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Romans 3:25 refers to Jesus being a "propitiation." However, outside of the Bible, this word has little meaning. Here's what you need to know; the meaning of propitiation has massive a impact on you and your relationship with God.
This is the first in an ongoing series looking to provide plain meaning to certain Christian words that don't have well-understood definitions. We sometimes refer to this as "Christianese," and being able to make sense of the language of our faith holds great value for all people.
We live noisy and busy lives. It makes the idea of connecting with the God who made us quite unrealistic. After all, He doesn't live with us on the earth where all the noise is. But Jesus showed us a life hack for that; He withdrew from people and activity. He went away to climb a mountain.
What are you afraid of, anyway? What's holding you back from living life full and dangerously? Is it that you believe that God doesn't want you to live a life where you take chances and stare danger in the face? Think again, Follower of Jesus.
Does God really provide strength that makes it so you can run and not be weary? If that's the case, why are so many of us tired all the time? What does Isaiah 40 actually promise? As is usually the case, God means something different than we might expect.
If COVID has taught us anything, it’s how easy it is to remove ourselves from this wicked world. "Just me, God, my Bible, and YouTube is all I need," some say. But, we are called to "go and tell." And, as an old camp song says, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going."
People are risky. For one thing, you think you might know someone, until one day they do something to completely baffle you. They have the capacity to hurt you and disappoint you. "Why bother investing in them at all," you might ask? Jesus has an answer for that.
Isolation has been normalized in our world. People all over no longer gather like they used to. The phenomenon of men and women who shut themselves off from regular human interaction is at an all-time high. How can we encourage those who would rather close themselves off from the world around them?
There are plenty of inappropriate words available for church people to carelessly use. But is there a word in the Bible that many Christians find inappropriate for a preacher to use on a Sunday morning? If you say "no," have I got a devo for you.
With people all around us suffering in poverty, addictions, mental health issues, and sickness, the question for the followers of Jesus is, "Are we the people who holler to the afflicted from a distance to come inside or are we the ones going out into the street to meet needs?"
What happens if God wants you to step up and do hard things for His kingdom but you refuse? Will He make you do it anyway? Will His plan fail because His chosen servant simply said "no?" Somewhere between risk and reward lies something God calls opportunity.