Author: Dave Dishman (Page 167 of 458)

Paul wrote a long letter to church members in Corinth, addressing their slide into religiosity and immorality. Members spoke arrogantly to one another, proud of their ways. Paul called them to the carpet, speaking as a father to wayward adolescents:

I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

Many in Corinth talked too much and instead of the Living God, they worshipped a placebo, a saccharine god, rough edges sanded and polished.

Placebo worship focuses on self. The placebo worshipper believes that God primarily wants them to be happy, so avoids any complications getting in the way. The placebo allows for most any lifestyle, as long as it feels good. Selective readings from the Bible proof text the experience. Placebo worshippers drift along, fingering their handmade god.

Fortunately, the kingdom of God supersedes such drivel. The raw God of the Scriptures brings power, the Holy Spirit indwelling those who follow him. One who follows the Lord doesn’t drift, but climbs aboard to endure storms and raging seas. The living God isn’t about my happiness, but rather my holiness.

Worship the Lord in all his power and glory, humbly wrestling with the full breadth of the Scriptures. Move beyond talk into the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 4 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Michał Parzuchowski

Sometimes the Scriptures speak circumspectly, in round about ways that slowly melt into understanding. But other times straight up.

Like when the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah:

You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”?

How often do I pray, Lord, what are you doing? Why don’t you move slower? Or faster? Or stop already?

It helps me to remember that every comment of mine rises from the pot to the potter. It also encourages me to know that the Lord, our gracious potter, welcomes my honest prayers, my anger and musings and grateful reflections.

But shaking my fist and proclaiming, You did not make me! You know nothing! is simply foolish. The potter shakes his head at such hubris. He patiently waits to see if I’ll move beyond this posture to a deeper understanding of the pot/potter relationship.

Because as much as I might like to twist it around, I remain the pot and the Lord remains the potter.

Isaiah 29 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by SwapnIl Dwivedi

Recently I stood waiting as passengers boarded an airplane. One gentleman turned to me as he walked by and quietly remarked, did you know that God loves you today? I replied, Amen brother, then listened as he made the same comment to the flight attendant. The man planted seeds in his winsome way on a 7 am flight to Houston.

The gospel was planted in my life at a small church in the Ozarks. Members of the Campus Crusade for Christ chapter watered the seed at the University of Missouri. My fledging faith grew over the years through the writings of authors like CS Lewis and Timothy Keller.

We all embrace faith and grow through a variety of influences. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about this process: I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.

It encourages me to keep in mind that no matter who plants or waters, God causes the growth. I need not experience any pressure in spiritual conversations. I can talk about my faith and encourage others to turn to faith, knowing that God controls the outcome.

Years ago in Campus Crusade I heard Bill Bright teach that success in evangelism involves sharing the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God. In other words, freely scatter seed and generously splash water. God causes the seed to germinate and grow wherever he wishes. True faith is not up to us. It involves divine intervention—it’s supernatural.

Amazingly, God cracks open seeds every day. People turn to the Lord in faith and begin a life of following him. Don’t be afraid to speak up and pour lessons from your faith journey into the mix.

1 Corinthians 3 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Markus Spiske

We enjoy fresh water in Colorado. The water I drink originates as snowfall in the Rocky Mountains, which starts melting in the spring and rushing through a series of rivers and pipelines. After a long journey, this mountain runoff flows through a water treatment facility and on to my house.

It’s easy to turn the tap and take all this for granted. I forget that numerous people over many years designed systems to transport water for me to guzzle on a hot day. This past year I helped provide water filters to folks in Guatemala lacking good water and suffering the consequences. When I take time to think, I’m grateful for clean water.

Isaiah preached a message to the people in Jerusalem who forgot the provider of their water:

You built a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool, but you did not look to the one who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.

The recipients of this message wisely stored water. But they failed to acknowledge the Lord, who supplied the water they drank. Instead of celebrating God’s abundant goodness, they simply celebrated themselves.

Gratitude (or the lack thereof) exposes the state of my heart. Failing to thank the Lord and others who provide a good life for me reveals a selfish streak never far from the surface. Isaiah’s words remind me of the One who planned my life long ago.

Everything I have—family, friends, health, finances—comes from the hand of the Lord.

Even a glass of water.

Isaiah 22 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Jacek Dylag