Author: Dave Dishman (Page 384 of 475)

Jesus creates. Jesus sustains. Jesus holds all things together.

Jesus binds the atom and Jesus maintains the universe. Thanks to Jesus, our bodies don’t float off into space.

More than a carpenter, more than a teacher, more than a powerful example of love, more than the originator of the Christian faith – Jesus is so much more than my small mind grasps.

I overlook this Jesus, who this very day sustains all things by his powerful word, as I hurry through my religious life. But today, thanks to the unknown author of Hebrews, I remember.

Hebrews 1:3 in week seven of reading the Bible cover to cover

Paul, pushing aside a heavy bag of coins, writes that he is amply supplied, after receiving abundant gifts from the church. Moses, evaluating mounds of precious materials, tells his people to hold off, because they brought more than enough to finish the construction of the tabernacle.

Delightful that these two passages (Philippians 4 & Exodus 36) appeared together in our reading plan. True examples of sacrificial giving, thousands of years apart, written for me and you to consider today.

In both cases ordinary folks pitched in and met the need before them. The nation of Israel, likely over a million people at this time, gave wholeheartedly, the debacle of a golden calf fresh on their minds. In Philippi, a few dozen new Jesus followers provided an example for the ages.

We can do a lot when we come together.

Week seven of reading the Bible cover to cover

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us.”

Here stands one of the truly shocking lines of scripture.

The Israelites experienced God like no other people in history, in ways we only dream about. They tasted God (manna); felt God (heat & darkness); saw God (smoke & fire); heard God (cries of the Egyptians); smelled God (damp walls of the Red Sea).

Yet in one change of the calendar their faith dissolved.

The children of Israel turned from a seething mountain towards safer, controllable gods. They preferred a figurine to carry in their pocket to the Lord who led them out of slavery.

Hold on. Stay the course. Persevere. Many who experience the wonderful gifts of God turn away. Don’t be surprised when it happens, but join me in praying that it does not happen to me or you.

Exodus 32 in week seven of reading the Bible cover to cover

Timothy and Epaphroditus did the work. I have no one else like him, is how Paul talked about Timothy, and he wrote this regarding Epaphroditus, honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ.

Paul counted on these two men, part of a band he surrounded himself with throughout his missionary endeavors. Not everyone proved faithful, Demas comes to mind, but Paul developed a knack for picking good people.

I have people in my life I can count on. It’s humbling when I reflect upon it. Few blessings in life rise higher than people you can count on. Thank you, Lord.

I hope and I pray and I work to be a person to count on as well.