In modern English, the names of people and places are important, but they don't necessarily define the thing they refer to. In the Bible, however, names carry great significance. God is very intentional about words—after all, He used words to create the universe—and the words He uses to refer to Himself are a rich source of insight into His nature.
One of the most important benefits of studying God’s Word is growing closer to Him and growing more like Christ. If you want to get to know someone, you spend time listening to them. This is just as true with our relationship with God as it is with our earthly relationships. As we spend more time with God and get to know Him better, an amazing thing happens: we become more like Him. Knowing God and imitating Christ go hand in hand.
If you are at a place in your quiet time where you just don’t know what to study next, these chapters of inspiration from the Bible are sure to be engaging and thought provoking. They cover a variety of topics from many different books of the Bible, compiled from years of taking notes in my custom study Bible.
The phrase “do not be afraid” is listed 48 times in the New King James version of the Bible. The word fear is listed over 400 times! God knew that we would need guidance and instruction on this topic and He provided it. Out of His love for us, He commands us not to fear, fret, or be anxious, and through His presence, He provides the means of resisting fear.
Sanctification and holiness sound like lofty theological terms, but essentially they mean that we are to be set apart, living to please God. One unknown author said this process is “the Christianizing of the Christian”, and it takes the Holy Spirit changing our heart in order to change our habits.
We have a spiritual epidemic spreading in our nation. It is impacting thousands of churches, leaving them unhealthy and unsuccessful in their Christ‐given mission to reach the world. The cause of the problem? Allowing a worldly mind‐set to filter into an institution called to be set apart and holy.
Favor is a concept that comes up during the Christmas season when reading the biblical story of the birth of Christ. Mary, Jesus’ mother, was one who found favor with God, thus she was chosen to bear God’s one and only Son. There were also many other people in the Bible who, due to their devotion to God, were greatly blessed by Him.
It’s been said that the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Pentateuch, form the theological foundation of the Bible. In the past few months, I’ve been journeying through these books and have learned so much about God’s character and love for mankind, even when we least deserve it. Hopefully this article will be an inspiration for you to rediscover this sometimes neglected part of God’s Word.
What is the will of God for our lives, and how do we make sure that we are living in it? We need to be faithful in using the tools that God has given us, and He will lead us onto a path that brings Him glory.