Video

What a Friend We Have in Jesus is one of my all-time favorite hymns. I found a video on YouTube that tells the story behind this hymn. The video is a bit old, but it also has 1.9 million views, so I think you might like it even if you are already familiar with the story. You can watch the video here.

Quote

God may take us through the entrails of Sheol so that we can know in our hearts the meaning of faith in him. This strange and barren wilderness can lead us to the Place of Promise where we are free from the inhibitions that bind us and bog us down in the mire of complacency and false security. But it is no easy journey.

—Rosemary A. Nixon, The Message of Jonah: Presence in the Storm, ed. Alec Motyer, Derek Tidball, The Bible Speaks Today (England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2003), 162.

Blog

One of my most-read blog posts so far this year takes a thoughtful look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:1 — “Judge not, that you be not judged” — and explores what Christ really meant when He warned against judging others. Drawing from Scripture, personal experience, and Bible commentaries, I challenge believers to replace criticism and self-righteousness with humility, compassion, and grace. I highlight the danger of becoming like the Pharisees—focused on the faults of others while blind to our own need of mercy—and point readers back to the transforming character of Jesus.

If you’ve ever wrestled with balancing truth, accountability, and love in your relationships, this post offers practical biblical insight and encouragement for daily Christian living.

Read the entire post: Avoiding Judgmental Attitudes: Unpacking Matthew 7:1-6

This post is part of my series, Join Me on the Mountainside, that explores Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. You can watch the entire series on YouTube.