Category: Bible (Page 187 of 424)

In our world of personal choice, it’s easy to forget our dependence on the Lord. The psalmist reminds us:

I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look the the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.

Deep down, below the easy decisions to fill our bellies, lies our need for goodwill and generosity and grace. We’re dependent on the Lord for all these and more.

The language here strikes hard. Not that of a loving parent to a child, but of a master to a slave. Repugnant imagery perhaps, to consider our relationship to God in such a way, but it illustrates our total dependence on the Lord.

The Master decides, not the slave. The owner chooses when to extend mercy, regardless the slave’s manipulation. The timing is not that of the slave’s, but rather at the pleasure of the Master.

We pray have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, because only one possesses the ability to grant our deepest need—the Master.

Through the centuries believers prayed, Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Try praying this yourself throughout the day. Perhaps nothing is more essential to our faith than to desperately appeal to the master until he shows us mercy.

Psalm 123 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Jacob Bentzinger

I watch sports of all kinds. September is a great time of year for this habit, with football season kicking off and baseball heading into the playoffs. Along with unscripted drama, I enjoy the athleticism displayed on the field, from diving catches to flat out sprints. Athletes perform well because they trained their bodies in the months leading up the games. All the work pays off on the field.

The apostle Paul trained his body like an athlete in order to preach the gospel more effectively: I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like the boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Bodily discipline influences spiritual effectiveness. I tend to dichotomize, separating body from soul. The Bible for the brain and doughnuts for the belly reflects my philosophy. But Paul took a different approach. He traveled broadly, suffered deprivations, and understood the need to keep his body in check. Staying healthy allowed him to evangelize across the Roman world for years and years.

Control your body. Exercise and eat right and maintain your health. Bodily discipline aids our development as effective ministers of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Bruno Nascimento

Americans give generously in response to emergencies. After the Colorado wildfires near our home at the end of 2021, people donated piles of goods and materials. In situations like this we want to help and giving allows us to lend a hand.

Outside of emergency situations, giving often wanes. We need reminders to stay faithful. The people of Jerusalem and Judah slowed their giving to a trickle as their temple fell into disrepair and their priests ignored the Lord.

However, a new king, Hezekiah, threw open the doors of the ancient temple and began repairs. He reinstituted worship and consecrated priests. Hezekiah purified the temple and celebrated Passover in a massive way not seen in years. Then he called for contributions.

The people responded. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. The people of Israel and Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps.

The citizens gave so much the priests mounded everything in the courtyard of the temple. Later the king ordered warehouses be prepared for all the offerings. With a fresh vision to return to the Lord the people opened their hearts and their pocketbooks.

Generous giving marks a life tuned to the ways of the Lord. We give in response to the Lord’s graciousness to us and when we all give together, we create heaps and heaps of goods to share with others.

2 Chronicles 31 in reading the Bible in 2023

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Ultimately, going at life apart from the Lord leads to futility. Isaiah wrote to his people:

We were with child, we writhed in labor, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the people of the world have not come to life.

No one comes to true life under our own cleverness or power. But along with this warning, Isaiah laid out a path toward flourishing:

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal…Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

We leave a frivolous existence giving birth to wind and turn towards substance when we read and learn and apply the laws of the Lord. The direction of our devotion then leads us away from self and towards the Lord, the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 26 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Javier Allegue Barros