stage for what is shared, Luke opens by having a religious leader ask Jesus what must happen for a person to gain eternal life. This religious leader’s question is a question that most everyone who believes in an afterlife has had at one point or another. Instead of answering the man’s question directly, Jesus asked the leader how he understood the scriptures. The leader replied by saying, “The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’” (Luke 10:27 CEV) What Jesus says next is incredibly powerful. Jesus replied to this saying, “You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life.” (Luke 10:28 CEV) This should have been the end of the conversation, but because this leader wanted to justify himself and his knowledge, Luke tells us that he then asked how to define the concept of neighbor. We are quick to look into truths and themes from the parable Jesus shares to help us illustrate the concept of being a “neighbor”, but when we pull the parable from the context of the conversation it was shared in, we miss the powerful truth that Jesus just shared and confirmed the way to gain eternal life. The religious leader gave the standard, summary overview of God’s Law and Moses’ law that was given through Moses while the Israelites were in the desert, and Jesus confirmed that it was the way to heaven. Loving God and loving others as much as we love ourselves is the key. Since most people are pretty self-centered, it makes loving other people that much more challenging. However, it is what Jesus has just confirmed that we are called to do. However, knowing the right answer (like this religious leader did) and obeying the right answer are two different things. Most of the Jewish world during the first century knew this answer, however they missed the truth that this answer needed to be obeyed. They also missed that the core idea of this answer was love. In our own lives, we are called to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. In case we want a practical example of how to do this, all we need to do is look at Jesus’ life. He came to illustrate what these two commandments look like when obeyed! This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

If one looks at history – say from the end of the 17th Century – it becomes obvious that the plans of the “Illuminati” have progressed most successfully for that cadre of people. Of course, their particular plans have been the plans of much if not most of mankind since The Fall; that is, the destruction not of God – for that is beyond the power of the Great Enemy, Satan – but of God’s Creation and especially the apex of that Creation, Man. Whatever the “facts” regarding the being God created in His great Love, we know that that Creation was under attack virtually from the beginning. Indeed, Man – that is our ancestors – “fell” through their choice to disobey the only stricture they were given by their Creator, thus condemning their progeny and the rest of creation to the sad state in which we presently find ourselves. Now, we know that our fallen state and the consequences thereof are no different today than they were at the time of Noah at least with regard to man’s interaction with the world around him. However, just as the consequences of destruction arising from some natural event become greater as the area affected becomes larger, today we as a species have gained so much knowledge and “expertise” that our past puny efforts at destruction even a few generations ago have been overwhelmed by what our increasing knowledge and skill have made available to us today in the ways of wickedness. The wickedness itself hasn’t changed, just mankind’s capacity to express it. But there is a question that nobody seems to have asked from Eden to the New World Order and that is the consequences affecting those on both sides of this “war.” The consequences for those who fight on the side of the God of Creation are certainly well documented over the period of time that this contest has continued, and those consequences have been (accurately) foretold by Jesus Christ as we see in Scripture. It can be summed up by what the Virgin Mary told St. Bernadette of Lourdes so many years ago, that is, “I cannot promise you happiness on earth, but I can promise you joy in heaven.” This has pretty much been the “reward” the God of Creation has given to His people from before Abraham. But if such a bargain was “acceptable” to all mankind, then there would not be two sides! Having two warring factions acknowledges that “each side” understands an entirely different bargain in place with its particular “leader!” God’s followers choose an eternity with Him. The followers of Satan expect their reward on earth; that is limitless wealth and power with all that that entails. I do not know, but I suspect that many of the “elite” also believe that they will be able to obtain “eternal life” through technology and hence the push of the “trans-human” agenda. Of course, for intelligent people, these same elite seem to forget that nothing in this universe is eternal; that is, that there will be an end to all things at least in this “reality.” Even if man can escape earth’s doom with the end of the sun – and believe me, our efforts to gain the use of “outer space” is part of that attempt! – eventually, there will be no place left to run. But even so, are the followers of The Father of Lies correct in their belief that in their obedience to and worship of him, they will obtain all that they desire including eternal life? Ah, there’s the rub, as Shakespeare once pointed out. For while God acts out of love for His Creation, Satan hates both God, whom he cannot conquer, and Man, whom he can. Everything that his followers do is designed to destroy, decimate and demolish God’s creation. You don’t see the followers of Satan doing anything worthwhile in the sense that their actions help their fellow man except when such an act is performed in the nature of a quid pro quo or as a means of seducing people to follow their Master. Yes, they build edifices of worship but what takes place therein forever damns both the “shrines” and the worshippers who erected them. The fate of the Jews in the Old Testament when they raised places of worship to idols in the groves and the high places makes this very clear indeed! One must remember this: NOTHING done through or by wickedness eventually redounds well to the doer! Those who worship either knowingly or unknowingly the forces of evil do not profit from that service although it may seem that they triumph “for a day.” But in the end, their reward is destruction in the here and now and eternal damnation in the world to come. So many very intelligent people sell themselves for the pittance of a short period of fame or wealth or power only to find that in the end – that is, at the time of their deaths – they were cheated of everything worth having. Scripture points this out very clearly in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man. Lazarus is a poor, sick, suffering beggar who lives on the property of a wealthy man who, in turn, takes no notice of the wretch except to allow him to remain. The man’s dogs lick the beggar’s sores and he is sometimes given left over food from the rich man’s table. The rich man lives as rich men have always lived and so, when after death, he finds himself suffering in hell while Lazarus is “in the arms of Abraham,” he is greatly dismayed and cannot understand how things arrived at that turn of events! Of course, the parable is this: that all the “blessings” of life do not assure such events after death and neither does suffering in life necessarily endure into the afterlife. The rich man was not wicked per se, but neither did he follow the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Imagine how much worse it will be for those who are wicked per se! As has been the case from the beginning of the world, we have at first sight four groups of people: the first are the truly enlightened who have found God and do their best to live by His commandments. These can, of course, fall – just as the worst can be saved by repentance – but they have knowledge that makes them better able to resist the wickedness of the Ruler of this world. The second are “decent people” who are ignorant of God or “do not believe” or do believe but do not practice that belief in such a way as to gain the most from their belief. Nonetheless, these are people who want to do “the right thing” whether from belief or from what they see as their own character. But those who do not believe are wrong, because alone and without God, man is truly fallen and is incapable of any truly “good” thing. Somewhere these people have been touched by God but often they don’t know it until they find themselves in a situation in which they cannot maintain “neutrality” and are forced to really choose beyond the mundane. The third are people who don’t believe or, more to the point, really don’t care. They do what they think is good for them without giving much thought to the consequences of their actions on both themselves and others. They are not circumscribed by moral strictures or conscience. If a lie serves better than the truth, they will use the lie. Indeed, sometimes they lie without need simply because it has become a habit! These are the servants of the servants of the servants of evil. They don’t worship evil as do the last category because they do not really believe that any such “beings” – good or bad – actually exist! Rather, they judge everything within the limits of what is best for them, personally. The final group actually know and understand the world of demons and their king, Lucifer or Satan. Unlike the last group, they are not so spiritually blind as to disbelieve that there is quite another level beyond the world as most know it. They are diametric to the first group whose service to God raises them above even the “good” people in the second group but, as with the first group they are aware of the actual presence of evil and they have chosen to accept and to worship it. But many will ask, “what differences does it make if we recognize these groups – including our own places within them?” Well, it means that we will know our enemies, something that in warfare is essential to survival never mind victory! But this doesn’t give an “edge” to either side unless we take that edge and, sadly, the wicked are more likely to be vigilant enough to do so while the good tend to either be apathetic or too fearful to fight back – and God knows, we saw that in the COVID disaster! So, here is a sort of general “definition” of who is where and why: Group 1. It may seem that great religious leaders would fall into this category, but not so! Many of God’s greatest warriors are the old, the infirm and the forgotten. Seldom do these great Godly warriors go about with His armor being visible to the rest of us, but never fear, they are among us and occasionally, we are privileged to meet one or two in the course of our mundane existence. Group 2. These are the average “good people” around today. And while many are openly “Christian,” they tend not to shove it down anybody’s throat – that is, they ignore Christ’s Great Commission to spread His Gospel to their fellow man. But they do try to live “good” lives and though they make mistakes, even making poor decisions and doing “bad things,” on the whole they are good people whose lives make existence at least tolerable for the rest of us. Some eventually migrate into Group 3, while a very few move up into Group 1. The ones who fall, however, are often redeemed because they are, on the whole, decent, humble people who recognize their failings, a big requirement for true repentance. Group 3. These are the people today who range from the ever growing number of narcissists to ordinary street thugs as well as crooked politicians and all the criminal types in between. I would say that 99% of our “ruling elites” are of this grouping along with cops on the take and those who are “officially” criminal in their behavior. Many are in the top echelons of society; that is, they are famous and wealthy and the people to whom our sad “ordinary folk” look to imitate and worship. Like Group 2, they are the largest of the groups in numbers and like Group 2, from time to time, they migrate either up or down – although usually the migration is downward. But again, as people are individual, one cannot make any ultimate judgment. God doesn’t, so neither should we. But still, people in this group are not trustworthy until they prove differently. Group 4. These are the people most of whom, as in Group 1, are never known to the world at large. They are the closest servants to the Spirits of this world and include many of whom most people would put at least in Group 2, and some in Group 1! They are known, but usually only to each other and to those spirits whom they serve. As with all of the Groups, until death, it is possible for these people to move up, but unless they move very far up, it will do their souls no good at the time of death. For instance, the thief on the cross who was promised paradise by Christ with his repentance at the very last moment, was in Group 3, not Group 4! As time goes on further into the “end times” as seems to be what is happening today, these groupings become much more obvious to all concerned – if people are watching. Of course, the first and fourth groups always know the truth. Only the second and third groups have lived in a sort of “matrix” often devoid of religious reality but even they are now beginning to see that their worldview has been shockingly lacking in that same reality and, as a result, millions are moving from a spiritually semi-conscious state to being knowledgeable on both sides of the issue. More saints, more demons; that is, the good get better and the bad, worse. And, as Christ warned so many years ago, in these latter days, the forces of evil grow while those of good diminish. As our culture decays and our lives become ever more subject to the Prince of this World, many now begin to hear the faint call of trumpets . . .

