Author: Dave Dishman (Page 366 of 459)

Many of the words and phrases in our common lexicon come to us from deep in the Bible. One example is scapegoat. I think of someone who takes the hit for a bad situation, a person undeserving of blame.

Today’s idiom arises from real goats we read about in Leviticus 16:20-22. Aaron, the high priest, confessed the iniquities of all the people before God and laid them upon the head of a goat. He then sent the goat away to wander in the wilderness, thus carrying away the sins of the people.

Centuries later, Jesus emerged as the ultimate scapegoat. All the sins of all the people in all the world for all time were laid upon his undeserving head, to be carried away forever.

The goat didn’t deserve what he got, and Jesus didn’t deserve what he got, either.

Me and you deserve it, but don’t get it – thanks to our scapegoat.

Week eight of reading the Bible cover to cover

One of the issues I face as I spend my life pursuing and propagating the Christian faith is that it all grows too familiar.

The problem surfaces when I realize that I’ve heard a sermon on this topic before, or I’ve read a similar book, or a discussion reminds me of another years ago.

I face a dullness of hearing. Only though hard work – training by constant practice – do I grow in my discernment and wisdom in the faith. Without that, my ability to hear fades into a comfortable haze.

Living as a Christ-follower means work and discipline and practice. There’s no other way, no shortcuts, no wide paths. Jesus promises an easy yoke, but still a yoke – a creature under a yoke pulls.

With discipline and practice, my hearing sharpens, my discernment improves, and my life follows. I respond less to the racket of the world, and more to the voice of the Lord.

Hebrews 5 in week eight of reading the Bible cover to cover

The word of God is living and active…piercing…discerning intentions of the heart.

The words are alive. This is why we read and note and ponder the words written in the Bible. Not ancient runes, or fables, or tales from old wives; these words eat at you and flay open your true desires.

Entering the Bible feels a lot like playing the game Jumanji. Remember the movie? According to the rules, once you start you cannot stop until the game is finished. The game captures you. In the meantime, rhinoceroses stampede past, crazed hunters stalk you, and you might turn into a monkey.

If you give yourself to the Scriptures, you risk toward change, into what you cannot know.

Roll the dice, play the game, see where the adventure takes you.

Hebrews 4:12 in week eight of reading the Bible cover to cover

For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not those who left Egypt led by Moses?

The author of Hebrews reminds me of what I read a couple of weeks ago in the book of Exodus. Lots of people who experienced all the miracles in the most miraculous story in the entire Bible still turned away from the Lord.

I always think, if God would only show himself, people would believe. Apparently, God did show himself, people did believe, and yet, people still turned away from the Lord. Rebellion in our hearts never quite dies, always smoldering below.

Sobering thought as I pursue a long life of faith.

Hebrews 3:16 in week seven of reading the Bible cover to cover