Category: Bible (Page 65 of 355)

The Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University studies and promotes how people thrive. Major pathways highlighted by their work include family and friendship, religious community, meaningful work and forgiveness. I found it fascinating to read their conclusions, especially as they reinforce biblical views on flourishing.

Along with forgiveness and family, stories of friendship and meaningful work fill the Scriptures. In several places Paul mentions those traveling with him on his missionary journeys, including this list of colleagues alongside him in Greece:

Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

Never working alone, Paul surrounded himself with mature (or maturing) believers. This band included Timothy, a future pastor; Tychicus, the courier of Paul’s letters to various churches; and Aristarchus, who faced the mob alongside Paul in Ephesus.

Paul exemplified the value of running with good people. God designed our lives to be lived with others. I need them and they need me. A good church, a small group Bible study, or a prayer circle all buoy my walk with Jesus. But it gets better—commit to a community of like-minded believers and set out on a path to flourishing. I see that in my life and in the lives of many others.

The Harvard study confirms the value of counting Jesus followers as my friends. I’m surprised, but not surprised, by their findings. God laid out his plan for human flourishing long ago in the Scriptures. Current academic research simply adds an encouraging verification to his ancient ways.

Acts 20 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Small Group Network

Sometimes you move forward because there ain’t no going back. Famously Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador, burned his ships so that his men would have to conquer the Aztec Empire or die. Not sure everyone initially agreed with the plan, but once the boats lit up they reached consensus.

A large number of men and women came to faith in Jesus during Paul’s stay in Ephesus. These new converts took stock of their lives and made dramatic changes: A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

That sounds impressive, and when you do the math all those drachmas equate to roughly $15 million U.S. dollars today.

What moved these former practitioners of the dark arts to burn their highly valuable books? The fear of God and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s powerful preaching coupled with extraordinary miracles swept the region. Due to the bonfire the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

Former priests of other gods and worshippers of devils publicly acknowledged their new found faith in Jesus, and in order not to return to old ways they burned their sources of temptation. A decision to follow Jesus brings a change in lifestyle, in priorities, and in where we place our trust.

There’s only enough room for Jesus on the throne of our lives, and if you need to burn some boats to clear space, then light the match.

Acts 19 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Jonny Caspari

Facing a powerful enemy Saul inquired of the Lord, but God failed to answer. So he turned to a spiritual medium, one who channeled the dead, despite multiple warnings from Scripture:

I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people (Leviticus 20:6).

Saul defied the teachings of God in an attempt to hear directly from God.

During his reign, Saul disobeyed God again and again. He ignored the warnings of Samuel the prophet, and he tried to kill David. He allowed the murder of innocent priests. Now he turned to a spiritist.

Saul remained stuck in adolescence his entire life. Self-centered and headstrong, he refused to listen to wise people in his life. Saul threw fits when he didn’t get his way and let his anger run. He wanted what he wanted when he wanted it, and let no one tell him any different.

Samuel’s spirit predicted disaster. The next day Saul, his sons, and large numbers of his army died in battle. A stunted figure led good men to their deaths.

We all move through our adolescent stages. Societies pour tons of resources into helping adolescents grow to maturity, and the same need exists for a life of faith. We cannot ignore the teachings of Scriptures and expect God to respond—that’s adolescent behavior.

Keep growing, it’s the only way forward.

1 Samuel 28 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen

The first known convert of Paul in Europe was a businesswoman named Lydia. As Paul and his entourage traveled through modern-day Greece, they began a discussion with a group of women at a gathering place just outside of Philippi.

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Lydia was already warm to the ways of God, and when Paul introduced her to the person of Jesus she responded wholeheartedly. Then she invited Paul and all his party to stay at her home.

Lydia was a wealthy woman. Purple dyes were derived from the glands of a certain type of sea snail. Harvesting these snails and producing the dye took a huge amount of time and effort. Only royalty and other wealthy people wore purple (remember the guards crucifying Jesus robed him in purple and mocked him as the King of the Jews).

Lydia moved among people of means, but despite those connections (or perhaps because of them) she hungered for the living God. It was not a happy accident that Paul met Lydia and introduced her to Jesus. The Lord finds those who seek after him.

Lydia shared her new-found faith with her friends and customers. Then those who latched on to Jesus did the same. Networking spread the good news across the Mediterranean region, and this successful businesswoman formed an early link in that chain of faith.

Acts 16 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Moonstarious Project