Category: Bible (Page 300 of 419)

We tend to register for lots of things in life. I remember going to the post office at age 18 and registering for Selective Service, meaning I was eligible for the military draft. Never called, but it made for a thoughtful signature on the form.

We register our vehicles, we register to vote, newly engaged couples register for wedding gifts. I might register a complaint at times. And apparently I’m registered on a number of sales lists. I get marketing emails and texts and calls for phones, golf gear, auto services, travel and restaurants. It’s a bummer being on the wrong list.

In the wilderness the Lord asked Moses and Aaron to take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by the father’s houses, all in Israel who are able to go to war.

Moses and Aaron set about registering the fighting men, eventually reaching a total of 601,730. Then a chilling reminder of an earlier registration: But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, “They will die in the wilderness.”

The Lord kept his promise. The entire generation who rejected the Him at the edge of the promised land all those years ago died off (except Caleb and Joshua, of course), just as the Lord predicted.

Which underscores the point—it’s a bummer being on the wrong list.

Numbers 26 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Tiffany Tertipes

The angel Gabriel made what seems to me an odd comment when predicting the career of John the Baptist to his father, Zechariah:

He will go before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Most parents I know already turn their hearts toward their children. What might Gabriel mean?

John the Baptist spent all his public ministry turning hearts to the Lord. Right up until the day Herod displayed his head on a silver platter, John preached in spirit and power, turning the disobedient toward wisdom.

One thought reflects the idea that those Jewish ancestors who followed the Lord back in the day would be pleased with the new righteous devotion of a younger generation. Passing on a fervent faith remains a value of all followers of Christ.

Another more personal idea emerges. John worked to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. This includes his initial Jewish hearers, but expands much deeper than Zechariah could have imagined. Gabriel predicted John’s work would reverberate down centuries, include both Jews and Gentiles, and influence those following the ways of the Lord ever since.

Gabriel’s promise to a stunned and muted priest remains in place. Even today people prepared for the Lord benefit from the example of Zechariah’s son, a wild man who laid the groundwork for Jesus.

Luke 1 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Jim Wilson

Few things bring more delight to a Sunday School class of pre-teen boys than a conversation about Balaam’s ass.

You really should read the story in the King James Version. The ass plays a prominent role. Balaam saddled his ass, then rode his ass, and later smote his ass.

After a beating, the ass talked back. Am I not thine ass, upon which thou has ridden ever since I was to this day? A talking ass—who knew the Bible could be so fun? I knew it’s juvenile, but it’s hard not to grin even now.

Of course, the story gets better because an angel of the Lord stands in the road, which apparently asses can see but prophets cannot, ready to lop off their heads. Balaam’s eyes are opened and the unlikely message-bearer vindicated—his ass saved his ass.

Which brings me to my point.

As smart and wise as I consider myself, I miss things. Often big things. I ride along in my own world lacking the awareness necessary to grow and thrive and sometimes even survive. I need people speaking into my life even when—or especially when—it’s inconvenient.

Asses see angels, prophets do not. Thus endth the lesson.

Numbers 22 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Laura Gariglio

I long enjoyed the encouragement of Frank, a former dentist. I first met Frank as a kid in his chair, but several years later I uncovered a fascinating and wonderful side of Frank.

My dentist held a secret power.

My wife and I worked in campus ministry, and Frank and his wife were some of our donors. They gave every month, faithfully fulfilling their pledge and keeping us on the field. One afternoon Frank gave me a call. I recently spoke at his church and since he was on vacation we missed each other, so he wanted to catch up.

In the midst of our conversation, Frank mentioned that he prayed for me and my wife and our kids by name every day. I asked, Frank, when you say “every day,”—do you mean literally “every day?”

Frank, in his quiet Ozarks drawl, replied, Well, I suppose not every day exactly. Early in the morning I sit down in front of my computer and pray for all the missionaries around the world we support. I’m pretty faithful, but I miss here and there.

I shamelessly probed—how many days did you miss last year?

Frank answered without thinking. All of last year I missed 4 days, then humbly added, but this year I’m going to do better.

I had to sit down.

The Lord brought Frank to mind this morning when I read about a man praying for the believers in Colossae. Ephaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Jesus Christ, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

Frank labored for my wife and me and our kids and all the other blessed people on his long list. 361 out of 365 he turned on that old desktop machine in his kitchen, sat with his coffee, and went to work.

I have rarely experienced a more humbling, and powerful, phone call.

Not surprisingly, when I heard the news of Frank’s passing several years ago I felt a fading in my spirit. One powerful pillar removed to glory.

I’m slow to pray, usually impatient and looking out the window like a kid caught in school. But I’m getting better. Perhaps part of the wisdom of age involves the slow realization that prayer holds far more power than I imagined. And laboring in prayer yields results far beyond what I see.

Just a thought as I read a few lines of scripture and remember my dentist with the secret power.

Colossians 4 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Jon Tyson