Author: Dave Dishman (Page 328 of 459)

When I consider buying something new, I look at the reviews. Our hyper-connected society yields at least one benefit—I can learn about a product from actual users before I spend my hard-earned money.

Which leads me to the most unhelpful product reviews on the world-wide web. These arise from people who gleefully unbox their new toaster, or running shoes, or garden shears and immediately post, “Looks great right out of the box!” Or this one, always with 5 stars, “I haven’t used it yet, but I can’t wait to start!” Obviously, they did wait to start, as least long enough to post an inane review.

I hear this personally as well. Encouraged to read the latest book on an important topic, I discover the enthusiast hasn’t actually read the work, only heard it was good. A person with 10,000 emails in his inbox pushes me to organize mine in a new way. I’m goaded to cut out coffee by someone who never woke up anticipating that first sip of the dark elixer of life.

Why do I find such advice annoying?

Because these people are preaching without actually practicing.

Which brings my rant to Jesus.

Jesus summed up his condemnation of the religion of the Pharisees with a simple line—they do not practice what they preach.

As they pushed advice and religious duties on others, the Pharisees posted reviews without actually living out their teachings. You want to read a rant about how they lived and taught? Check out Matthew 23—now that’s a bad review.

Jesus brings clarity. If I want to live my faith in such a way that others notice and find even slightly compelling, I must practice what I preach.

Matthew 23 in week thirty-three of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by John Schnobrich

Ahaz, cowering before his nation’s invaders, rejected the Lord and turned instead to the powerful Assyrians to rescue him. Fawning before their power, Ahaz copied one of their pagan alters and installed it in the temple in Jerusalem.

Ahaz then redecorated the temple, chopping up and shoving to the side various temple furnishings that Solomon, under the direction of the Lord, set in place hundreds of years before.

Why did Ahaz snub his ancestors—and the Lord—with this profane installation in the temple of God? In order to lick the boots of the most powerful ruler in the world—in deference to the king of Assyria.

As these stories remain for our guidance, I have to ask—where might I prove guilty of the same? Where am I tempted to compromise my faith in deference to the prevailing powers of our world?

For example, the Bible remains clear about the ways to live out our sexuality, but do I minimize those views because the wanton opinions of our world stand opposite?

The Bible is clear on gender—male and female He created them—but do I reevaluate such clarity in light of postmodern psychoanalysis?

Be holy, as I am holy. Do my steaming media choices add to, or detract from, a pursuit of holiness?

Be humble. Does taking endless pictures of myself and posting them for the world to see and comment upon push me toward humility?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Does social media surfing and commenting on the latest controversy help with any of this?

I’m wondering, who is the King of Assyria in my life? Who or what pressures me to compromise my faith, to shade my commitment to the Lord, to minimize or turn from the truth of God’s Word?

What am I choosing and where does it lead me?

Join me asking the Lord for clarity in understanding where such deference might lead us. While the original king of Assyria is long gone, his spirit fills our age. Rather than follow the example of Ahaz, I hope to defer in the Lord’s direction.

2 Kings 16 in week thirty-three of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Victoriano Izquierdo

Everyone loves how Jesus related to children. Episode 3 in season 1 of The Chosen series depicts Jesus engaging with children in delightful ways (in fact, if you haven’t watched The Chosen, it’s well worth your time).

Jesus stopped his disciples from shooing away a gaggle of kids brought to him by their parents. He said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Really? I’m in line with the disciples on this one—pat the kids on the head and let’s get back to adult conversation. What endeared children to Jesus in such a strong way?

Innocence? Kids aren’t innocent. Kindness? Not necessarily. Unselfish? Kids can be as selfish as anyone I know. Intelligent? Some yes, some no. Cleanliness? Ha.

The truth lies closer to their concept of self.

The children ran to Jesus with humility. They didn’t stack up their good qualities for Jesus, they just stood wide-eyed before Jesus. They trusted Jesus. It seems that children enjoyed being with Jesus, not just getting something from Jesus.

As an adult I feel the need to prove myself. I’m better at using others. Humbleness takes a back seat to, well, everything else.

Not so much with these children. Nothing to prove, nothing to show, they just let Jesus bless them.

And, I have a feeling that Jesus enjoyed the enthusiasm, laughter and silliness that children bring—seems like he didn’t get much of that.

Matthew 19 in week thirty-two of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Larm Rmah

This is a warning, of course.

Hosea wrote this phrase under the inspiration of the Lord, as part of a litany of threats against Israel: The people have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law…Israel has rejected what is good…with their silver and gold they make idols for themselves…my anger burns against them.

They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.

Reminds me of Dust in the Wind, by Kansas (fyi, one of the greatest bands of the rock era).

Hosea preached his sermons to a nation far removed from its devotion to the Lord under kings David and Solomon. Every compromise over the years, every giving in to the expediency of leaving the rigorous path laid out by the Lord, constituted sowing to the wind.

The whirlwind blew back in the form of invaders who raped and pillaged and hauled off most all the people. Total disaster.

I glimpse how this principle—sowing and reaping—worked in world affairs through the centuries. A study of history, the causes of wars and famines for instance, reveals how bad decisions or lack of action or ignoring clear warnings often led to catastrophe. Our present climate crisis seems to meet the criteria.

Sowing to the breeze and reaping a tornado applies on a personal level as well. Which means I need to examine my life and ask—where might I be sowing in a frivolous or harmful nature? Maybe it’s time to finally stop smoking?

Or, on a positive spin, am I sowing among the better things in life? Deeper relationships with others? Stronger commitments to knowing and following the ways of Lord? Serious practices of reading and understanding and applying God’s Word?

Sowing in the soil of God and His Word results in a plentiful yield–so much better than throwing my energy to the wind.

Hosea 8 in week thirty-two of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Nikolas Noonan