Death, You Terrible Thing
“When confronted with death, Jesus reacted with a mixture of deep sorrow and indignant anger. He was offended by the evil reality of death, for he knew it did not belong in his Father’s kingdom. Death had no place in God’s original design in Eden, and it will have no place in the new heavens and the new earth (Rev. 21:4)! It is the direct result of sin and the curse that followed (Rom. 6:23, Gen. 3:19). To Jesus, Death is an enemy invader, an unwelcome plague, a Terrible Thing. Jesus’s indignation in this passage shows us that he hated death too—he hates it with us and he hates it for us, just as a loving shepherd hates the wolf who preys on his sheep. We are not alone in our hatred of death and our desire for its defeat. In fact, Jesus likely hates it even more than we do! This reality is a strangely beautiful solace.“ Death, You Terrible Thing by Caroline Cobb
Memory Isn't a Solo Affair
“We forget those truths we desperately want to remember. We forget the prayer request our friend shared in a small group or the very words of Scripture we read mere minutes ago. Our faulty memory becomes a mark of guilt for all we’ve failed to remember. The calls to memorize and meditate on Scripture can feel like condemning reminders of the spiritual discipline we’ve let go. Amidst the onslaught of noise that permeates our day, we can feel incapable of storing these truths in our minds. Yet this battle with our memory isn’t a lost cause. God has already provided for our ailing and exhausted minds, not only by our willpower or gumption, but through his own body. You and I don’t have to remember alone.” Memory Isn't a Solo Affair by Brianna Lambert
Biblical Literacy in a Culture of Instant Gratification
“The ease that technology allows brings with it many consequences: we are now an impulse-driven society, craving instant gratification and reflexively reaching for quick rewards to cater to our every impulse and desire. Sadly, these tendencies have even permeated Christianity, affecting our appetites for God’s Word. It seems that many of us have lost the art of slowly and deeply studying God’s Word for transformation rather than micro doses of transactional truth.” Biblical Literacy in a Culture of Instant Gratification by Ashley Upchurch
The Veil is Torn: The Transformative Power of Grace
“Our renewed relationship with God should affect how we live because it transforms our hearts. Our desires, affections, and propensities were renewed as the knowledge of the glory of God was revealed. Christ's beauty, riches, and value are attainable through the gospel at all times. With access to such treasure, why would we behold anything of this world? Paul tells us to behold God’s glory continuously. For Christians, there is no other activity to turn to.” The Veil is Torn: The Transformative Power of Grace by Amy Hornbuckle