Later on during Jesus’ ministry, He shared a parable about workers being hired to work in a vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), and the key ideas in this parable relate to God’s generosity, and everyone who worked receiving an equal level of pay. These two ideas are clearly visible in the Parable of the Vineyard Workers, but I believe there is another subtle truth hidden just under the surface of this parable that is powerful for all of us to remember. In this parable, we learn about a number of groups of people who started working for the vineyard owner at various points during the day. Some of those who were hired worked all day, while others only worked for the last hour of the day. At the end of the day, everyone is paid equally as if they had worked for the full day. When we read this parable, the big truth that Jesus shared is that it doesn’t matter when you started working, but it does matter that you finished out the day working. Just under the surface of what is directly said in this parable is the idea that only those who were present at the end of the day were paid. This means that if someone started working at the beginning of the day, but then left at 2pm in the afternoon, they wouldn’t receive anything – because they were not present to be paid. If this parable symbolizes how followers of Jesus are working for God during their lives here on earth, then this subtle truth is that it doesn’t matter when we start working; what matters is that we start working before the end of our day (i.e. life), and that we keep working until the end of our day. God is incredibly generous with how He has chosen to reward us, but it is up to us to be present when He is rewarding those who worked for Him. A life that started with God but ended far from Him is not rewarded like a life that started far from God and ended close to Him. The direction of our lives matter, and this parable emphasizes that it is important for us to end our lives with God. Since we don’t know when our lives will end, it is up to us to live each day from this point forward with God, so that when our day of work is up, we will have ended it with Him. This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

