The BIG Picture (Shorts)

Read the following verses which all have the same theme: Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 8:28 A Hope Beyond Our Horizon When trials weigh us down and God seems silent, it is easy to feel forgotten. Yet, Scripture reveals that God’s "pleasure" isn’t tied to our immediate comfort, but to His eternal wisdom. He operates on a scale far beyond our limited vision, weaving our struggles into a design that serves our ultimate benefit and His sovereign glory. Consider the life of Joseph. His journey was defined by betrayal, slavery, and false imprisonment—years of silence where it seemed God’s pleasure was absent. Yet, God was doing exactly what He pleased and purposed. Joseph’s suffering wasn't a sign of God's neglect, but the very design used to save nations from famine. Joseph eventually realized this higher perspective, telling his brothers in Genesis 50:20 , "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good....

In Acts 21, Paul joined in a purification rite at the Temple—not because he needed it for salvation, but to show respect and accommodation toward his fellow Jews who were zealous for the Law. He did this to quiet rumors and to build bridges, while never compromising the truth of the gospel of grace. Paul’s act reminds us that accommodation is not compromise. He remained steadfast in the doctrine revealed to him—that we are saved by grace through faith, apart from works of the Law. Yet he was patient, humble, and willing to walk alongside others in their journey, showing them respect while gently pointing them to the liberty we have in Christ. Today, we too are called to this balance: Accommodation : Respecting others’ convictions without judgment. Patience : Bearing with those who may not yet see the fullness of grace. Commitment to truth : Standing firm in the doctrine of grace, never wavering from the liberty we have in the Spirit. Paul’s example teaches us that our witness is strong...

Many people wonder why God no longer speaks through visible signs and wonders like He did in the Bible. Has God gone silent? Has He withdrawn from the world? The Scriptures actually explain this clearly. God did reveal Himself through mighty miracles during the prophetic dispensation with Israel (Ex.34:10). But when Israel rejected their Messiah, God paused that program and revealed a new dispensation through Paul — the dispensation of the mystery (Rom.16:25-26). Today, God is not working through outward signs. He is working through His written Word and in the heart of those who believe (2Cor.5:7). This is a time of faith, not sight . God hasn’t stopped speaking. He speaks through Scripture — and through the inner work of His Spirit as His Word takes root in us. When this dispensation ends, God will again reveal Himself openly in power during the tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom. But for now, our calling is simple: Believe His Word. Grow in understanding. Walk by faith...

This was a question asked on social media. My Answer: The Bible does not portray Eve as the primary cause of humanity’s fall or Adam as an innocent man misled by her. Scripture is clear that Eve ate the fruit first, but the New Testament consistently places the responsibility for sin entering the world on Adam. Romans 5:12 teaches that “by one man sin entered into the world,” and 1 Corinthians 15:22 affirms that “in Adam all die.” The Fall is traced to Adam because he was the covenant head—the one who received God’s command directly in Genesis 2:16‑17 before Eve was created. The Bible also distinguishes the nature of their sins. Eve was deceived by the serpent, but Adam was not deceived at all. Paul states this plainly in 1 Timothy 2:14. Eve sinned through deception; Adam sinned knowingly. That makes Adam’s guilt greater, not lesser. He abandoned his responsibility, failed to guard and teach, and chose disobedience with full awareness of what he was doing. For these reasons, Scripture ...

This was a question asked on social media. My Answer: When the Bible describes God using human‑like traits, it is not because God is patterned after us. Scripture teaches the opposite: we are patterned after Him. In Genesis 1:26‑27, God declares that humanity is made in His image. This means qualities such as love, reason, will, justice, and moral awareness exist in us because they exist perfectly in God. What we experience in limited form reflects what God possesses in fullness. So, when Scripture speaks of God loving, speaking, seeing, or acting, these are not human traits projected onto God—they are divine traits expressed in human language. Because God is infinite and we are finite, the Bible often uses anthropomorphic language—human‑like expressions—to help us understand His actions. Phrases such as God “stretching out His hand” (Exodus 3:20) or God “remembering” (Genesis 8:1) are not literal descriptions of God’s nature. They are accommodations, ways of communicating divine truth...

Paul warned in 1 Timothy 4:1 that in the latter times some would depart from the faith because they start listening to the wrong voices. We’re watching that happen. People don’t abandon Scripture in one moment — they drift because something else has captured their attention. Then in 2 Timothy 4:3–4, Paul shows the next step. When people no longer want sound doctrine, they go looking for teachers who tell them what they prefer to hear. Truth becomes uncomfortable, so they trade it for stories and opinions that feel easier. These two passages describe the apostasy we see growing today: a steady move away from Scripture, a rising impatience with truth, and a desire for teaching that never confronts the heart. The Bible said this would happen, so we shouldn’t be surprised — but we should be alert and anchored in the Word. But it’s important to understand this: What we’re seeing now is not the “falling away” Paul speaks of in 2 Thessalonians 2. That event is a specific, worldwide rebellion ...

Most people read “all things work together for good” as if Paul promised a better tomorrow, smoother circumstances, or quick fixes to today’s problems. But Romans 8:28 is not about your next week. It’s not even about your lifetime. Paul is talking about God’s eternal plan , stretching from before the world began all the way to the glory that will be revealed in us . The “all things” are the entire sweep of God’s purpose for the Body of Christ—past, present, and future—working together toward our final glorification , not our temporary comfort. Before Genesis 1:1, God ordained a hidden wisdom “unto our glory” (1 Cor. 2:7). In Christ, we were predestinated according to the One who “works all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11). That means God has been working “all things” for our good long before we existed—and He will continue until we stand in the fullness of Christ’s glory. This is why Paul contrasts: Sufferings vs. Glory (Rom. 8:18) Vanity vs. Hope (Rom. 8:20)...