The Bible addresses grief in various ways, offering comfort, perspective, and hope to those who are mourning:

1. Comfort and Compassion: The Bible often speaks of God's comfort and nearness to the brokenhearted. For instance, Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
2. Mourning and Lamentation: Expressions of grief and lamentation are seen as natural and important. The Book of Psalms is full of cries of anguish, such as Psalm 22:1, where David says, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
3. Hope Beyond Grief: The Bible also speaks of hope beyond the immediate pain of loss. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, Paul writes, "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."
4. Resurrection and Eternal Life: Central to Christian belief is the hope of resurrection and eternal life, which offers a profound perspective on grief. In John 11:25-26, Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die."
5. Support and Community: The Bible encourages believers to support one another in times of sorrow. Romans 12:15 instructs, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
6. Understanding and Embracing Human Emotions: The Bible doesn’t shy away from the reality of human emotions, including grief. Ecclesiastes 3:4 acknowledges that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”

These passages reflect a broad and compassionate approach to grief, recognizing it as a natural part of the human experience, while also offering hope and comfort through faith.

Just a thought,

PSS

It’s not enough to say, “I’ve heard the Bible taught,” or, “I know what it says.” The question is: Do you understand it? Do you understand it enough to do it — to apply it to your life?

So many say, “I know God!” Really? What they are really saying is, “I know of God.” Those who really know Him are purposing to do what He says. They are purposing to do the word of God — allowing it to affect every area of their lives.

It’s not enough to know about God. The question is: Do you know Him? The only way to know Him is by learning His word. In our society today, the church world is putting less and less importance on knowing the word of God (the Bible) and more and more emphasis on feeling good about oneself. So, in turn, people are putting more and more emphasis on who their friends are and less and less emphasis on learning the word of God.

We must believe the Bible literally. We must! Without the word of God, we wouldn’t have any idea who He is. So many today are moving away from the Bible to a message more culturally relevant to the world.

God’s word is the only thing that can save us from our sins. It is the only thing that can free us from the bondage of sin. It is the word you know that helps you. So, we all must be in a church that preaches the pure word of God, not some watered-down version of it. This is one reason I appreciate the people who attend Legacy Church. They love hearing and doing God’s word.

Just a thought,

PSS

Shortcuts can cause you lots of pain, and successful people avoid the trap of taking shortcuts.

Selfish or selfless?

At times, taking shortcuts is a sign of being lazy or not thinking of anyone else but yourself. In order to be successful people, we should purpose to do things right. For example, when going to a grocery store and wheeling the basket to unload into your car, do you take the extra moment to put the shopping cart back into the bin, or do you just leave it out? Do you purpose to leave each person, each place, better than when you found it?

Faithful in little, faithful in much:

See, how we do the small things is a reflection of how we do the big things. Going into a public bathroom and seeing toilet paper all over the floor, and pee all over the seat, I often think, What kind of people do this, leave there, knowing someone else will be using it? It always annoys me.

Do right or do over?

Here is what I know: successful people think of others and understand that taking shortcuts will cost you in the long run. Doing things right, even if it takes you a little longer, will be better for you and save you time in the future. Doing things right just means giving a little more effort. Don’t be the person always looking to cut corners, always looking for loopholes to justify your actions. There seems to be a good excuse for almost anything you do. But it is not worth it.

Learn to be more successful by doing things right — taking a little extra time to think about others as well as yourself.

Just a thought,

PSS

In Luke 7:36-50 NLT, we are presented with a stark contrast between Simon the Pharisee and the unnamed sinful woman. The story takes place in Simon's house, where he had invited Jesus to dine with him. Yet, it was not out of genuine interest or belief in Jesus, but rather with an evaluative mindset. Simon, in a way, was trying to "interview" Jesus, to see if He truly fit the bill of a prophet or the Messiah. He, like many other religious leaders of the time, was skeptical and kept Jesus at arm's length. On the other hand, the sinful woman, knowing her unworthiness and the weight of her sins, approached Jesus with genuine humility and desperation. She did not come to test or interview Jesus but to pour out her love, appreciation, and repentance at His feet.

The Act of True Repentance and Forgiveness

The sinful woman's actions toward Jesus — weeping, washing His feet with her tears, and anointing them with expensive perfume — were outward expressions of her deep internal repentance. While Simon merely provided a meal, this woman gave her all, showcasing her understanding of Jesus' true identity and power. When Simon inwardly judged her, Jesus highlighted the disparity between the two by pointing out the lack of basic hospitality Simon showed Him, in comparison to the extravagant love the woman displayed. Jesus' response to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven," demonstrates the depth of God's grace and mercy. No sin is too great for God's forgiveness, and it is available to everyone, regardless of their past.

A Call to Genuine Relationship with Jesus

This passage serves as a profound reminder of how we ought to approach Jesus. It's not with a sense of skepticism, like Simon, but with a genuine heart that recognizes its own shortcomings and is eager to experience His transformative love. Jesus is not a figure to be interrogated or tested, but one to be loved, honored, and followed. The woman's actions underscore the value of genuine repentance and the immeasurable grace Jesus offers. Through her, we see that the weight of our sins should not deter us from seeking Jesus; instead, they should drive us toward Him, knowing that He is the only one capable of granting the forgiveness and peace we so deeply crave.

Just a thought,

PSS

In order to serve God, we must all realize it is going to cost us something. It will at times cost us our desires, our will; at times it will require a sacrifice.

The sacrifice:

A sacrifice is not really a sacrifice unless something means a lot to us — unless we really want to do something. It’s something we give up for someone or something else. If it doesn’t mean anything to us, it’s not really a sacrifice at all.

He paid it all:

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20 NLT). Following Jesus will not always be easy or comfortable. It will often require great sacrifice of what we want, and doing what God’s word teaches. Following Christ, to do what He asks, may cost us popularity, friendship, leisure time, or convenience.

Pay the price:

The price of following Christ is saying and doing, Not my will, but let His will be done. It is our choice! Too many of us believe we can follow Christ, and do whatever we want. We follow Christ, and do what He requires us to do. It is our choice. Whatever we are unwilling to let go of may be the very thing that costs us our eternal salvation.

Being a disciple of Christ may not always be easy, but it will always be worth it. Again, it is our choice.

Just a thought,

PSS