Author: Dave Dishman (Page 298 of 459)

Hell.

Jesus spoke clearly and unequivocally about hell, a topic modern teachers discount, explain away, and gloss over. We are averse to the idea that some might spend time in hell (an eternity?) while others escape the fate. Hell’s ok for Hitler, but not for anyone else.

But the words from the mouth of Jesus leave little to doubt and plenty to the imagination. He speaks of those who cause others (or themselves) to stumble, particularly those harming the faith of children. He pounds the message that it’s better to enter the kingdom of God scarred and crippled than be thrown into hell, where:

The worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.

Jesus issued a stern warning. Hell is one important reason I want my friends and neighbors to hear about Jesus, to read these words for themselves and give them thought. But I also realize that these words apply to me.

Jesus sat and discussed this topic with his disciples. He gave them pause, forcing them to stop and consider the severity of causing others to stumble while on the path of Jesus. I need to pause and consider as well.

It jumps out to me that hell, at least to Jesus, was a very real place—and he should know.

Mark 9 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Robert Gunnarsson

In the midst of a busy season of healing the deaf and mute and blind, of restoring sanity to children and feeding crowds of thousands with a few loaves of bread, Jesus took time to teach.

Our culture nurtures an image of a safe and gentle Jesus, and like most caricatures, Jesus meets these criteria at times. But when you read the words of Jesus, the stuff he actually taught, the lines those closest to him chose to write down, safe and gentle fades.

Whoever want to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

I just watched two month’s worth of advertising, from before Thanksgiving through the new year, totally aimed at crushing any concept of denying myself. Why such an onslaught? To capture the revenue flowing through the season surrounding the Christmas holiday. As a culture we celebrate the gift from heaven with wild spending (and in full disclosure, we spent plenty ourselves).

The idea of denial had no room in advertising or commerce. Consumption rules. Which is why these words of Jesus burn from the page—what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

As a follower of Jesus, I simply must stop and consider this concept of denying myself. It looks different for everyone, but I’m convinced it does not look like the advertising aimed at me day after day.

Mark 8 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Joshua Earle

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

The writer of Psalm 107 shares several examples of the Lord’s goodness. The Lord gathered the redeemed from their enemies, delivered wanderers from deserts, released prisoners from darkness, broke chains of oppression, stilled storms on the sea and even saved fools from the afflictions of their own ways.

Then the psalmist ends with this encouragement: Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

I don’t reckon I ponder the loving deeds of the Lord enough. I ponder lots of things, like football, politics, finances, various news feeds, interesting books, movies, and my next meal. Only occasionally the loving deeds of the Lord.

Sounds like a good practice for a new year. Ponder more, and remember the many, many wonderful deeds of the Lord in my life.

Psalm 107 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Hugh Han

Abraham moved his entourage multiple times. It had to be hard to live as a nomad, constantly moving onto land already occupied and grazed by others. Abraham stayed cautious despite the Lord’s promise to build his offspring into a great nation.

When entering a region called Gerar, Abraham fibbed about his wife, telling the local king that Sarah was his sister (she was Abraham’s half-sister, so a half-truth, actually). Abimelek, always on the hunt for a new wife and looking for a way to draw Abraham and his wealth into an alliance, brought Sarah into his household.

However, God appeared to Abimelek in a dream and laid out the truth. The king confronted Abraham and demanded—what is your reason for doing this?

Abraham sheepishly responded, I said to myself, there is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. And so he concocted the ruse about Sarah.

What’s interesting is Abraham’s assumption—surely there is no fear of God in this place. But as the story unfolds, Abimelek showed plenty of fear of God. He responded immediately to his dream, and blessed Abraham as he sent him off—my land is before you; live wherever you like.

Like Abraham, I prejudge people all this time: Surely no fear of God rests in that city, or this type of church, or those of their political leaning, or anyone with that set of tattoos, or a person who wears those clothes.

And like Abraham, I’m often surprised by the people I’ve prejudged and their openness to spiritual truth. Not always, but enough times to make me slow down on the judging, and speed up on the asking questions and listening.

Genesis 20 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Toa Heftiba