Author: Dave Dishman (Page 176 of 480)

Ever wonder, what is God like? I mean, what does God look like, how does he appear in the cosmos? Is he always invisible? Does he manifest himself in certain ways? God took physical form and came to earth in the person of Jesus, but what exists beyond?

Ezekiel the prophet saw visions of heaven, strange and glorious. Describing one he wrote:

I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man. From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright a glowing metal. He stretched our what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem…

Perhaps this man was an angel, or an appearance of Jesus Christ. Then, like carrying a puppy by the loose skin of its neck, the fiery man picked Ezekiel up by his hair. I imagine a towering inferno gazing at the dangling Ezekiel from arm’s length.

The man from heaven appeared as blazing fire and glowing metal. Daniel saw similar visions of heavenly beings, as did John in the book of Revelation. Moses watched a bush burn but not be consumed. We’re told by Timothy that God dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.

Finally, the author of Revelation wrote that the city of God does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

So what is God like? So bright we cannot look upon him. Like staring at the sun until going blind, or experiencing the inner core of a nuclear explosion. Too much for me or you to handle.

But also just exactly what we need. Those who follow Jesus will bask in the light of the Lord for eternity, and there’s no reason not to believe that day will come.

Ezekiel 8 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Mark Harpur

Very little messaging in our world encourages me to take a lesser position. Same was true back in the day when John the Baptist, a wild-haired preacher with a hankering for locusts, baptized and pointed people to the coming Messiah.

As that Messiah moved into public view, the crowds starting leaving John and heading to Jesus. When asked about his shrinking congregation, John expressed joy, not regret, and speaking of Jesus said—He must become greater; I must become less.

John expressed the mindset of a disciple, a sincere follower of Jesus. Totally counter-cultural then and now.

Why did John hold this view? He shared the primary reason with his questioners:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

With clarity, John laid out the reality every one of us faces. To embrace the Son brings me to eternal life, but to reject Jesus leaves me under wrath. The language reveals the choice each person makes at some point or another. Believe in the Son or reject the Son, we all choose.

For his part, John wanted everyone he touched to experience no confusion because of him. The stakes were too high. See less of me in order to see more of Jesus.

Which is both a wise and freeing attitude for me to embrace as I represent Jesus in my world today.

John 3 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Les Argonautes

Last week I watched several children at my church in Colorado undergo the ancient Christian rite of baptism. A couple of days ago, here in New York City, my wife and I along with family and friends celebrated the baptism of our granddaughter.

As I watched these baptisms I realized that the future of the Christian faith is in the tub. These freshly baptized believers will lead our churches in the future. Embracing the faith through good times and bad, they will love their neighbors as themselves, and spread the gospel around the globe.

John the Baptist explained why he baptized masses of people in Israel before revealing Jesus:

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

John baptized to reveal Jesus to Israel. We baptize our children, and all who pledge their allegiance to Jesus, to reveal Jesus to our society. This immersion ritual remains the longest running public indicator of our faith.

Have you been baptized in the name of Jesus?

John 1 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by kaleb tapp

Celebrities caught in a nefarious misdeed look into the camera and say—I’m sorry—even though it’s obvious they aren’t sorry at all, only sorry they got caught. As if the magic words I’m sorry diffuse the air of all wrongs. No one falls for shallow apologies.

Like famous folks, we all attempt to cover our sin by mollifying those we’ve sinned against. Perhaps we buy their forgiveness with money or gifts. Often we rely on fast talking to get us out of a jam. I like to play the victim card. It’s really not my fault—blame my bad acts on neglectful teachers or hateful bosses or junk food. The devil made me do it.

The Bible shares a different perspective on the way to treat each other when we rub in not-so-good ways:

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Peter, the writer, addressed a group of people living and worshipping in close proximity. These folks endured a challenging era, facing daily insults and threats due to their new-found faith. With plenty of opportunities to get on each other’s nerves, he called for hospitality layered with service and prayer.

Under stress, nerves grow raw and words come quick. People clamp down and seek to control. In such situations sincere love soothes the jangles. Knowing that others in my community look to me with love helps me overlook comments I might otherwise misconstrue.

I can’t help but sin at times, just like my brothers and sisters. But by experiencing a depth of love infused through the Holy Spirit, we may move beyond the petty and into the deeper issues life presents.

1 Peter 4 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Sean Mungur