One thing that always amazes me about Jesus is how He is able to avoid the traps and tricks of the Pharisees and other religious leaders. Time and time again Jesus sidesteps their logic and shares an even greater truth. This passage doesn’t have a clear “Pharisee Trap” present, but Jesus does take the perspective of those present and redefines it. Like most interesting dialogs, some people bring Jesus a statement or question and wait to hear His response. Luke 13 begins by saying, “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.” (Luke 13:1 NIV) These people may have wanted to simply inform Jesus about something bad that had just happened, or perhaps they were warning Him to consider moving His ministry to a different location, but in either case, they were asking for Jesus to give a response to this information. Like Jesus usually did, instead of responding directly to the surface statement, He responds to the underlying concept and perspective. The subtle trick that is present here is not seen in the statement, but instead in Jesus’ response. One thing those present were trying to pin Jesus into saying is that how one dies is more important than how they lived. The thought among those present seemed to be that one’s type of death, especially if they were killed while worshiping, would overshadow any wrong they had done during their lives. The other big thing that those present were trying to get Jesus to say was that the type of death that someone experienced was directly a result of the type of life they had lived. It stood to reason that those who died early, especially if it was an “accident” like a tower falling, must have been hiding worse sins that only God knew about and that He determined it good to punish them for it. These are the two sides to this seemingly innocent piece of news – and Jesus sees right into the preconceived ideas and into the trap. So Jesus takes the opportunity to shift the perspective of each side of the trick. Continuing in verse 2, we read, “Jesus answered, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.’” (Luke 13:2-5 NIV) First Jesus steps in and brings the implications to the surface. Is how one dies a revelation of how they lived? Does the type or time of death matter? Then Jesus gives us the big truth: How one chooses to live from this point forward determines their ultimate destiny. Unless repenting, which means turning away from sin and towards God, is a part of your path forward, you will face the same fate. The amount/level of sin in our lives is not as important as the one we put our faith, hope, and trust in to deal with the sin that has stained our past. This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

...................Anas ibn Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: David (Dawud) supplicated to his Lord, saying: "My God, every king has a treasury, so where is Your treasury?" He, Glorious and Exalted, replied... > "He, Glorious and Exalted, said: I have a treasury greater than the Throne (which makes the universe tiny), more expansive than the Footstool, more delightful than Paradise, and more splendid than the Kingdoms. Its ground is knowledge, its sky is faith, its sun is longing, its moon is love, its stars are inspirations, its clouds is the mind, its rain is mercy, its fruits are obedience, and its yield is wisdom. It has four gates: knowledge, forbearance, patience, and acceptance. And behold, it is the heart." ٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰ ٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰٰAnd this narration is conveyed by Sayyid Adel Al-Alawi in a series of lectures about the heart and the greatness of this heart. It is reported that the Prophet David (peace be upon him) said: “My Lord, inform me of my companion and equal in rank in Paradise.” God, the Blessed and Exalted, revealed to him: “It is Matta, the father of Jonah (Yunus).” David then sought permission from God to visit him, and permission was granted. He set out with his son Solomon (peace be upon them) until they arrived at his location, where they found a house made of palm leaves. They were told: “He is in the marketplace.” They asked about him and were told: “Seek him among the woodcutters.” So they inquired, and a group of people said: “We are waiting for him; he will come shortly.” They sat down, waiting for him until he arrived, carrying a load of wood on his head. The people gathered around him; he set down the wood, praised God, and said, “Who will buy something good with something good?”> One person bargained with him, another offered a higher price, until he sold it to one of them. Then David and Solomon greeted him, and he said, “Come with me to my home.” He bought food with the money he had, ground it, kneaded it in a wooden bowl, lit a fire, and placed the dough in it while sitting with them, talking. When the bread was baked, he placed it in the bowl, split it, sprinkled salt on it, set a jug of water beside him, and sat on his knees. He took a bite, and as he raised it to his mouth, he said, “In the name of God.” When he swallowed, he said, “Praise be to God.” He did the same with every bite. Then he took the water, said, “In the name of God,” and when he finished, he said, “Praise be to God.” Then he said, “My Lord, who is there upon whom You have bestowed such blessings as You have bestowed upon me? You have perfected my sight, hearing, and health. You have given me strength so I could gather wood from trees I did not plant and that I did not worry about protecting. You made it a provision for me and brought someone to buy it from me. With its price, I bought food I did not grow. You subdued fire for me, allowing me to bake it, and granted me the desire to eat it so that I may gain strength to worship You. For all of this, praise is Yours.” Then he began to cry.> David said, “My son, let us rise and go back, for I have never seen a servant more grateful to God than this.” .

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11 NIV) Not long ago, I woke up feeling sick. My energy was gone while I still had many tasks that needed to be done. While I had been pressing forward on all the tasks placed before me, one area of my life was being cheated: rest. It is powerful to realize that in God's plan for human life, a significant portion of it is devoted to rest: both physical & spiritual. In a given week, we have 168 hours. Ideally, 50-60 of those hours will be dedicated to sleep (which restores our minds and bodies). In addition to this, God has commanded us to take a day each week away from work - specifically the seventh day. Avoiding the technical debate over whether the specific day matters or not, this additional time of rest is devoted to rest for our spirit. This means that in our 168 hours, God challenges approximately 70 of those hours to rest. This leaves us just under 100 hours for our week's work. While a 100 hour work week might sound appealing for a person's budget, sustaining something like this heavily depends on the type of work involved. A 100 hour workweek would make every other area of life suffer, including our health. For most people, the typical "work-week" is somewhere under 50 hours. This means that roughly a third of our week is spent working, a third is spent resting in sleep, and a third is filled with the other social, spiritual, and miscellaneous tasks of our lives. God gave us rest as a blessing and He modeled it at the end of creation week. At the end of a God-sized, completed project, God spends a day resting. This day was likely spent enjoying life with the first humans who had been created the day earlier. If your life has become unbalanced, remember to rest, both physically and spiritually. Rest for our body and our spirit is a gift. This gift is so important for humanity that God includes it in His Law and it's the commandment that begins with the word "remember". "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he [the Lord] grants sleep to those he loves." ~Psalm 127:2 NIV

