What does the Bible say about a lot of practical things in my life?
We can study the Bible, to get to know God. To get to know more about God’s wonderful work of salvation. So that we will praise and glorify and thank God for all He is and does for us. We can praise and glorify and thank Him in our prayers, in our songs, in talking about Him to others.
God also teaches us that we praise and glorify and thank Him by living a life that is pleasing to Him. He loves to see us live our life in a certain way. If we love God with all our heart and soul and mind, we will do what He loves to see in our lives.
Therefore, besides Bible Study and Meditations, there should also be room on this website for practical life application.
(This article was published in Una Sancta of 6 February 2021, Volume 68, no. 1. Seeing that much of it is still very much applicable and timely, I republish it here. It is not only about leadership outside the church but also inside the church. Sadly, also within the church we can see leaders abusing… Continue reading Good Leadership Needed
Labour When we speak about ‘labour’ we often think about paid work. The Labour party is the party of the workers, which came up in the past to defend the rights of the labourers and make sure they got a fair pay. If Labour Day is used for more than just a day of, it… Continue reading Volunteer work as labour of love
(This article was published before in Una Sancta 6 March 2021) Old Testament Labour relations are a big topic in our time. But as God’s people we must know that already 3,500 years ago God made provisions for labour relations among His people. In the Old Testament God gave instructions to His people how the… Continue reading Labour Relations among God’s people
When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He. (John 8:28) This is not the first time that we read these words in the gospel of John. In John 3:14 the Lord Jesus said in His conversation with Nicodemus, (just before He spoke the words in John 3:16… Continue reading When you lift up the Son of Man …
(This article was first published in Una Sancta 65-06, 21 April 2018.) What makes a great leader? We all may have memories of great political leaders from the past. We will remember some important leaders from church history. And many of us will probably have someone in the past who was important for him (or… Continue reading Called to be godly leaders
We live in a day and age when truth is at a premium. People misrepresent the facts, twist the truth, and jump to false conclusions. This flippancy about the truth reflects a transition from modernism to postmodernism. Although modernism rejected the Bible as the Truth, it still acknowledged that there was truth, although it could… Continue reading The Lie is the Work of the Devil.
I expect that every one, after having done all he can in the way of robbing and murdering, will be so tired as to wish for the peace which he had formerly but did not value. All this we have deserved through our sins. For we are up to our heads in pride and ambition,… Continue reading Pride & Prejudice: Antwerp 1567
When reading or listening to the news, one cannot help but notice a certain bias. This is not only true for the mainstream news but pretty well anything one listens to. Even though the news is meant to be and generally is presented as objective, it appears an impossible goal. One needs only look at… Continue reading A Look at the Ninth Commandment
Have you followed online news stories about the recent election in the United States? Consider the following headings of articles from a news feed based on the search term “US Election” and obtained approximately 4 weeks after the election: Trump lays out election-fraud case in online video: ‘Bad things happened’ Democrats seek disciplinary investigation for… Continue reading Reading the media: to judge or not to judge
The ninth commandment requires that I must love the truth, the whole truth and speak it honestly. I must not give false testimony, twist no one’s words, not gossip or slander, and avoid deceit. The purpose of this commandment is to regulate our minds and lives so that we reflect God’s image, by honoring God… Continue reading Coping in a Post-fact Age
‘What is truth?’ These words from Pontius Pilate, quoted in the Bible in John 18:38, are the summary of what this article is about. However, the words of Pilate can be interpreted and used in different ways. Pilate used it to express his skepticism. Jesus Christ, standing before Pontius Pilate, his judge, responded to a… Continue reading The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
From Sabbath to Sunday? Is the Sunday the Sabbath day of the New Testament? This is a question that is being discussed widely among Christians. Even among those who claim to stand in the reformed tradition[i], there are those who believe that keeping the Sunday as a day of rest is not a biblical command.… Continue reading The Synod of Dort on the fourth commandment
About a year ago the Synod of Dort (1618-1619) was remembered, with renewed attention and interest for decisions of this synod and the importance of these decisions. We’ve all learned about this synod in church history and about the decisions it made. I have heard the claim being made more than once that certain practices… Continue reading What did the Synod of Dort say?
This week is the second Family Week. For information about what Family Week is, see my previous article last month. This is an initiative from and for the Free Reformed Church of Kelmscott, but I invite others to participate as well, if they want. This is the material for this week: 1. For Sunday or… Continue reading Family Week 2 – 8 August
Last week, the ABC ran an article about the Community Development Programme (DCP) of the Australian government. In that article it reported that many people who received funds under this program were slugged with fines for not completing all the jobs and activities required for which they received funding. Around 35,000 people are supported by… Continue reading How to help those in need
What makes the church grow? In the New Testament we read that in the first days and years after Pentecost the church grew rapidly. The first days it was about thousands who were added to the Christian congregation in Jerusalem. When through persecution the church was scattered over the surrounding areas, those who fled, took… Continue reading Why Christianity doesn’t grow in Western countries
You have just received an account from a small business for a job well done. How soon will you pay it? What is your usual strategy: same day pay or many days delay? In an article that should prick everyone’s conscience Bernard Salt fires an arrow about paying your bills on time to small business.… Continue reading When will you pay that bill?
Political correctness can reduce public debate to very limp and shallow discussion. Whilst many journalists in the West are often afraid to call a spade a spade, some in Asia are not such nervous Nellies. Take for example Surya Deva (an associate professor at the school of law of City University of Hong Kong) who… Continue reading Feminine beauty
Matthew 14:6 records a birthday celebration in honour of King Herod. John Calvin in his commentary on this verse makes some very thoughtful comments about birthday celebrations in general. He first writes about the preparations for Herod’s feast: “It is scarcely possible that such magnificent preparations should not draw luxury, pride, unbridled merriment, and other… Continue reading Celebrating a birthday?
Several newspapers will mention something about Christmas, even if it is only by writing about the nativity scene, or others by giving advice how to spend time with family and friends, or how to cook your Christmas dinner. Some heads of state, presidents, queens or kings, will have a special Christmas message. Most of the… Continue reading Merry Christmas: What Jesus, descendant of David, promises mankind
