by BJ | May 31, 2012 | Bible Studies
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:7–8, 16
God is love … This is what really struck me as I continued to meditate on this tiny little verse. If I really believe God is love then I will have to embrace the fact that whatever He does in my life or allows is motivated by His love. What happens to me may not be about me at all, but it is quite possible that it is to show God’s love and compassion to those around me. (more…)
by BJ | May 10, 2012 | Bible Studies
The above photo is of the site of the altar at Dan. The metal frame work is of course a reconstruction to illustrate what the altar might have looked like
Recommended Reading for today: 1 Kings 11-12
Facts about Dan
- Was named after Jacob’s son Dan (Judges 18:29)
- The priest Jonathan established a shrine here.( Judges 18:30)
- When Israel split, Jeroboam ruled the Northern Kingdom (Israel), which included Dan.
- When he feared his people would go to Jerusalem to worship and possibly return to following Rehoboam (King of the Southern Kingdom, Judah) he made golden calf idols and told the people these gods brought them from the Land of Egypt. (1 Kings 12)
- Dan was the furthermost northern city of Israel, and Beersheba was the southern; hence the phrase “from Dan to Beersheba” meant to cover the whole country. (more…)
by BJ | May 9, 2012 | Bible Studies
Ruins at Chorazin
Recommended Reading:
Matthew 11:20-24, Luke 10:13-14
This is the first day of our tour and the first site we visit is Chorazin.
Facts about Chorazin
- Two miles north of the Sea of Galilee and north of the site for Capernaum.
- The Talmud mentions its fame for wheat in the first and early second centuries, but by the second half of the third century it was no longer inhabited.
- Listed along with Capernaum and Behtsaida as one of the cities in which most of Jesus’ miracles were done.
- The ruins indicate that it was a fairly important city. Remains of a synagogue, probably from the 4th century A.D., include a carved seat with an inscription, an example of a “Moses’ seat” (Mt 23:2) (more…)
by BJ | Apr 24, 2012 | Bible Studies
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:7–8, 16
God is love. If we are believers and we are “in” God then our lives should be characterized by the same love that characterizes Him. This love we are talking about is not simply a warm fuzzy feeling; rather it is a choice that has the highest good of the object loved in mind. This means in relation to others, encouraging them and doing things they will like. Sometimes it means having to say hard things, or things that are difficult to hear. (more…)