A recent survey has found that, for the first time, atheists in the UK outnumber those who believe in God. Or do they? Because an awful lot depends on exactly what people are asked. The “Explaining Atheism” project is a global research initiative led by Queen’s University Belfast and recently released interim findings appearing to show that atheism is now more widespread than theism in the UK. The study surveyed approximately 25,000 individuals across six countries, including Brazil, China, Denmark, Japan, the UK, and the USA. It draws upon data from the British Social Attitudes Survey, the World Values Survey, and an earlier project by the same team, “Understanding Unbelief” (2017-2021). According to the British Social Attitudes Survey (BSAS), belief in God in the UK dropped from 41.8 pc in 2008 to 37.4 pc in 2018. During the same period, the percentage of people who say they do not believe in God rose from 35.2 pc to 43pc. However, a survey conducted by the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) put the number of atheists in Britain at 26pc, not 43pc. Why the difference? It seems to come down to how the question is asked. The BSAS asked people point-blank whether they believed in God or not. But the ISSP asked a wider range of questions from emphatic atheism to emphatic theism and everything in between. A similar phenomenon was observed in Ireland, where the wording of the Census 2022 question “What is your religion?” was modified to “What is your religion, if any?” The first response option was “no religion”, whereas this had been the last option in the 2016 Census. This change led to a big increase in “no religion” responses. No surprise there. Prof. Stephen Bullivant, a sociologist of religion at St Mary’s University in London, noted that in some countries, the term ‘atheist’ carries a degree of stigma, and people may avoid identifying as such, even if they do not believe in God or practice any religion. Conversely, in other cultures, atheism or secularity has become the norm, leading respondents to self-identify as atheists, even if they still hold some belief in God. Interestingly, the “Explaining Atheism” study also found that “non-belief in God does not necessarily rule out belief in other supernatural phenomena, as most atheists and agnostics express some type of supernatural belief.” By the way, the findings indicate that belief, or non-belief, in God is predominantly influenced by socialisation, rather than by factors such as education, fear of death, or a need for structure. Parental upbringing and societal expectations about religion were identified as the most significant factors. For instance, those not exposed to religious practise by their parents during childhood were more likely to identify as atheists. In other words, we are very conventional. If the broad social convention is religious, then we are more likely to be religious, and if the convention is broadly secular, we are more likely to be secular, or even atheistic. We don’t seem to think as much about our beliefs as we might like to imagine.

As I read the Bible, specifically the gospels, there are a number of places where Jesus shares some really challenging ideas; there are other places where He shows an extraordinary love for people who are in need; and there are a few places where Jesus gives a massive, perspective altering truth. In our passage for this entry, we come across one of those perspective altering truths, and if we take only this truth into our hearts, we would be completely different people. Luke 12 begins with Jesus warning and challenging people regarding hypocrisy, which means thinking/judging/doing something different than what one says. Immediately following this warning, Jesus shares verses 4 and 5 which say, “My friends, I can guarantee that you don’t need to be afraid of those who kill the body. After that they can’t do anything more. I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the power to throw you into hell after killing you. I’m warning you to be afraid of him.” (Luke 12:4-5 GW) Jesus tells us clearly that if we are going to be afraid of anyone, we should fear God, who has the power and authority to completely destroy us. People might be able to cause pain, and they may be able to kill our bodies, but Jesus shares plainly that is all they can do. All the torture humans can think up can only go so far. All the pain that can be caused by others will end when our lives do. But God has a much greater power: the power of resurrection. A skilled or lucky doctor can revive someone if they act quickly, but only God can bring someone back to life who has been dead for weeks, months, years, or even longer. And with the power of resurrection also comes the power to determine our ultimate destiny: enjoying life with God in the new earth, or being thrown into hell after death. The most amazing part of Jesus’ truth and God’s love is that He would give us our own choice. God will not send anyone into hell who wants a genuine relationship with Him. Regardless of what others think of us, Jesus always wants us to remember that what God thinks of us is most important. This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

Of the countless times Jesus healed people, I am always fascinated by one specific healing – the one included in this passage. Most times Jesus healed someone He would lay His hands on the individual, or in some way touch the sick person. In a few cases, He would give confirmation to the friend/family member when they came to Him on behalf of the sick person. However, what is most distinct about this healing is that Jesus gives no confirmation, there is no contact aside from a distant shout, and what was shouted was simply a direction: “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” (Luke 17:14b NASB95) This healing contains no encouragement or confirmation that the command to go to the priest would result in healing, but just like the Old Testament record of Naaman being healed in 2 Kings, chapter 5, obedience to the command itself demonstrates the faith that is present. Perhaps the men knew Jesus could heal them, but maybe they weren’t sure entirely if Jesus would want to. Perhaps doubt had clouded their thoughts, and maybe only one was brave enough to be the spokesperson for the group – the same one who later returned to thank Jesus. These are some speculations that I have in my mind as to why Jesus may have answered like He did – He was pushing back against doubt. Doubt has a way of stopping us from moving forward. It can derail our progress and cause us to slow down. Doubt derails our active, continually-moving-forward faith. God wants us to have a relationship with Him, but doubt creeps in to sabotage and stop the relationship from growing. What really stands out in this healing that I can take and apply to my own life is Jesus’ first command to these men: “Go”. Sometimes we need to step out and start moving for God to be able to act. Sometimes, when we are stuck somewhere, we simply need to start moving, and then believe that God will direct us – though hopefully not as creatively as He did in Jonah’s life (recorded in the short book of Jonah). This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

