Author: Dave Dishman (Page 255 of 458)

I get conflicting thoughts from reading Jesus. On the one hand, he told his followers peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27).

But on another day he sent out the original twelve with this gristle to chew on: Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34).

Which is it—peace or sword?

Both.

As a disciple of Jesus, I draw on his peace as I make my way through this world. My heart rests, indeed I enjoy a certain fearlessness. The quote above from John refers specifically to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. Through the power of the Holy Spirit peace and confidence may infuse my life.

I need such peace because the way of Jesus draws the opposition of the world. Remember, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

Jesus brings a sword to the evil in the world. Indeed, you and I are his swords whenever we turn the other cheek, or hunger and thirst for righteousness, or serve a peacemakers. By living this way we bring light to the spiritual blindness inflicted by the cosmic powers over this present darkness.

Thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Rest in the peace made available for you, and remember it rests most powerfully when we remain awake to the nature of our true opposition.

Matthew 10 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Anis Rahman

We see it regularly in our media-saturated world. A person gets caught doing something illegal or immoral, or the mob cancels them, and so they apologize. These public apologies involve tears and bluster and well-crafted media statements. It’s hard to tell if someone is truly sorry for their actions, or simply sorry they got caught.

The Lord speaks of this through his prophet Joel in a message to the people of Israel: Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.

Rending the garments—ripping them apart in a show of contrition and grief—made for a good show. At times it revealed depths of pain and sorrow, but often it merely camouflaged a hard heart.

No careful curation of apology works on the Lord.

Tear your heart open and reveal all your ugliness and anger and embarrassment. Hold nothing back—God can take it. Into a torn heart the Lord pours grace and compassion and love. Hearts grow hard—mine certainly does. If not torn, it acts like a stone repelling water. Rending opens me to God’s gracious hand.

One terrible issue afflicting people today involves the superficiality of faith. Many young people (and old ones like me) watch folks who claim the Christian label stumble into sin and scandal. As this happens over and over the Christian faith appears weak and superficial. Why give time and energy and allegiance to window-dressing? Why play Christian at all?

I add to this superficiality when I busy myself rending my garments and ignoring my heart. Lord forgive me. Point out where to tear at my heart and be patient as I resist. Keep me from superficial expressions of faith. May my life reveal both depth of devotion and rending of heart. Open me to new depths of your grace and compassion and love.

For all of us suffering under this superficiality, may we learn from the wisdom of Joel. Lord help us rend our hearts and not our garments.

Joel 2 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Kelly Sikkema

Sometimes people ignored instructions straight from Jesus’s mouth. Of course, I ignore his instructions regularly, but in this case I’m thinking of two blind men who caught up with Jesus. Hoping for sight, they finally gained an audience.

Jesus touched their eyes and restored their vision. Then the ignoring: Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

Now that they could see, they couldn’t stop moving their mouths about Jesus.

Reminds me of the old country hymn He Saw It All. I like the way my Uncle JR (straight from the Ozarks) performed the song:

The enthusiasm of those Jesus touched snowballed. Astounded by the encounter they ran and told everyone. Their neighbors and family looked into the eyes of the formerly blind and danced with the previously lame. Hard to ignore such stunning changes.

In attempting to walk with Jesus for decades I watch my enthusiasm wax and wane. Challenges dampen my fervor. Concerns darken my sight. It’s good for me to read of those who experienced Jesus, and it’s cheering for me to watch people encounter Jesus today.

Like the two blind men, I can also ask Jesus for mercy and sight. And when he answers with a touch? Then I’ll chase that crippled man as he runs past.

Matthew 9 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Jason Betz

Matthew served as a tax-collector, which meant he paid attention to details. In chapter eight of his gospel, Matthew tracked Jesus as he traveled and healed at a feverish pace (pardon the pun).

Jesus spoke and healed a centurion’s servant. Jesus rebuked a raging storm. With the word Go! Jesus forced legions of demons out of those they terrorized.

Jesus touched a man consumed with leprosy and immediately the disease fled.

Jesus touched the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law and immediately her fever disappeared.

I pause and wonder if anyone in the entourage balked at Jesus holding the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law shortly after he touched a leper? After all, leprosy spread by touch. Lepers lived away from everyone else, banished to their own colonies. Did anyone worry that Jesus might be spreading the dreaded disease?

Not that I can tell. The absolute command Jesus possessed over this fallen world shocked those who followed him. Diseases died at his touch and fevers ran away. In fact, after Jesus held her hand Peter’s mother-in-law hopped up and made dinner.

Jesus didn’t heal like a cup of chicken soup—Jesus transformed. Jesus brought the unexpected and unexplained wherever he went.

The good news? Jesus still transforms (though not in the ways we expect). Perhaps you need his word or his touch. It’s available when we ask, when we come humbly with our need.

Matthew 8 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Stacey Doyle