Author: Dave Dishman (Page 181 of 480)

Once, when discussing how hungry I sometimes get through the day, my friend replied that when it came to eating he liked to stay topped off. Overeating—staying topped off—is an easy habit to adopt but a hard one to break. Unfortunately, I adhere to this peculiar diet way too often.

Jeremiah referred to another peculiar diet in this prayer to the Lord:

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.

Jeremiah took promises and commands from God and ate them. He ingested, savored, sated his hunger and enjoyed their fullness. I think of meals where the food is so good I can’t get enough, or on the flip side, the bitter taste of necessary medicine.

Eating means to consume, to ingest, to absorb and digest. I eat daily. When I skip meals my stomach reminds me of its emptiness, prodding me to dine once again.

I approach my time with the Bible in similar fashion. Like Jeremiah, I eat the words, both encouraging and challenging, ingesting them for the health of my soul and body and relationships.

In this case, staying topped off isn’t a health hazard, but a benefit to me and those around me.

Jeremiah 15 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Tim Mossholder

I watch a lot of football, and the playing field is no place for weakness. A game featuring big heavy sweating grunting men shoving each other, the weak end up at the bottom of the pile. Teams invest in massive weight and training facilities to avoid such weakness, and every coach wants the strongest guys in the league on their team.

Most of our world works this way. Nations build powerful militaries, citizens desire robust protection from crime, and we look for strength in our investments.

Which is why Paul’s comments on weakness slow me down. Paul wrote about a chronic physical ailment, one that constantly frustrated him and sapped his strength:

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me…For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Turns out, the less I can do with my strength, the more I depend on the Lord. The less I shine in my (supposed) brilliance, the more luminous the power of God. When good spreads to others in the muddle of my weakness, then the Lord comes into focus as I fade.

When I am weak, than I am strong. Countercultural yes, but the ways of God usually befuddle the wisdom I’ve learned from this world. Christ’s power arrives through weakness. Not so good in the football scrum, but a much better way to approach life with one another.

2 Corinthians 12 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Wonderlane

I overlook the awesome privilege of approaching the Lord of the Universe. I cannot call up any world leader for a conversation, I can’t drive down to Denver and drop in on the governor, and I need an appointment just to see a banker, even though it’s my money in their bank.

But no scheduling necessary with the Lord. The psalmist prayed, Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

Such a hopeful perspective, or rather, a hopeful reality. From the Lord we find forgiveness, and thanks to that forgiveness we can, with deference and knowledge of our status, turn our lives in his direction.

Later the psalmist urges us to put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

We pray to the Lord, then we wait for the Lord to act upon our behalf. No one else may return my calls, but with the Lord I’m never on hold. Out of whatever depths I find myself in, I can cry out to the Lord. My situation may not change to my liking, but I know he hears, and I find that incredibly hopeful.

Psalm 130 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Daniel Burka