<p>From a biblical perspective, “church” is not a building but a people – more specifically the body of Christ in the form of His disciples who follow His way and do His will. While today’s church usually meets in a building, the building itself is not the true church. And some Christians today are increasingly not meeting in a separate public building, but in a house. </p>
<p>The father’s acknowledgment of his own weak faith and desperate plea for help is an important lesson for us today, for many of us struggle with faulty belief and trust in the only One who can possibly save us. And we can gain much from this lesson by turning to the Lord with prayers that God help us in our own faith struggles.</p>
<p>How can we be sure of this, that the Lord is near when our hearts are shattered, seemingly beyond repair? The answer lies throughout Scripture, for not only does the Bible make this promise repeatedly, but we know we can rest on the promises of the Lord, knowing God is only and always good, righteous, and perfect.</p>
<p>Today, when we face difficulties, we too might fear jeopardizing our position if we take a stand for our faith. But when we’re called to have courage and stand up for what is right, and we go about it in a way that is honorable and true like Esther did, we can be encouraged.</p>
The Bible is indeed a well-organized collection of writings penned by more than two dozen authors spanning thousands of years. Instead of being organized chronologically, it is organized by literary genre. For example, books from the prophets are all together in one section, while books of history are in another.