Dave Dishman

Spectacular white blooms fill the flowering crabapple in our backyard. Caught in the wind, the petals look like snow. In another week, however, the last flowers will fall as spring emerges. The brevity of the beauty helps me pay particular attention to the display out my backdoor.

Like the flowers on my tree, the Bible reminds us of the passing nature of our lives:

Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.

A handbreadth measured the length across four fingers, roughly four inches. Our lives consist of the distance of a stumble, a mere sigh, a dot on the line of eternity.

Let the brevity move us to attentiveness. Enjoy the beauty. Engage with the people God puts around us. Turn off the screens (I’m preaching to myself) and experience the world.

I learned this little ditty years ago: Life is short, death is sure, sin’s the cause, but Christ’s the cure. Fleeting days lead to death—then life really begins. A connection with Jesus is the one vital detail not to miss during your handbreadth.

Psalm 39 in Through the Bible in 2023

Photo by Elena Mozhvilo

The Bible tells us stories of all sorts of people, from the rich and powerful to the lowly and overlooked. This is one thing I love about the book. A person’s story illustrates every principle taught within its covers.

In describing Peter’s miraculous escape from prison, Luke (the author of the account) highlighted Rhoda’s response. Not a church leader or powerful patron, Rhoda served food, cleaned the floors and most importantly, checked the door.

Peter awaited execution in a prison cell chained to his guards. Herod earlier put James to death and Peter stood next in line, just waiting for a trial to show off Herod’s power. But an angel intervened and led Peter from prison. After his release Peter walked to a house where he knew church members were praying. He knocked and Rhoda ran to answer the door.

When Rhoda recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” To which her companions responded, “You’re out of your mind!” After more wrangling they all decided to go outside where they found Peter, still knocking.

The thrill of a lost hero returned charged Rhoda with excitement and joy. I love this picture of happiness in the midst of a terrible time of persecution. The Lord revealed his ability to save first to Rhoda, and then to the rest of the church. I wonder if Rhoda, the lowliest member of the household, needed to understand this particular aspect of the Lord’s goodness?

God does not always save his saints from tyrants. Peter himself was later crucified under orders from Nero. But that night in Jerusalem the Lord acted on behalf of Peter, the early church, and Rhoda, the no longer overlooked servant.

Acts 12 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Martin Adams

After a massive wave of persecution scattered the young church in Jerusalem, followers of Jesus continued to spread his teachings wherever they landed. Instead of squelching the movement, the stomp on Jerusalem scattered live coals over the surrounding regions. Dry hearts caught fire.

One such place was Antioch, where a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. It was in Antioch (a city in present day Turkey, about 300 miles from Jerusalem) where the disciples of Jesus were first called Christians.

The locals meant Christian as a derisive term. They mocked the new believers. But the disciples of Jesus embraced the designation, much like early American colonists embraced Yankee Doodle Dandy, British slang turned into a proud nickname during the American revolution.

The term Christian gets drug through the mud today. Sometimes for wicked things done by those who claim to follow the ways of Jesus, but more often for adherence to the principles found in the Bible. The teachings of Jesus and Paul and the Prophets draw plenty of scorn in our cultural moment.

But the term, referring to a follower of Jesus the Christ, remains a welcome label. It points to a man or woman who chooses to submit to the direction and leadership of Jesus, who claims allegiance to the Christ above all else. Others proudly declare their status as Democrat or Republican, Socialist, Anarchist or Atheist. The disciple, however, inherits the moniker Christ-ian, one who seeks to embody the ways and teachings of Jesus.

Christian is not a term to wear loosely, but one to cinch on as part of your identity. Our world needs a lot of things, but for sure our world needs those who take the label Christian seriously, who soberly go about earning the appreciation, and at times the derision, that title bears.

Acts 11 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Austin Kirk

I know several people who seem far from God. Some appear apathetic to his ways, while others vehemently oppose any belief in a higher power, especially one carrying the baggage of living within specific boundaries.

Saul full out opposed Jesus and went after those who claimed his allegiance. We read, Saul ravaged the church. Going from house to house he dragged off both men and women and committed them to prison.

Saul tyrannized early Christ-followers. His strategic plan led him to Damascus, where he hoped to cauterize the young church there. On the way, a blinding light from heaven seared his eyes and knocked him to the ground. Jesus spoke directly to him, and so began Saul’s new relationship with his Lord.

Saul’s transformation brought skepticism and disbelief among those he formerly victimized. But they soon realized his sincerity and opened their arms. First appearing too good to be true, Saul’s metamorphosis into the apostle Paul produced more good and more truth than anyone imagined.

I’ve started praying for those who appear far from the Lord, who seem hopelessly buried, to experience this blinding light of Jesus. I pray the Lord would shock them with his presence, his realness, his love for them. I pray they will respond with wonder and openness to his plan for them.

Some people need knocked to the ground, and so I pray: Jesus, in your goodness, blind those far from you with the light of your glory and goodness. Knock them to the ground, and raise them up as devoted followers of you.

Acts 8 & 9 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR