Author: Dave Dishman (Page 324 of 459)

Like old friends, the salesman received us warmly, offered cold bottled water, and led us to a pair of comfortable chairs. Papers lay in an orderly row across the table. We chatted about kids as we settled in. My wife and I drove across town to purchase a new vehicle, and I had been discussing the deal with the salesman for several days.

Our old Montero, which I loved, suffered a cracked engine block. Rather than pour more money into a far-gone vehicle, I decided to get something new. I checked out tons of cars, talked to salespeople, and did my research. Discovering what I wanted, I settled on this specific vehicle at this specific dealership, after a test drive and at least three phone calls to settle on the exact price.

With a twinge of excitement I reached for the pen. “Hold on just a second, I just heard something from my sales manager.” My new buddy stepped away for a few minutes, then returned with his boss. Apparently an unfortunate oversight occurred, a missed fee, hardly noticeable in the scheme of things, but the car actually costs $500 more. So sorry, here’s the new updated bill of sale.

According to my wife, my chin started to quiver, which she swears she’s only seen once or twice in our 35 years of marriage. I gnashed my teeth and sputtered my anger. The lovely greetings, the syrupy friendliness, all aimed at prying an extra $500 out of my pocket. I dropped the pen and walked out. Fortunately, my wife followed, because I left so mad I forgot about her.

No one likes to feel cheated.

The Apostle Paul scolded the church members at Corinth for cheating each other and taking one another to court. The Roman system allowed free access to the courts, and citizens embraced a litigious society. But Paul objected to believers suing one another in the pagan courts. He encouraged them to work things out among themselves, as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul offered this counter-cultural advice: Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.

In other words, if you happen to feel cheated sometimes, you can handle that. Rather, focus on your own business—are you cheating your brothers and sisters? Look out for those around you, and stop flailing at each other.

Paul reminds followers of Jesus that many of us were once cheats and swindlers ourselves, as well as thieves and idolators, sexually out of control, greedy and drunk and far from the kingdom of God.

Then he follows with really good news: But you were washed, your were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

No more gracious offer in all of eternity—and with no hidden fees.

1 Corinthians 6 in week thirty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Khara Woods

One of my favorite hymns is O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing by Charles Wesley. I especially like this verse:

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb
Your loosened tongues employ
Ye blind, behold your Savior come
And leap, ye lame, for joy

When I hear this song, I think back to the interaction between Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist. Wondering if Jesus might truly be the promised Messiah, they asked him straight up—are you the one? Jesus replied, Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

Along with miracles performed and people turning to the Lord, these phrases conveyed a deeper reference to John the Baptist, then suffering in prison and soon to be murdered.

Isaiah, some 700 years before, wrote this prophecy about the hoped for Messiah: Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Jesus referenced Isaiah in regards to himself. John, student of scripture and prophecy, immediately grasped this powerful, unequivocal and joyful message—the Messiah walks among us!

What proof accompanied the true Messiah? Blind eyes seeing color, deaf ears hearing babies cry, those who’ve only ever dragged themselves in the mud now racing through the square, and the voiceless yelling the goodness of God for all to hear.

Jesus added this last word in his conversation with John’s disciples: Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.

No problem for those lame now leaping for joy.

Matthew 11 & Isaiah 15 in week thirty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Harry Quan

The Bible never avoids a controversy, and the Apostle Paul especially goes for the jugular. I wonder if the scarcity of papyrus and ink, or the complexities of sending a letter drove him to get right to the point? I have a feeling he wouldn’t waste time over email, either.

Paul delved into a variety of issues in the Corinthian church, and one of the most serious involved a man sleeping with this father’s wife—his stepmother. He actually married his stepmother, an offense that even the sexually licentious city of Corinth found disgusting.

Paul pushed the church to deal with the situation firmly, to hand the man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit might be saved on the day of the Lord.

I find it fascinating that while Paul dealt with this creepy relationship, he rebuked the church and its leaders for another reason—pride. In this case, what were they proud of? Their open-mindedness? Their willingness to accept anyone regardless of relational status? Were they proud that they loved this man no matter what?

Paul gave pointed instructions about interacting with those outside the church who are sexually immoral, or greedy, or cheats, or worshipers of other gods. As followers of Jesus, as church members, we engage with them. We cannot avoid it. Paul made it clear that God will judge those folks, not him.

However, when a person joins the church and takes on the mantle of Christ-follower, then that brother or sister has chosen a more severe path. Church members are to help each other walk a higher way, which sometimes means hard conversations and disciplinary actions.

Harsh to my modern, sensitive ears perhaps, but all done under the leading of Scripture and with love prompted by the Holy Spirit. When done well, the world cocks its ear, and the message of the gospel spreads.

I Corinthians 5 in week thirty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Glen Carrie

I have in my garage a plumb line (pictured above), inherited from either my dad or granddad, I can’t remember. I used it for a project once and forgot to return it—how’s that for grateful? The plumb line consists of a heavy metal weight (the plumb bob) attached to a string. When hung and steadied it makes a vertical reference line. You can tell if the wall you’re building is straight or leaning.

The plumb line is a simple, effective, inexpensive, and ancient tool.

Isaiah used the plumb line to describe a coming age of justice, ushered in by the Lord. See, I lay in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic, I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line.

The coming Messiah is that cornerstone. Using construction techniques, Isaiah lays out a building with a secure foundation. Its measurements conform to justice and a plumb line sets the walls of righteousness.

In other words, when Jesus returns all things shall be made right. The lines of justice and righteous will form a solid structure. As Isaiah goes on to write, all this comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, and whose wisdom is magnificent.

I trust in the promise that someday, a plumb line in the hand of the Lord will straighten the injustices of the world. But I recognize that one of our roles as image bearers of God involves working the plumb line as well, opposing injustice and undergirding righteousness wherever we find it.

Isaiah 28 in week thirty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover