Author: Dave Dishman (Page 287 of 459)

In the section of Hebrews describing people of great faith, the author (unknown to us) tells of men and women who lived exciting adventures. People who passed through the Red Sea on dry land, the parents of Moses who hid him from Pharaoh, and the prostitute Rahab who welcomed the spies.

Then the writer turned to those whose adventure soured. Others who were tortured…some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning…killed by the sword…

They were sawed in two…

Who sawed who in two?

According to legend, Manasseh, furious with Isaiah for prophesying Jerusalem’s destruction, ordered his arrest. Isaiah fled to the countryside and hid in the hollow trunk of a tree. Once discovered, Manasseh ordered the tree cut down with Isaiah still inside.

The king sawed the prophet in two.

Quite a reward for faithfully proclaiming God’s words to his nation. Isaiah, and all the others who faced persecution and death for their faith, earned this commendation:

The world was not worthy of them.

Today in Ukraine followers of Jesus care for neighbors as shells fall around them. Other saints around the world face difficulty, ridicule, persecution and even death as they pursue the ways of the Lord. I forget the ease of my life and the practice of my faith.

So it helps me to remember that among us walk those of whom the world is not worthy, and from my place of safety I pray for them this day.

Hebrews 11 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Michael Fenton

I have the good fortune to know many, many generous people. When around a generous person, I feel lighter, like things will work out. There’s something about a generous spirit that infects those around them.

I like to think I’ve a generous person, but deep down I know I’m slower to give than I should. My wife lives her generosity way better, which laps over and helps me share better.

When the psalmist writes, blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands, I notice that twice in the following paragraphs the blessed person lives out their generosity:

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely…

They (the blessed) have freely scattered their gifts to the poor…

To experience the blessings of the Lord is unparalleled. A sign of such blessing, an outcome of my blessedness, a normal and correct response to understanding the ways the Lord blessed me, is to simply turn and bless others.

When one enjoys the blessings of the Lord (and I certainly do), then it’s my duty to spread those blessings around. To cling to them them is to ruin them.

Generosity grows the blessedness of the Lord. A good word for me, and perhaps for others of us less inclined.

Psalm 112 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Elaine Casap

If only I invested in Apple stock all those years ago…

If only I passed on that pizza at midnight…

If only I studied…

If/Only statements usually point to regret. But sometimes they point to promises at hand in danger of slipping away. Read the words of God through Asaph the psalmist:

If only you would listen to me, Israel!

If my people would only listen to me…

If Israel would only follow my ways…

Asaph goes on to underscore that if only the children of Israel obeyed the Lord, their enemies would collapse and evil would be punished. Better still, the finest of harvests awaited. My favorite promise he makes? Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

The Lord lays out the welcome mat to me and you. If only I listen to him, if only I follow, if only I turn my attention to the quiet, inexorable ways of the Lord, then I might open my mouth to be filled.

Psalm 81 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Jordan Nix

Today Kyiv, Ukraine, lies under siege from Russian forces. Over 120 Ukrainian national staff with Cru find themselves in the middle of this terrible war. I feel privileged to have met many of these delightful brothers and sisters in Poland a few years ago.

Today some are trying to flee Ukraine, some are choosing to stay and minister, and some are simply stuck.

Will you join me in praying for them?

Pray for those under siege, and pray for those walking to a border crossing. Pray for physical safety. Pray for safe routes to leave. Pray for food and shelter. Pray for those who cannot leave. Pray for their families and children.

King David wrote of fear and hope during a time under siege:

Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege. In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help (Psalm 31:21-22).

Pray that each of these staff and their family members experience the Lord’s mercy in the midst of this terrible trial, and each see the wonders of God’s love.

Finally, join me in praying for peace.

If you would like to help financially with the needs of our Cru staff in Ukraine, you can do so here: Ukraine Emergency Fund.