God is good, but not in the same way one would say pizza is good, the weather is good, or it is good to see you. The latter examples could be considered true or false, depending on the evaluator's mood or disposition, and could vary from moment to moment. These subjective statements require personal input from a subject to determine their validity. Saying "God is good" subjectively begs the question: compared to what? When we call something good based on preference, we compare it to an external standard we know or desire. However, God's goodness does not rely on any external comparison. He is the source and definition of good, as affirmed in Mark 10:18, “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.”. Speaking objectively of God’s goodness is acknowledging that His nature defines what is good, independent of human judgment or circumstances. Good cannot exist on its own outside of a mind. Inanimate objects like rocks, chairs, or tables cannot perceive or comprehend good or evil. It takes a mind to know good morally because it requires intentionality and ethical reasoning. Some could argue that a tree, plant life, or even animals could know “good” as they seem to respond to beneficial stimuli. We may say they know what is “good” for them. However, I would propose that something thriving does not necessarily equate to objective good. One could thrive through the theft of personal property. For instance, stealing money or food might allow someone to eat better or save time and energy compared to working an honest eight-to-ten-hour day. A skeptic might argue that this act is pragmatically justified because it leads to thriving, especially for the thief. However, this argument collapses without an objective moral standard. If we determine good and evil based on subjective outcomes, all actions, stealing, lying, and even harming others, can be justified depending on the perspective. If goodness were determined solely by individual perspectives, it would lead to a world where theft, lying, and even murder could be justified. Without God’s objective standard, moral truth becomes as unstable as human whims, resulting in chaos and moral relativism. As Milton Friedman observed, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." Even if theft benefits the thief in the short term, the cost is always borne by someone else, the rightful owner whose property was taken without consent. Without an objective standard to define good and evil, such actions are reduced to personal opinion or perspective: the thief sees the act as beneficial, while the victim experiences it as harmful. In this purely subjective framework, all things become good and bad simultaneously, depending on which side one lands. This highlights the necessity of an objective standard to ground moral truth. Only with an unchanging standard, rooted in God’s nature, can we say definitively that theft is wrong, not because of its effects on thriving but because it violates the principles of justice and love established by God (Micah 6:8). God’s goodness is not subject to shifting opinions or outcomes; it is absolute and unchanging, providing the foundation for moral order. So, when I say, “God is good,” I am not expressing my opinion. I am making an objective statement akin to how 2+2=4, E=MC², or gravity applies to all things equally. These are a few examples of the many constants and natural laws man has discovered about our universe and world. They exist independent of our existence. We consciously and subconsciously map interactions with these laws together to conceptualize reality. A reality so complex, magnificent, and precise that it leaves evidence of an intelligent designer at every discovery. If God’s goodness is foundational to moral truth, we can also see evidence of His goodness in the intricate design of creation. The intricate design of the natural world points to the goodness and intelligence of its Creator. From the coded language of DNA that shapes who we are to the octopus’s astonishing mimicry abilities and the essential symbiotic relationships in nature, creation reflects God’s handiwork (Job 12:7-10). Even in a world marked by entropy, where things naturally degrade, the ongoing order and balance in life are miraculous, underscoring the sustaining power of God’s goodness. Another of these incredibly complex, magnificent, and precise discoveries is the Judeo-Christian Bible. This book of books is rivaled by no other. It conveys one cohesive story, written by forty authors over fifteen hundred years in three languages (Hebrew (Old Testament), Aramaic (parts of Daniel and Ezra), and Greek (New Testament) on three continents (Europe, Asia, and Africa). In short, that story tells of the origin of existence, man's fall from God, and the necessary path to eternal reconciliation. This one-sentence summary does not begin to do the Bible justice. In this story, we are shown, through various recounts of historical events, parables, and teachings, the wisdom we need to prosper in our physical life and complete our spiritual journey (Romans 15:4). The Bible contains a multitude of verses that declare salvation is achieved through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), and God's grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). Therefore, we should seek it first (Matthew 6:33), and everything else will fall in line. By placing our faith in Jesus and continuing to walk as children of the light (Ephesians 5:8), we can experience a good life, an earthly side effect that most believers and non-believers recognize. Our attempt to relinquish earthly desires clashes with the programming ingrained in us by secular culture. Through my recent rediscovery of God and his word, I have realized all the truly good things and the path to obtaining them are laid out in the black, white, and red words of God. Even though these things greatly benefit us, this is not what makes them good. They are also not a given (Ecclesiastes 9:11). We are not guaranteed a good life because of good deeds. We aren't even guaranteed salvation through these good deeds (Galatians 2:16). We know bad things happen to good people and vice versa. This, I believe, is a necessary side effect of the free will of Mankind. Our personal choices and those of others, present and past, can and do affect the innocent in perceivably random ways (Proverbs 13:22). Sometimes good, sometimes bad. I do not state this as it is from my mind; instead, I draw from the inspired word of God. I do not pretend to have made this up. It is there for all of us with ears to hear (Mark 4:9). Some may ask, “If God is good, why do suffering and death exist?” This question challenges many to reconcile the goodness of God with the reality of pain. The Bible teaches that suffering and death entered the world through sin (Romans 5:12). God’s gift of free will, though given in love, opened the door to rebellion when Adam and Eve, as representatives of humanity, chose disobedience in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). This misuse of freedom brought sin and its consequences, suffering and death, into the world, impacting all creation. Yet even in this, God’s goodness remains evident. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem humanity and offer eternal life (John 3:16). Suffering, though painful, can refine us, teaching perseverance, character, and hope as we learn to rely on God’s strength (Romans 8:28, James 1:2-4). Ultimately, God promises to restore all things, eradicating suffering and death forever (Revelation 21:4). In the meantime, we are called to trust in His goodness, even during trials. As Psalm 34:18 reminds us, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”So, what are we to do with this information? The answer is simple but only sometimes easy; anything worth doing seldom is. We must orient ourselves towards the single source of objective good (James 1:17) and truth (John 14:6, John 17:17). We must orient ourselves towards God (Deuteronomy 4:29). We must go to the Word of God daily for sustenance (Matthew 4:4). Meditating on it and tuning out the loud sounds of the world so that we may be able to hear the still small voice of God (1 Kings 19:12). Answering the calls we receive, reflecting and re-aligning our heading when we veer off course. Taking time to appreciate the good things I wrote about earlier. The things we intrinsically know to be good because it was breathed into us by our creator (Genesis 2:7). Not because this man, or any other man, arbitrarily says it so. If we have dominion to decide what is objectively good in an arbitrarily subjective manner, everything is good, and nothing is good simultaneously. It would be at the whim of any of us, at any time, constantly changing to fit the desires of the moment. Indeed, without any objective source of good, all things are permissible. Surely, chaos would ensue. While there certainly is chaos in the world, an underlying order also exists that was created and is sustained by what we would refer to as a spirit outside this dimension, just as in the laws we discussed earlier. This is the same higher power that constituted the order out of chaos, as written in the first chapter of Genesis. The one that took the chaos that was the dark, formless void called Earth and spoke order into existence. Our world is entropic. That is, when left alone, all things degrade and devolve. The mere fact that we are still here and haven't been consumed by misery is a miracle. Without this external force, we would have perished long ago. How our mind processes and maps perceived reality and constant exposure to good and bad things can desensitize us, making it easy to fall into a nihilistic coma. When we lose the ability to be amazed by the creation surrounding us, it can be hard to find our way back. This requires discipline and effort, but we are not strong enough to do it ourselves. If we are being honest, we all fall short on our own (Romans 3:23). Being honest is another concept that is becoming less common in our society. The spirit of the lie has grabbed hold of culture and is rapidly spreading. As in the book of Jonah, many who are called to tell the truth in the face of the spirit of the lie are running from the calling and are falling asleep spiritually. Jonah’s refusal to deliver God’s truth to Nineveh brought about danger for everyone around him, a reminder that neglecting to speak truth can have far-reaching consequences. This seems to be manifesting the very hell foreshadowed by the story. Societies are turning away from truth, which is equivalent to turning away from good and thus turning away from God. I draw the equivalence between truth and good for two primary reasons. One, Jesus, being God manifest in the flesh, said he is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Two, it's naturally evident that when we embody the spirit of the lie, it possesses us and distorts our perception of reality along with others who fall for it. In a world increasingly influenced by subjective truths, the rejection of God’s unchanging truth leads to widespread moral confusion, as evidenced by societal turmoil and the erosion of trust. When each person determines their own "truth," societal foundations of justice and trust are destabilized, leaving chaos in their place. This is why turning back to God’s objective truth is not only spiritually vital but essential for the moral and social health of humanity. All lies distort reality. Doing so limits our ability to navigate life's various challenges successfully and sets us up for failure. Thus, a lie cannot be good, and if a lie cannot be good, the truth, being antithetical to the lie, must be good. We need a truthful, meaningful, and everlasting relationship with good. The overarching theme of the Bible is to be reconciled with good; we must repent of our sins, sacrificing all that blocks our path to good. Be baptized in Jesus' name (Acts 2:38), dying to ourselves. Being born again to embody the spirit of good by receiving and walking in the Holy Spirit of good. If any of that last paragraph reads funny to you, go back and replace the word good with God because, as I stated in the beginning, God IS Good. Psalm 34:8, O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Last week, the North American tour of the Relic of St. Jude's made a stop at a parish in the town where I reside. Seeing one of the greatest relics preserved by the Vatican must have been a joy for the Catholic parishioners. However, things went awry at the church. The Canadian priest that is touring with the relic began to get all touchy-feely with some of the children while they were looking at the relic. Priests are people, so you know when they go out of town somewhere, the thought is to hook up with a stranger. You know - "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." However, this priest was doing this to the children. He was touching a girl's hair just like "Creepy Joe." The incident was so icky that a the parish filed a police report against the priest. One would think that all of the scandals of priests in the past that they would not even lay a finger upon any children. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church continues to keep the tradition of not allowing priests to marry. If the priests were allowed to marry, then they would not be creeping on the kids. All males need that release every once in a while. Priests need to unite so that they can have the opportunity to get married and to get some instead of this inane tradition that has been ongoing for more than 1,600 years. Allow for the priests to marry so that these incidents would not occur at such an enormous rate.

