5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom

I was wondering, do the people that hurt you, lie to you, cheat on you ever hurt themselves?  I was in a relationship, and I really loved this person, and he really hurt me.  He played on my emotions and just destroyed my hope of falling in love again.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Hurt To The Heart

Dear Hurt To The Heart,

Your situation, though vague, provides a real-life example of how sin hurts others.  When we live ungodly lives, we harm those around us.  One sinner will destroy much good (Eccl 9:18), but will that sinner suffer for their wrongdoing?

The answer is ‘yes’.  God tells us that we reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-8).  When we live selfish lives, we suffer the bitterness of those lifestyles.  God is not mocked, and vengeance belongs to Him (Rom 12:19).  Evil people will suffer eternally for their choices (Lk 16:25).  When we live sinful lives, we hurt no one more than ourselves.

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom

Is it just me, or is this (Best-Selling Bible May Get Gender Update – NYDailyNews) just plain ridiculous?  I hope I'm not the only one offended by people trying to inject political correctness into God's word.

Sincerely,
He, She, & It

Dear He, She, & It,

We have written before on the problems that can be found in the NIV version (read “New International Version” for more details).  Whenever translators begin to use their authority and position to alter God’s Word, there is a problem.  Changing the pronouns within the Scriptures to be more gender neutral is not a translation issue; it is a personal agenda.

We live in a world that is increasingly politically correct, even to the point of being ludicrous.  Unfortunately, this is another example of people using the translation of God’s Word as an opportunity to further their individual attitudes.  This is one more symptom that occurs when we are wise in our own eyes (Isa 5:21).

Are we assigned angels to help and influence us when we are saved and accept Jesus as our Savior or when/if we are born into a Christian family?

When Jesus said He could call on legions of angels, does that mean we can, too?

Sincerely,
Halo Hunter

Dear Halo Hunter,

There are several situations that God says angels are regularly involved in influencing and protecting human lives.

1. They report to God on behalf of christians who are abused, persecuted, and mistreated (Matt 18:10).
2. They watch and rejoice when the lost repent (Lk 15:10).
3. They are watching and see when we sin (1 Cor 11:10).
4. They carry the souls of the faithful to Paradise (Lk 16:22).
5. They protect and fight over the spiritual direction of nations (Dan 10:13).

The end result is that we don’t know much about angels, but we do know that they influence the lives of all of mankind.  Their very name explains their role.  ‘Angel’ means ‘messenger’.  Angels are the messengers of God, daily fulfilling tasks on His behalf.  Wherever God’s will needs to be fulfilled, angels will not be far.  In the case of Jesus – He had been given specific authority to call upon angels to protect Him at any time (Matt 26:53).  The Bible never states that all christians have been given that kind of authority.  However, when a righteous person prays, God listens (Jas 5:16)… and if God listens, He may very well send His angels to do His bidding on our behalf.