In terms of our understanding Adam and Eve’s sin has also affected the world. Their sin caused a catastrophic change and the result is all sorts of so called “natural” disasters. The devastating bush fires, a volcanic explosion that seemed to come out of no-where (Mount White – NZ Dec. 2019). A tsunami or cyclone. […]
Jeroboam created high places, religious centres of worship, idol practices, and also made sure that the days of worship in Israel would coincide or replace the religious festivals in Judah, ordained by God. Again, the aim was to get the people to worship in Israel, and he thought that it was important, that he as […]
As a “Reformed” Christian I know that there is such a thing as Human responsibility and God’s Sovereignty. I can’t always work it out, but I simply accept that it is true. Rehoboam made his choices and they were poor choices, demonstrating immature and selfish leadership. Yet, as the passage reminds us, God is behind […]
To me the whole thing is about forgiveness and grace. We sin, and yet, we can come to God at any time and find mercy. In the Old Testament the people suffered the consequences of their own sin but in the New Testament Jesus does – and in that we experience grace. Solomon’s prayer seems […]
It is interesting how you assess someone. How do assess a person you meet, perhaps on holidays or at work and they claim to be a Christian. You might hear them say that they go to church but really you are after a little bit more information. You really want them to say something about […]
If you were to ask what the very epicentre of our own life, what would you say? For many people, who do not know God it would be their families (wife or husband) or their business or their recreations or their sports. For some it would be their money! All people have things they consider […]
No matter how limited access might have been in the temple of Solomon, there was still access. A sinful human being, (High Priest) after making atonement, could come into the very presence of God, through the curtain. What God was conveying in the story of the temple was that there was a way for Paradise […]
We are all pretty good at talking our way out of difficult situations, we call that “rationalising” the situation. The dictionary meaning for “Rationalising” is the following. “… attempt to explain or justify (behaviour or an attitude) with logical reasons, even if these are not appropriate.” We are good at rationalising a situation and Daniel’s […]