Give me an X

My Bible alphabet blog series is almost coming to an end (which took way longer than expected, but why hurry?) and X stands for Cross.

And with that I do not mean the cross (x) for a kiss, but the universal and international symbol of Christianity.

The cross symbolizes the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth as a human being to take the sin of humanity upon Himself.

A crazy exchange if you think about it. A holy God who approached sinful humanity, saying "Give me your pain and misery, and I will give you my forgiveness, peace, and salvation." That is not possible in any other religion. Yet there are many people who reject the cross. The Apostle Paul wrote about it: For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ (Philippians 3:18).

But fortunately, there are more than two billion people worldwide [source: Pew Reseacrh Center] for whom the cross is so much more than just a symbol or a necklace... it's the power from which they live. In Colossians 1:20 it is described as follows:

Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

No human being can add anything to that. No good works, no prayers, no rituals, no pilgrimage ... We can only accept it in gratitude!

Give me a W

In my Bible Alphabet Blog Series W stands for Words. Yes, the words we speak with our mouth, words that can hurt or heal, build up or break down, criticize or comfort.

The Bible says that the power of life and death is in our words, The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21). Oops, that would make you want to think twice before you speak, right?!

Each new day we make a choice whether we will bless or curse with our words. Whatever is in our heart will come out of our mouth, and sometimes that is a weird mix. James 3:9 says it like this, With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.

Why do we do that? Why? If we truly believe our words have power, we should use them more carefully and certainly more purposely. May I encourage you this week, to savor your speech with grace?

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (Proverbs 16:24)

Give me a V

In my Bible Alphabet Blog Series V stands for Victory.

Photo: Wietse Visser

This picture was taken several days ago. Quite amazing isn't it? (You can see it even larger here.)

It might be hard to believe that all these people are Christians, but they are. It is maybe even harder to believe that they are from all different churches and denominations, but they are. The hardest thing to believe is that this picture was taken in The Netherlands.

Yes, The Netherlands, that liberal and secular country where God seems to have left the premises. But I want to tell you something, contrary to popular opinion, Christianity is thriving in The Netherlands. Jesus is alive and well. And 65.000 people came together last weekend to celebrate Pentecost, in larger numbers than last year and the year before and the one before that...

No, this happening does not make it to the front pages, maybe because it is too good to be true. And no, it was not always this big. It started 47 years ago with a small group of people who believed revival would come to The Netherlands. They did not give up praying and they refused to be overcome by all the negative news. Let me encourage you with this word: Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:4-5).

What we see in the daily news, all the violence, death and destruction, is in reality propaganda of the enemy; Satan showing off his trophies. I surely believe it is nothing more than his reaction to what is really going on... people all over the world are discovering that God loves them and that Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save it.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:57-58).

Give me a U

In my Bible Alphabet Blog Series U stands for Universe.

Despite the fact that we live with an estimated 7.49 billion people on this earth, people often feel lonely. On a bigger scale many even feel lost, knowing that this earth is only a speck in an endless universe.

Thousands of years ago musician and poet David wrote a song (Psalm 8) about such thoughts and feelings...

When I consider your heavens,

    the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

    which you have set in place,

what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

    human beings that you care for them?

Trying to find our tiny place in a grand universe is not a fatalistic effort, it will bring us to a place where we will be amazed about God's love and kindness towards His creation. It will ultimately bring us to the realization that we will always be lonely and lost without Him, to the confession that we need Him and to the revelation that He cares for us.

And then... the journey of discovery will begin and He will show us WHY we are here on earth!

What are you waiting for? Take that journey!

Give me a T

In my Bible Alphabet Blog Series T stands for Temple.

In most religions a temple is a (prayer) building in which God or gods are being worshiped. The Bible speaks much about the temple in Jerusalem, both in the Old and New Testament.

After the destruction of that temple in 70 AD and with the spreading of Christianity churches and cathedrals have been built all over the world with the same idea: a place for prayer, worship, a place where God is present.

We may indeed 'experience' God in a temple or church, but these buildings are not His residence. The Bible is clear about it: However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?’ (Acts 7: 48-50).

Indeed, God desires to live in a temple that He made Himself: the human body, the most beautiful building that exists. It is a place created by God Himself, a place where He can be very close with us and we with Him. In 2 Corinthians 6:16 it is written: For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” That is God with us ... Immanuel.

In light of this all, it is no wonder there is so much attack on the human body: sickness, mutilation, abuse, you name it. It is certainly okay to restore and maintain our buildings, but I truly believe we must stand up and defend the place where God really resides!

PS: You do not have to look far to experience God. Invite Jesus to come into your heart and live with you. He just loves to grant such a request!