Video

As a teenager, I sang in the church choir of the Brockton Portuguese Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brockton, Massachusetts. Our choir director at the time loved gospel, and even though we mostly sang in Portuguese, we occasionally sang in English as well. One of the songs we sang in English was For Every Mountain. I remember struggling because the song was so high for my range. But over the years, the song's lyrics have stuck with me and helped me through difficult moments. I would love to know your thoughts on it.

Quote

This quote is regarding Jonah’s prayer recorded in Jonah 4:2

The wording used here is descriptive of God’s character. First, God is seen as a “gracious” (ḥannûn) God. This word communicates the attitude of the Lord toward those who are undeserving, thereby expressing benevolence in the ultimate sense. The next word used to describe God is the word “compassionate” (raḥûm). This word is translated in many ways and can mean “loving” or “merciful.” It also expresses the understanding and loving compassion of a mother to her child, hence the idea of understanding and loving favor. God is also described as “slow to anger” (ʾerek ʾappayim). This speaks to the patience and longsuffering of the Lord. Nineveh was the obvious recipient of this characteristic of the Lord. The next phrase used to describe God in this segment is “abounding in love” (rab ḥesed). The word ḥesed refers to the covenant love of God. This attribute expresses itself in redemption from sin. It encompasses the qualities of kindness, loyalty, and unfailing love. No one term in English adequately and accurately expresses the meaning of ḥesed. This covenant love issues itself in God’s being “a God who relents [niḥam] from sending calamity” (rāʿâ). Amazingly, Jonah did not use these words in praise to the Lord but as a tirade against him.

 —Billy K. Smith and Franklin S. Page, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, vol. 19B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 273–274. (bold mine)

Blog

What does it really mean to "abide" in Christ?

In this study of John 15:1-8, we explore Jesus' powerful illustration of the vine and the branches and discover the secret to spiritual growth. Many Christians spend their lives trying harder to bear fruit, but Jesus points us in a different direction: remain connected to Him. Fruitfulness is not the result of striving—it is the result of abiding.

This article examines the meaning of Jesus as the "true vine," the purpose of God's pruning in our lives, the danger of substituting outward religious conformity for genuine spiritual fruit, and the life-changing promise that apart from Christ we can do nothing. If you've ever struggled with spiritual growth, unanswered prayers, or understanding what God desires most from His followers, this message offers both challenge and encouragement.

Read the full post and discover why the most important thing you can do for your spiritual life is simply to remain connected to Jesus.

Blog: Abide in Jesus: Reflecting on John 15 for Spiritual Growth