The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible offers profound wisdom about the cycles and seasons of life. One of the most well-known passages is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which poetically describes contrasting times and purposes under heaven. Verse 6 specifically mentions “a time to search and a time to give up.” This expresses the truth that there are appropriate occasions for seeking, pursuing, and striving – but also pivotal moments where it becomes wise to let go and cease from striving. How do we know the difference? When is it time to keep searching, and when is it time to surrender and…
Author: Matt Primack
The Magnificat, also known as the Song of Mary, is a canticle taken from the Gospel of Luke 1:46-55. It is a hymn of praise and worship spoken by Mary, the mother of Jesus, after she visits her cousin Elizabeth and learns that she will give birth to Jesus. The name “Magnificat” comes from the first line in Latin translation, “Magnificat anima mea Dominum”, meaning “My soul magnifies the Lord”. The Magnificat reveals Mary’s deep theological understanding of God’s work in redemptive history. It alludes to and echoes many Old Testament themes and passages, showing that God has been faithful…
Boredom is a common human experience that we all face at times. It stems from a lack of purpose, meaning, or engagement in an activity or relationship. While boredom is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, there are many passages that provide insight into how God views boredom and how we can overcome it from a biblical perspective. God created us for a purpose Genesis 1 tells us that God created humans in His image and gave them dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). We were created by God and for God, not to be idle or bored. King David…
Arthur Walkington Pink was an English Christian evangelist and biblical scholar known for his prolific writings on theology. Born in Nottingham, England in 1886, Pink was raised in a Christian home but renounced his faith as a young man. However, after a dramatic conversion experience, he devoted his life to studying and teaching the Bible. After his conversion, Pink felt called to pastoral ministry. He studied at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago in 1910-1911. However, he soon became disillusioned with the evangelical Christianity of his day, believing it had strayed too far from biblical truth. This led him to…
The Latin phrase “coram Deo” literally means “before God” or “in the presence of God.” It conveys the biblical truth that as believers in Christ, we live every moment of our lives in the presence of God, under His authority, and accountable to Him. Here are 9 key things the Bible teaches about living coram Deo: 1. God is omnipresent A foundational truth behind coram Deo is that God is everywhere at all times. The Psalms declare, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there!…
The story of God redeeming Israel from the house of bondage in Egypt contains many valuable lessons that are still relevant today. Here are some key things we can learn from this account: 1. God hears the cries of His people and responds The Israelites cried out to God because of their harsh slavery in Egypt, and He heard their pleas. “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob” (Exodus 2:24). Even when we feel abandoned or wonder if God hears us, He does. God may not intervene as quickly as…
The Bible has a fair amount to say about singleness and affirming the value of singleness for God’s kingdom. While marriage is viewed as a good gift from God, singleness is also presented as a calling with unique opportunities to serve God without distraction. Here’s an overview of some key biblical themes on singleness: 1. Singleness allows undivided devotion to the Lord Paul encourages singleness because it allows undivided devotion to God. In 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, he writes “I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please…
Fear is a common human emotion that we all experience at times. Many verses in the Bible speak to the issue of fear and provide wisdom and reassurance about how to deal with it from a Christian perspective. God tells us not to fear One of the most frequent commands in the Bible is to “fear not” or “do not be afraid.” God knows that fear is a natural human response, especially in the face of danger, uncertainty, or perceived threats. But He reminds us repeatedly that He is in control, and we do not need to let fear overwhelm…
Damaris is mentioned only once in the Bible, in Acts 17:34. She was present in Athens when the apostle Paul was preaching to the Athenians about the resurrection of Jesus. Here is the verse: “But some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.” (Acts 17:34 ESV) From this brief mention, we can gather a few details about Damaris: 1. She was living in Athens during the time of Paul’s ministry. Athens was a major cultural center in Greece and home to the famous Areopagus council where Paul had…
Pomegranates are mentioned multiple times throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. They held symbolic and spiritual significance for the people of biblical times. Here is an overview of some of the key ways pomegranates are referenced in the Bible: Pomegranates in the Tabernacle and Temple When God gave instructions for building the tabernacle and later the temple, pomegranates were included as decorative elements: “You shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four…