Eye on Zion

What do you think about when you hear “the good life?” Most people associate the good life
with social status, wealth, or even fame. I have seen posters or memes that picture the good life
as a large house with beautiful cars, or a lifestyle of relaxing on a beach. But Jesus gives us a
completely different picture of the good life. The Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5-7, is
where we most fully hear about Jesus’ thoughts on the good life.

ThroNewsletter AugSepOct 2024 for the WEB

Throughout the history of God’s
people, God has made covenants
—agreements with promises
from both sides—with God’s
beloved people. Unfortunately,
much of the Bible witnesses to
the reality many of us know from
our own lives: a tragic pattern of
broken promises has emerged in
humanity.

Have you ever thought of friendship as a spiritual practice?

I love the idea of friendship as a spiritual practice for two reasons:  first, it emphasizes the role of the Spirit in forming and sustaining our relationships; second, it recognizes that friendship is not just something we have, but it is something that we do. Perhaps you’ve heard the proverb “to have a friend, you have to be a friend.” Friendship is a commitment, and it takes quality time to build. But like all practices, we can only improve what we give our attention to.