While reading John’s gospel, specifically the passage that describes the woman caught in adultery being brought to Jesus, I am amazed by a detail that John includes in this event. When the law was clear, and when it would have been easy for Jesus to clearly answer the challenge that the religious leaders bring, Jesus does something unexpected; Jesus doesn’t actually respond to the challenge. John describes this by saying, “They asked Jesus this question, because they wanted to test him and bring some charge against him. But Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger.” (John 8:6 CEV) Tradition says that instead of answering the question, Jesus starts writing the sins of the accusers in the sand. According to this line of thinking, Jesus chose to write in sand to subtly suggest that forgiven sins are easy to erase – because everyone who has chosen to write a message in the sand of a beach knows that the wind and waves erases everything equally. However, Jesus could have simply bent down and begun to write out Old Testament passages that relate to God’s love and His forgiving character. Regardless of what Jesus chose to write, the religious leaders wanted a clear direct answer to their clear direct challenge. The leaders “kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, ‘If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!’” (John 8:7 CEV) Jesus only speaks after being pressured to respond. I believe this is because Jesus was more interested in avoiding condemning the woman who was hurting than He was in proving a point to those who brought the woman to Him. In our own lives, Jesus is familiar with all the times we have failed, and all the times we have done things worthy of God’s condemnation. However, Jesus didn’t come to condemn people. He came to show everyone God’s love and His forgiveness. Jesus forgave the woman, and He offers forgiveness to each of us as well. This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

Part way through Jesus’ ministry as He is teaching those who are following Him, He asks those present a rhetorical question, and then backs up the question with an illustration. When reading this, I often miss the question in favor of focusing on the illustration. I imagine many of us can understand the illustration easier than the question Jesus asked immediately before it. Near the end of Luke’s description of Jesus sermon that started by focus on being good servants, He describes Jesus asking those present, “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? If your enemy is taking you to court, try hard to settle it on the way. If you don’t, your enemy might take you to the judge, and the judge might turn you over to the officer, and the officer might throw you into jail. I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid everything you owe.” (Luke 12:57-59 NCV) When reading this, I can completely understand the motivation to settle a dispute before it reaches court, because courtrooms have clear winners and clear losers – and the losers in a courtroom setting can face big fines, go to prison, or even face both of these. But when I read this in the context of Jesus’ rhetorical question, it makes a little less sense. Should we understand Jesus to be telling those present that truth is subjective to the people having the discussion? In my own mind, I don’t think Jesus describes this, but instead I believe He is challenging His followers, both those present at that time as well as everyone living afterwards, to be intentional about communicating with one another. When we turn off communication in a relationship, the relationship ceases to exist. A relationship isn’t much of a relationship when there is no communication involved. Lack of communication will kill a relationship faster than great distance. When challenging those present to decide for themselves what is right, I think Jesus is also challenging these people, as well as everyone who ever lived after this point, that they must make a decision regarding who they believe Him to be. There is no room to be on the fence when it comes to deciding who Jesus is, and once we have made the decision, if it is to side with Jesus, we must be intentional about keeping communication with Him strong. This is done through prayer, Bible study, and regular time spent resting with Him. When faced with sin, and the realization that Satan is eager to accuse, condemn, and sentence us, it would be wise for us to choose Jesus, and decide for ourselves to place our hope, faith, trust, and belief in Him, because Jesus has offered us His life as a replacement for our own. Jesus’ life was perfect, and with Jesus’ life standing in place of our own, we will be saved for eternity! This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:5-7 NIV) “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:15-17 NIV) Those living in the US celebrated Thanksgiving this past week. However, like many holidays, the follow-up “holiday” has increasingly overshadowed the “thanks” in Thanksgiving: known to many as Black Friday. For the past week, or even month in some cases, retailers have been pulling attention towards spending money with them and away from giving thanks that we have been blessed with money to begin with. While some take this opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts for others, most people see this as an opportunity to get gifts for themselves. In today’s culture, at least in the US, Thanksgiving day has become a day we can be thankful to plan to spend money on things for ourselves. However, Paul challenges all Christians with a different focus. This focus emphasizes contentment and true thankfulness. Paul wrote two of the three passages above while imprisoned. In a situation most people would find little to be thankful for, Paul emphasizes the importance of being thankful, being gentle, and singing praise to God regardless of your current circumstances. Paul even modeled this by giving thanks to God during the darkest part of a two-week storm that threatened the lives of everyone on the ship he was on. Before the boat crashed later that morning, Paul stood up in front of everyone and gave thanks for what God had given them. (Acts 27:33-38) While we are in the middle of one big commercial celebration aimed at separating you from money you earned, remember: contentment and gratitude don’t come from how much stuff you own. More stuff usually means more stress, more things that break, and more “first-world problems”. Instead, genuine gratitude and contentment come when we place our faith, hope, trust, and belief in God and let Him worry about the outcome. Paul challenges everyone who considers themselves a follow of Jesus to keep Jesus ahead of the trials, the challenges, and the conforming pressure of today’s culture. Paul reminds us that in every situation we place Jesus first, we can experience Jesus’ peace, which is something worth being thankful for! 🙏 📖 ✝️ 👍

