The idea that God collects our tears in a bottle is found in Psalm 56:8, which says “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” This poetic metaphor conveys the comforting message that God sees our pain, hears our cries, and keeps track of our suffering. He is not aloof or indifferent to the difficulties we face in life. First, this verse indicates that God is aware of our troubles. The psalmist says that God has “kept count” of his tossings. The tossings refer to the restless tossing and…
Author: Kerry Baysinger
The Egyptian Book of the Dead is an ancient Egyptian funerary text containing spells, hymns, and instructions to guide the deceased through the afterlife. It emerged around 1850 BCE during the beginning of the New Kingdom period and continued to be used until around 50 BCE. The Egyptian name for the text, “rw nw prt m hrw”, translates literally as “Spells of Going Forth by Day”. This refers to the deceased being able to journey successfully into the afterlife during the daytime. The text was meant to assist the deceased in overcoming obstacles and dangers in the afterlife through the…
Overcoming sin is a central struggle for many Christians. As believers, we know that Christ has forgiven our sins and freed us from condemnation, yet we continue to stumble and fall into sinful patterns. Though the battle against sin may feel hopeless at times, the Bible offers real solutions for growing in holiness and walking in freedom. By relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, applying God’s truth, practicing spiritual disciplines, and surrounding ourselves with godly community, we can make progress over sin. Understand the Power of the Gospel The first step in overcoming sin is grasping the power…
The prophet Micah summed up God’s requirements for how to live a godly life in three simple but profound imperatives: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). At first glance these commands seem straightforward. But a deeper look reveals layers of meaning that provide insight into what God cares about and how He calls us to live. Do Justice To “do justice” means actively pursuing what is lawful, fair, and righteous. More than…
The simple church movement is a loose network of Christian communities that seek to live out their faith in a simple, relational way. The emphasis is on small gatherings that meet in homes or other informal spaces, rather than large services and complex church programs. There are no official leaders or hierarchy, just brothers and sisters following Jesus together in meaningful community. This approach is driven by a desire to get back to the roots of New Testament Christianity. In the first century, churches met primarily in homes, not special buildings. The focus was on loving God, loving each other,…
Justification is the act of God declaring a sinner righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a legal act whereby God pronounces a guilty sinner innocent on the basis of Christ’s righteousness. Justification is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Bible teaches that all people are sinners (Romans 3:23) and are therefore guilty before God (Romans 3:19). Because God is perfectly holy and righteous, He cannot tolerate sin or fellowship with sinners. God’s perfect justice demands that sin be punished. However, God in His grace provided a way of salvation through the death…
This well-known saying of Jesus recorded in Matthew 11:30 provides great insight and comfort for all who seek to follow Him. Let’s explore the meaning behind Jesus’ promise of an “easy yoke” and a “light burden.” The Context of Jesus’ Statement To properly understand any verse or passage, it’s important to consider the surrounding context. Matthew 11 records that John the Baptist, who was in prison, sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was truly the Messiah. Jesus pointed to the miracles He was performing as evidence that He was indeed the promised Messiah (Matthew 11:2-5). He then began…
Who were the daughters of Zelophehad? The daughters of Zelophehad were five sisters – Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah – who lived during the time of Moses and the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness after being delivered from slavery in Egypt. Their story is recounted in Numbers 27 in the Old Testament. Zelophehad was part of the generation of Israelites that left Egypt under Moses’ leadership but died during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. He died without any sons to carry on his family name and inherit his share of the land that God had promised…
Christian reconciliation refers to the process of restoring broken relationships and overcoming conflicts between people. It is a central teaching in the Bible and an important part of Christian theology. At its core, reconciliation is about forgiveness, repentance, and renewal of relationships. Biblical Basis for Reconciliation The Bible provides the theological basis for reconciliation. Key principles include: All people are estranged from God due to sin (Isaiah 59:2). Reconciliation with God is made possible through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Christians are called to be reconciled with one another (Matthew 5:23-24, Ephesians 4:32). This applies to relationships within the church…
This is an excellent question that many have wondered about. At first glance, it may seem like a contradiction in the Bible. However, when we look more closely at the context and the original Greek words used, we can see that there is no actual contradiction. In Acts 9:7, it says that the men traveling with Saul (later called Paul) to Damascus “heard the voice” but did not see anyone. The key Greek word used here for “heard” is akouō, which means “to hear, listen, comprehend by hearing.” This indicates that Paul’s companions heard the sound of the voice but…