"They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements. Therefore lawsuits spring up li
Weed in a field are a nuisance. They threaten crops being grown for food. Poisonous weeds are an even worse problem. Lack of integrity in human relationships is toxic. Words spoken with forked tongue, insincere pledges, disingenuous handshakes eat away at social cohesion. Truth is never a mere option; no civilization can last without it.
"But he who has been forgiven little loves little" (Luke 7:47).
There is never enough love, and one of true love's most powerful components is forgiveness. No one is perfect; we all have our defects in our personality and are a disappointment to one another as a result. If we do not constantly experience forgiveness being less than we were expected to be, we will feel judged, rejected and isolated. To live in an atmosphere of forgiveness is to feel loved. And love begets love.
"Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit unto himself" (Hosea 10:1).
This is not a compliment but a lament. The vine (tree, plant) is a frequent metaphor for the people of God in the Prophets. Under God's patronage, Israel flourished like a healthy grapevine. But it became satisfied with its own luxuriance; selfishly wallowing in its own privilege. No person or people, called into fellowship with God, is ever the center of God's purposes. To bear fruit just for ourselves is to get in the way of God's intent. His interests go beyond us. The way
"The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother"(Luke 7:15)
That God could retrieve his people to himself even after they had died was an idea that began to take shape in the last two centuries of the Old Testament era. Christ's resurrection from death gave flesh and blood to this emergent surmise; transforming it into the 'blessed hope.' At least two times before his passion Jesus gave folk a glimpse of the glory to come. How poignant and tender is the scene outside the city of Nain. How precious the prospect of severed relationship
"They consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved&q
Many disclaim religion, but everyone is religious nonetheless. Everyone places their being at the disposal of some value which is has the final say in how they lived their life. It follows that a person's life and personality will reflect his/her ultimate value. Since we will have our gods, the nature of the god we choose has enormous consequence both on a personal and social level.