While reading from Mark’s gospel about Jesus inviting and blessing the children who were brought to Him, a verse stood out to me in a way I had never noticed before. In this event, Mark tells us that “Jesus put his arms around the children and blessed them by placing his hands on them.” (Mark 10:16 GW) Mark is the only gospel that describes Jesus putting His arms around the children. In Mark’s gospel, the picture I get is that Jesus gives these children a hug (if they were old enough to walk), and if a baby happened to be among those who were brought to Jesus, Jesus didn’t shy away from holding the child. When I read this last verse in Mark, I get the impression that Jesus first showed how He enjoyed being around the children who were brought (people don’t voluntarily hug those they don’t want to be around), and only afterwards does He place His hands on the child/children to give them His blessing. I believe the order is important. Jesus is most interested in building a relationship with us – where we are in life right now – and only after a relationship is formed does He inspire change from within us. While human nature tries to get us focused in on requiring visible change on the front end as evidence that we are moving in the right direction, Jesus knows that only after coming to Him will we be able to change the inside – and internal change will ultimately become external change as well. Jesus’ invitation for everyone, regardless of age, is to come to Him and receive His love. This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

“As long as the earth endures,seedtime and harvest,cold and heat,summer and winter,day and nightwill never cease.” (Genesis 8:22 NIV) “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV) “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9 ESV) As we enter the “Christmas Season”, I am reminded that not only are the days dark, cold, and short (because of the winter “season” beginning), but that the days we are living in today are also dark, cold, and short. Some parts of our northern hemisphere have been blessed (or cursed) with snow already, while others are snowless. This time of the year reminds me of the changing of the seasons—both the seasons of our physical world and the seasons of life. Similar to how our world has spring, summer, autumn/fall, and winter, our lives have planting, growing, harvest, and rest. In our lives, the break between seasons is less defined. In my own life, I am reaching the end of a season. A couple of project that I have spent years on are coming to a close. However, while I will be intentionally vague about these projects, the season that I’m ending is planting. I fully expect that if I maintain and cultivate what I’ve planted, then it can grow to become a great harvest. I am also reaching the end of another season (and stepping more fully into another one). For the last 10-12 years, I have been a regular guest speaker at several churches within driving distance from my house. However, while this began when I was married without children, I now have two amazing kids, and the time has come for me to stop (or pause) being away from my family on weekends during church hours, and spend time with them going to church. (Some might say that they should come along with me, but for my wife, it is a greater help if I am sitting with her rather than standing up front.) Together, we are entering the Christmas season. While much of this season has been commercialized away from its spiritual roots, let’s remember together that the reason for Christmas is not the gifts we give each other. The reason is remembering the gift God gave us: At the darkest point in our world (at least in the northern hemisphere), we intentionally choose to remember that God sent us the greatest light He could. As we remember Jesus came a little over 2,000 years ago, let’s also remember that He promised to return, and to bring us home to be with Him forever: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” ~Jesus ~John 14:1-3 🙏 📖 ✝️ 👍

Comparing ourselves to others is a temptation we all face sooner or later. In our world today, it is hard not to compare what we have, such as our house, our car/truck, our income, or any number of other things to what others have around us. It even gets trickier when we compare our relationships to other people’s relationships. Comparing my marriage to your marriage, or my relationship with my daughter with your relationship to your children is only a losing scenario. But perhaps the most subtle comparison trap we can fall into is comparing our relationship with God to someone else’s relationship. There are no winners with this sort of comparison. And that is what brings us to our passage for this journal entry. In one of Jesus’ most famous parables is hidden a truth regarding the dangers of the comparison trap. While reading/studying the Prodigal Son parable, I could find only two examples of comparison present. The first place is in verse 17: “When he [the younger son] came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!’” (Luke 15:17 NIV) This first example of comparison is internal. While technically it is comparing, the younger son realizes how the lowest servants were treated by his father. They probably were doing the same type of work he was doing, but the environment was way better. His Father treated them with respect. This first comparison isn’t looking up or down on someone, but instead looking at the present circumstances we are in. It is only by objectively and honestly looking at where we are in life that we will ever choose something different – and that includes repenting and moving closer to God. The second comparison is not at all like the first. It is found near the end of the parable in verses 29 and 30: “But he [the older son] answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’” (Luke 15:29-30 NIV) This second example of comparison is directly comparing a relationship: The older son is comparing his relationship to the father and how He was treated to the younger son’s disrespect, rebellion, and now celebration. The older brother is mad, not because there was a party happening, but because the reason for the party slams into the comparison game he had been playing all these years, because after all, he was the son who stayed. But this brings us to God’s subtle truth in this parable: God wants a personal relationship with each one of us. The Father personally welcomed the younger son home, and the Father personally went out to talk with the older brother who would not enter the party. God is seeking a unique, personal relationship with each one of us – with no comparison games present. This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.

