The Passover festival, which remembered when the angel of
death ‘passed over’ Israelite houses covered by the blood of a lamb,
was about to happen in Jerusalem (Ex. 12:21-23). On his way to the
festival, Jesus stopped with his disciples at the house of Lazarus in
Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem. This was where he had
previously raised him from the dead showing his power over life and
death (John 11:25, 26, 38-44). Learn from the best, the student is
only as good as the teacher (Luke 6:39, 40)! After having given his
disciples a physical lesson on the resurrection, Jesus sends two of
them to get a colt. With Jesus, there are no minor errands!

Working and labor isn’t a necessary evil of life, but a way of
glorifying God (Eccl. 2:24; Col. 3:23). Even land was expected to
produce or it was viewed as worthless (Gen. 3:17, 18; Heb. 6:8).
However, God didn’t expect people, animals, or land to be worked
to death, but to rest from producing also. In His mercy, He told
Israel and their animals to take a day off every 6 days, and the land
to take a year off every 6 years (Heb. shabbâth, ‘to stop,
intermission’; Ex. 20:8-11; Lev. 25:1-5, 20-22). Just as God didn’t
have to take as long as 6 days to create the universe, neither did He
have to rest on the 7 th day (Gen. 1:31-2:3). He did both to give
humanity a pattern on how to live—work hard and be productive,
and rest completely and be in peace.

Working and labor isn’t a necessary evil of life, but a way of
glorifying God (Eccl. 2:24; Col. 3:23). Even land was expected to
produce or it was viewed as worthless (Gen. 3:17, 18; Heb. 6:8).
However, God didn’t expect people, animals, or land to be worked
to death, but to rest from producing also. In His mercy, He told
Israel and their animals to take a day off every 6 days, and the land
to take a year off every 6 years (Heb. shabbâth, ‘to stop,
intermission’; Ex. 20:8-11; Lev. 25:1-5, 20-22). Just as God didn’t
have to take as long as 6 days to create the universe, neither did He
have to rest on the 7 th day (Gen. 1:31-2:3). He did both to give
humanity a pattern on how to live—work hard and be productive,
and rest completely and be in peace.

At the beginning, God didn’t have to make anything, but chose to create the universe for His own creative pleasure and satisfaction (Gen. 1:31; Rev. 4:11). God sets the standard of work— personal pleasure comes from personal performance.

At the beginning, God didn’t have to make anything, but chose to create the universe for His own creative pleasure and satisfaction (Gen. 1:31; Rev. 4:11). God sets the standard of work— personal pleasure comes from personal performance.

At the beginning, God created men and women to be attracted to one another in the deepest emotional, physical and spiritual bond through their sexual union (Gen. 1:28; 2:23, 24; SoS. 1:1-4, 12-2:7). Unlike animal sexuality, human sexuality is physical and spiritual, making it connected to morality based on the image of God. Sex is special like nuclear power—when under control it blesses people, when out of control it destroys lives. The Bible acknowledges the power of sex but always promotes and protects it within marriage. At the first marriage, God made their relationship ‘good’ and the first command was ‘have a lot of sex’! Even after sin, the married bed (Gr. koite, ‘couch’) was to picture pre-sin Eden.

At the beginning, God created men and women to be attracted to one another in the deepest emotional, physical and spiritual bond through their sexual union (Gen. 1:28; 2:23, 24; SoS. 1:1-4, 12-2:7). Unlike animal sexuality, human sexuality is physical and spiritual, making it connected to morality based on the image of God. Sex is special like nuclear power—when under control it blesses people, when out of control it destroys lives. The Bible acknowledges the power of sex but always promotes and protects it within marriage. At the first marriage, God made their relationship ‘good’ and the first command was ‘have a lot of sex’! Even after sin, the married bed (Gr. koite, ‘couch’) was to picture pre-sin Eden.

The home was originally designed to be relationships of harmony. When God created Adam, He built him with needs that were only met by another person. At the first wedding in Eden, God presented Adam with a wife (Gen. 2:18-25). This first family shared a common God, DNA, and a desire to meet the other’s unique needs. God built men and women to live together, love together, and last together in harmony. Marriage is a mirror and a molder, designed to show you yourself and where change is needed. Marriage wasn’t made to make you primarily happy, but primarily holy!

The home was originally designed to be relationships of harmony. When God created Adam, He built him with needs that were only met by another person. At the first wedding in Eden, God presented Adam with a wife (Gen. 2:18-25). This first family shared a common God, DNA, and a desire to meet the other’s unique needs. God built men and women to live together, love together, and last together in harmony. Marriage is a mirror and a molder, designed to show you yourself and where change is needed. Marriage wasn’t made to make you primarily happy, but primarily holy!

Throughout history, most cultures dealt with men and women meeting and marrying by arranged marriage or courtship with parental oversight. Normally, the purpose was to protect their children and ensure the other person was willing and capable of providing for their child. Dating should be done on purpose, with purpose! Whether single for a season or for a lifetime, singleness is a gift that should be used for God’s kingdom (Matt. 19:10-12; 1 Cor. 7:7, 8). If feeling led to date, people should seek the wisdom of parents and spiritual leaders and follow it (Prov. 16:18; 19:20, 21; Heb. 13:17). Romantic relationships with no marriage focus are a waste of time, money, and needless temptation! There is a time for everything, even dating and marriage (Eccl. 3:8; SoS. 2:7).