“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:2

Sometimes in the Bible, we read about events that don’t seem to make sense. Take the Christmas story, for example. How was it possible the Magi followed a bright star hundreds of miles to a manger holding the newly born Jesus? And how did the shepherds know where to find Jesus? And just how did Mary manage to travel ninety miles on the back of a donkey a full nine months pregnant? …

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” John 3:16

Now that it is December, people worldwide are celebrating the season of Advent, a season with a long history. Contrary to what many people believe, it doesn’t wholly refer to Christmas, though it still has deep Biblical meaning rooted in God’s love for His people.

Advent History

For some, Advent is simply a time to countdown to Christmas Day. We may have an Advent calendar on the wall made of anything from cloth to wood to Legos, all containing small surprises for children in the build-up to the big day on December 25. …

“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” Matthew 5:41

Jesus often taught how to love and live at peace with others throughout His ministry. In Matthew 5, He touches on these subjects as well as several others, including the importance of forgiveness and generosity. Most notably, in verse 41, He tells us to go with someone two miles even if we are only required to go just one.

What did Jesus mean by this command? What was its context? …

“When Jesus therefore saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman behold your son!’” John 19:26

In the book of John, we read six times about an anonymous figure interchangeably called “the one whom Jesus loved,” “the other disciple,” and “beloved disciple.” For years, scholars and laypeople alike have scratched their heads, wondering the identity of this person. Several theories exist. Some are plausible, and some are not. But if we look at Biblical text evidence, we can better determine who this mystery person might be.

The Book of John

Before we begin, we must try to figure out who wrote the book of John. …

“These six things the LORD hates. Yes, seven are an abomination to Him.” Proverbs 6:16

Anyone who knows God’s true heart knows He does not hate us in any way, shape, or form despite what we sometimes think. Unfortunate circumstances and seasons in our lives are never indicators that God hates us. Quite the contrary. God absolutely loves us with love so wide and deep; our human minds cannot ever possibly comprehend it. Jesus’ death on the cross proves it.

But that doesn’t mean He doesn’t hate. In fact, the Bible says He hates seven specific things. Since we know He only loves us, then we must ask what it is He hates. Then, we must examine ourselves to see if we are committing any of these abominations, so we don’t fall into the pit of sin. …

“Think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” Romans 12:3

In the book of Romans in the New Testament, the apostle Paul is writing to the early Christians in Rome to provide them with apostolic instruction and boost their faith. The first eleven chapters of Romans outline what the Christian faith is generally all about. Paul lays out for us what the Christian faith is, its theology, and church doctrine. He also describes God’s unfailing mercy.

By chapter twelve, Paul tells the Roman Christians how to apply their newfound faith and doctrine in a practical manner. If you haven’t read this incredible book in the Bible in a while, I encourage you to go back and review it. …

“Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight.” Genesis 3:3

Every once in a while, something grabs our attention. Something makes us quickly stop in our tracks. I don’t mean those times when we get distracted by squirrels or butterflies. I’m referring to things that are so odd or unexpected that they make us suddenly turn aside from what we were doing.

Often, these are not mere coincidences, especially in the Bible.

Several people in the Bible had encounters with God, where He made them suddenly turn aside from what they were doing. By examining how God approached them, we can learn why God is trying to capture our attention and what His intentions are for us. …

“For our citizenship is in heaven.” Philippians 3:20

Many times throughout history, one country has attacked and conquered another. Typically, the goal is to colonize the other country, dominate its citizens, and expand its influence. We’ve seen this with Great Britain, China, Spain, the United States, and others, including ancient empires like the Roman Empire. The Romans would take over a town and proclaim the people were now citizens of Rome, even though Rome was thousands of miles away, and no one in the town had ever seen it.

The idea of forced citizenship soon became a political issue, and it generated much resentment among the Jews. It is why they typically despised tax collectors. Those people were Jews, but they worked for the evil Romans, thus becoming traitors. …