As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. Psalm 17:15

An obvious answer?
How should a Christian regard his Bible?

That seems like a question with an obvious answer. For the Christian the Bible is the Word of God, the revelation in writing of His divine will, the final bar of appeal in all matters of faith and life.

“So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” Acts 24:16

The handwringing continues.

Conservatives of every stripe — including Christians — can’t seem to get over last November’s drubbing at the hands of Progressivist candidates. Like those who tried to discourage Nellie Forbush, voices everywhere are lamenting, “We’re done and we might as well be dead!”

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 1 Thessalonian 4:13

In 1833, Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) suffered the loss of his best friend (and his sister’s fiancé) Arthur Hallam. The grief he felt led Tennyson to spend the next fourteen years writing In Memorium A.H.H., an extended elegy which became a commentary not only on the grieving process itself, but one which reflected the contentious debate between science and faith which erupted during Victoria’s reign.

I’m not sure how they do it, but they do.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.” 2 Chronicles 32:7

Angels on duty

I’m certain that Hezekiah’s confident boast must have raised some eyebrows among his advisors: “Who’s he talkin’ about? Who could be more numerous than that horde of Assyrians breathing threats and violence outside there?”

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10 (KJV)

Oops
I am a Ken Burns fan, and I don’t often find things to quibble with in his various excellent documentaries.

But one mistake in the series, The Civil War, is glaring. In the segment introducing the 1862 battle at Shiloh, the voice-over narrator, after giving the tally of those killed and wounded in the battle, explains, with intended irony, that the Hebrew word, “Shiloh”, means “peace.”

“God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior…” Acts 5.31

It matters how we think about Jesus.

At this time of the year the focus of many people is on Jesus as the Babe in the manger. Gentle, quiet, lovely—the very epitome of peace and wellbeing. For many Christians, during the rest of the year, Jesus is the laughing, loving figure in a popular print or Sunday school handout, the one with the twinkle in His eye and the child on His knee. He’s just the sort of person you’d like for your best friend or most trusted counselor. Jesus is there for you, man, the Friend who sticks closer than a brother; count on Him!