Patrick Needham Intention- Serve God Introduction- In the military I was diagnosed with PTSD and schizophrenia from my childhood. I was a carpenter in the Air Force. A welder. Many things. One day I come into work after being diagnosed, and the stress becomes too much- and the hours too long. It feels as if every day is two days for me and one day for everyone else. When they told me that they wanted me to start coming back in five days a week after my therapy was canceled. I wrote on my hand “Pray to God for military time”. That night I was so tired from the stress that I fell asleep without praying. I usually exhaust myself completely in prayer. I learned it from the bible. The next day I was told by my master sergeant that I am to report only for six hours instead of nine every day, and I expressed my deepest gratitude to him- If it wasn’t for the leadership I had there- after being ripped out of my old duty station half-way across the world in Japan- I would have been in Hell. Immediately after thanking him I retreated to my small crevice in the workplace, where no-one bothered me and there was only one entrance to a small section with a chair and a half-used desk, and I began to write down in pen and paper to the Lord- our Father- God- “Heavenly Father, your mercy is unheard of- what can I do to show gratitude to you in the highest way? Heavenly Father, what is the highest form of worship I can be given in to honor you?” “Clean Hell” Silently spoke within my mind. It just did it again after praying it even now. It is something I learned how to do from deep prayer- to speak with God- Everyone can learn how to do it. You can learn how to tell God from demon apart because parts of your body will go strong when Truth speaks. It is called kinesiology. How do you clean Hell? It’s within you. You have to go within. Heavenly Father, I- in of myself, am powerless- and I ask for a miracle- that I may honor you and worship you in the highest way. Let my life be given to Thee, O’ Lord, that it may be only worship to God that my life becometh. I ask for a miracle, O’ Lord, that this book may be written by thy hand, and not my own. Glory be to God in the highest. When you confront the worst and darkest things within you, you allow the brightest light to finally shine. Amen. Chapter 1- The Beginning 1. From the early age of five my parents divorced, and my mother would then go on to re-marry to a divorced man with a child. The man hid from her a cocaine addiction, and used to be an alcoholic. “The kingdom of Heaven is within you” -Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour Just as the kingdom of Heaven is within you, you- if you keep sin within you- keep the kingdom of Hell right on top of it- The kingdom of Heaven- and the light that has always shined within you and will always shine within you will be blocked out by the hatred and the jealousy, and the vengeance that you keep within your heart. You keep the kingdom of Hell within you. That is why it can follow you. What you keep within your heart is the only thing you will be able to create with your own hands. For 20 years, my mother and my father created Hell from their hatred of each other, and their hatred of themselves, and gave their kingdom to their children. Four of us. Each of us beared their self-hatred within us in different ways, but each and every one of us cried from within, because eventually we could see that we lived in a place that no-one wanted to live in. That’s Hell. The sins of the father become the sins of the son, the sins of the mother too. All of that hatred, and greed, and guilt, and jealously went carried within me, and each of my siblings- all four of us. And at the age of 18, when I finally left to be on my own- to make a future- I could only make the same things they made in the past. From the age of 18 to 20, I became so dark and self-hating, and thus- hating of everyone- that I ultimately became a man of hatred, my life became disgusting, anything I made fell apart, and no one would stay in my life. They either left, or were driven away by me. I gained 70 pounds, I ran out of money, I lost a scholarship that paid for everything in college- by the age of 18, for a brief moment- I placed a gun to the side of my head. Yet I didn’t have the courage to do anything. At the age of 19 I had become so miserable that without a gun- I truly peered into the abyss for the first time, and began to dream of death. I wanted it- I convinced myself I needed it- I had driven everyone out of my life. Wrestled with demons that could not be driven out without faith- and I had none. I fought it violently- with everything I had for one year- desperately I tried to hold onto something- but if you do not have God you have nothing. I did not have God. Sometimes things would get better, maybe for a month- then things would get three times worse. I gave everything I had- then I gave more- and life kept becoming a blacker and blacker abyss. The resent was within me- like a disease- and it overtook my heart more and more- I began to die. A severe depression began to take over- one mixed with the poison of resent for my mother and father. And the depression of resent would become a depression of dread- and ate away at everything it touched- every moment of my life became touched by a disease of hatred and I drove away everyone I could ever meet. The pain so deep that it was unexplainable to my family- and when they said “What’s wrong?” They could only think that I hated them because I was incapable of giving word with courage to how betrayed we were as children and how betrayed I was for being given such a heart and being expected to hate no-one. And if that hatred from my mother found it’s way back to her? She would give you Hell. I was terrified of her. I was terrified of my step father. His drug abuse was the most selfish thing I have ever witnessed in my life, and my mother the same from herself choosing him over and over and over again, even after rotting the teeth out of his own skull from meth and keeping the house without electricity for the beginning of a winter. The selfish things that were kept within the hearts of my mother and father were given to mine, and the more I hid it- The more that I rejected that I was my mother and my father- the more the darkness would eat me from the inside out in the form of resent and hatred- rather than being brought out to the light so that the darkness could be repented for. 2. At the age of 19 I had driven silently my own life into such a state of Hell that in the month of April- April 1st, at midnight- to be specific- I was consumed within such a grief that I confessed to a camera that I wanted death- but the only thing that kept me was the realization of how devastated my God-mother would have been if she- and all of my peers from highschool- true friends- were to discover that I took my own life. Suddenly- I realized- I saw- that my own life was no different from another- and that for myself to justify the excuse of taking my own life- I would be making it easier for the very next young man or young woman with the same dreadful resent within their heart- eating them away from the inside out- to do the very same. If I took my own life- I would be taking theirs. Somehow I could sense it- that my decisions were the very same as their decisions- and that we stood in the very same doorway even if time separated it. We were all one. It was a shocking revelation that revealed to me that my life was the life of someone’s son. The hatred became so dark that it prevented me from seeing that I was someone’s very son. For some reason I could take my own life, but It filled me with rage at the thought that another person- the very same as I- but different- going through everything I was going through- could possibly be convinced that he or she could ever possibly deserve to take their own life. Somehow- I could see that my life was their own- even now- and that to take my own life was to take theirs- and I refused. I don’t know who that person is- but I love them- I feel for them- I see them as my own son. Six months later- I would put a gun to the side of my own head- but the gun would put itself down; the realization from half a year ago was potent that the spirit put the gun down even if the mind wanted it. God put down the gun. A loaded gun. God put down the gun. Amen. My life only became better when I decided to no longer run from my sins- at the time I had no idea they were called sins- I just knew it as darkness- My family spat on religion so much in sin that I myself rejected at the ripe age of 13 after witnessing how disgusting my parents could be as people while still being welcomed by the church. I was without God because I rebuked him. At the age of 13. The darkness- sins- it doesn’t matter what you call it- if you keep it within you- it will eat you apart. The resentment will enjoy eating and corroding and corrupting every part of your life like a spiritual cancer. That’s what the darkness is- it’s cancer. I kept it within my heart for too long.