Copyright https://www.christianity.com 2025, Christianity.com Wed, 16 Apr 2025 06:17:49 -0400 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-does-it-mean-to-steward-well-what-god-has-given-me.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-does-it-mean-to-steward-well-what-god-has-given-me.html Judy McEachran https://www.christianity.com/author/judy-mceachran/ Everything you have is a gift from God—so how do you steward it well and live like it belongs to Him? Fri, 11 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400 2025-04-16T06:17:49-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/why-did-gods-plan-include-the-crucifixion-of-his-own-son.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/why-did-gods-plan-include-the-crucifixion-of-his-own-son.html Dr. Michael Youssef https://www.christianity.com/author/dr-michael-youssef/ God’s plan included the cross because only Jesus could save us from sin. Sat, 05 Apr 2025 14:40:00 -0400 2025-04-16T06:17:49-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/why-did-god-create-me.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/why-did-god-create-me.html Mary Oelerich-Meyer https://www.christianity.com/author/mary-oelerich-meyer/  It is in relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that we find our purpose. Tue, 01 Apr 2025 08:20:00 -0400 2025-04-16T06:17:49-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/how-do-gods-names-show-us-who-he-really-is.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/how-do-gods-names-show-us-who-he-really-is.html Jennifer Slattery https://www.christianity.com/author/jennifer-slattery/ The more we know who God is at His core, the more we trust Him. While our understanding of Him deepens through numerous encounters, from sensing His presence with us in painful seasons to glimpsing His beauty through each sunrise, He proclaims His unchanging nature most clearly through Scripture. Woven throughout its pages, He declares Himself Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Father, Comforter, and Friend. One way we can deepen our faith is by studying His various names. Some names stem from God’s self-revelation, others from people’s declarations after powerful divine encounters. Each one reveals important truths about God. This means that whenever we read one of the numerous names of God preserved in Scripture, we know He’s proclaiming something regarding who He is, how He acts, and what He desires. ElohimThis is how Scripture first introduces the Lord. In Genesis 1:1-2, we read, “In the beginning God” (Elohim) “created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God” (again, Elohim) “was hovering over the waters.” (NIV, parenthetical inserts mine).This evokes a beautiful image of God’s creative brilliance. He formed the sea, air, plants, and stars from a mere command. He spoke light into darkness, made barren ground fertile, and filled the land and seas with abundant life. He is the source of all that exists. As the second most used name for God in the Old Testament, Elohim denotes His supremacy and limitless power. Yet, while He is big enough to fill the entire universe, He chooses to remain close to His people.Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Ippei Naoi Tue, 18 Mar 2025 21:30:00 -0400 2025-04-16T06:17:49-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/why-your-worst-setbacks-might-be-gods-best-protection.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/why-your-worst-setbacks-might-be-gods-best-protection.html John Stange https://www.christianity.com/author/john-stange/ Just like the last pushup builds the most strength, it’s often in our weakest moments that God does His deepest work. Through the story of Hosea, we see a God who never gives up—even when we run, even when we fall. If you’ve ever felt too far gone or too broken to be redeemed, this article will remind you of the One who’s been pursuing your heart all along. Mon, 17 Mar 2025 19:05:00 -0400 2025-04-16T06:17:49-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/why-did-god-create-the-other-planets.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/why-did-god-create-the-other-planets.html Mary Oelerich-Meyer https://www.christianity.com/author/mary-oelerich-meyer/ We have a great deal of information in the Bible about why God created Earth, but why did God create the seven other planets? What does the Bible tell us about them? Wed, 12 Mar 2025 08:35:00 -0400 2025-04-16T06:17:49-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/what-does-it-mean-to-give-glory-to-god.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/what-does-it-mean-to-give-glory-to-god.html Britt Mooney https://www.christianity.com/author/britt-mooney/ To give God glory means to recognize his worth and value in our lives. We love him wholeheartedly because he is worthy—and no one else is. Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500 2025-04-16T06:17:49-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/how-can-i-stop-feeling-distant-from-god.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/how-can-i-stop-feeling-distant-from-god.html John Stange https://www.christianity.com/author/john-stange/ Feeling distant from God? Please take a look with me at what we're told in the book of Hosea about this very concept.Hosea was a prophet in Israel who served in his role for roughly 60 years. His book was written sometime between 755 B.C. and 725 B.C. during a very spiritually dark season in Israel's history. During that era, Israel was consumed with idolatry, and the nature of their idolatry was both vulgar and blasphemous. Like many people in our own generation, the people of Israel were highly consumed with the desire to gain the best of what this world can offer. It was a common belief in the paganism of the day that material prosperity and fruitful crops could be obtained by worshipping the false god Baal and participating in vulgar activities with temple prostitutes. I can only imagine how it must have felt for God to witness this spiritual unfaithfulness among the very people He had rescued, redeemed, and called unto Himself. Sometimes, people picture God as unfeeling and distant, but that's not the image of Him that's painted for us in Scripture. We're told that He rejoices over His people. We're also told that His children can grieve His heart. The book of Hosea reveals the depth of God's emotions toward those He loves. Throughout Hosea's writings, we're shown that God remains faithful, even when His people are unfaithful. He keeps His covenants, remains patient, and demonstrates His love even to those who seem to be making themselves unlovable. I find this highly comforting, particularly as I contemplate the various ups and downs of my own spiritual development. The first three chapters of Hosea's book give us an overview of his unique family life and the ways in which the Lord ordained that his family would serve as a visible demonstration of the nature of the relationship of God with His people.©GettyImages/Akarawut Lohacharoenvanich Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:10:00 -0500 2025-04-16T06:17:49-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/what-do-christians-mean-when-they-say-god.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/what-do-christians-mean-when-they-say-god.html Dr. Kenneth Boa https://www.christianity.com/author/dr-kenneth-boa/ Is the Christian God just another deity like Zeus or Artemis, or is He something entirely different? This article dives deep into what Christians really mean when they say “God,” exploring His transcendence, creation from nothing, and how time itself points to His existence. If you’ve ever wondered what makes the Christian understanding of God unique, this is a must-read! Mon, 17 Feb 2025 13:40:00 -0500 2025-04-16T06:17:49-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/do-you-have-trouble-accepting-gods-love.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/do-you-have-trouble-accepting-gods-love.html Karen Del Tatto https://www.christianity.com/author/karen-del-tatto/ The next time you feel as though God is mad at you and you are having trouble accepting His love, put into perspective where that thought is coming from, take it captive to the obedience of Christ, and return to the love of the Father you never need to fear. Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0500 2025-04-16T06:17:49-04:00