Category: Bible (Page 302 of 419)

In our small group at church we looked at the concept of spiritual gifts this past week. One way to think of these gifts are other-focused talents given by the Holy Spirit upon accepting Christ. Spiritual gifts are discussed in several places in the New Testament, and it’s fascinating to think about how the Holy Spirit infuses believers with different gifts to benefit those around us.

Encouragement is one such gift. As we went around our group and discussed our gifts (we each took a spiritual gifts assessment the week prior), multiple hands shot up when I asked, who scored high on the gift of encouragement?

A bunch of encouragers—that’s a good group to hang with.

The writer of Hebrews, also an encourager, put it this way: Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.

Those with this gift offer encouragement as easily as I reach for a second cupcake.

But those of us without this gift should still work to encourage others. I think this passage was specifically written for people like myself. I need to consider how to encourage others, to stop and think about it. Just because I’m not gifted doesn’t spare me the responsibility of spurring others on to love and good deeds.

Besides, no one minds a little encouragement, even from those of us without the gift.

Hebrews 10 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by krakenimages

I’ve heard this benediction many times, and I always enjoy a pastor or teacher closing a service with these words:

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

But I forget these words came directly from the mouth of God. The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites.'”

This is referred to as the priestly blessing, as Aaron and his descendants served as the priests for the nation of Israel. But as followers of Jesus, members of a new royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), we may also pronounce this blessing on those around us.

Feel free to bless others today, and if you need some words to do so, you won’t find any better than these.

Numbers 6 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Illiya Vjestica

Our two boys spent an afternoon one summer with a bunch of friends at a local go-cart track and games pavilion. The oldest drove our old Mitsubishi Montero, a car I loved. The SUV ran really well, went everywhere in the snow, and was already beat up so I didn’t worry about teenagers denting anything.

While the kids enjoyed their afternoon, two other local teenagers practiced their craft of breaking into cars in the parking lot. They stole stuff from several vehicles, damaging each in the process. They hit our Montero, getting some CDs and change from the console. But the major bummer was they broke in by shoving a screwdriver into the doorlocks, tearing up both.

The two thieves where quickly caught—breaking into cars at a popular hang-out in broad daylight didn’t help their escape. After filing a report, a few weeks later I heard from the judge. I sent in the bills for replacing the locks, and the judge ordered the two boys to pay the costs, plus extra for the time and hassle I spent getting the car fixed.

He ordered restitution—a biblical concept.

The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord is guilty and must confess the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it to the person they have wronged.‘”

Over time, the boys who broke into my car paid me back every dollar I spent on the locks and then some. I got checks every 6 weeks for about a year. The culprits paid everyone back, and learned a valuable lesson (either crime costs you more than you receive, or avoid breaking into cars in broad daylight).

A lesson also played out within me. My attitude towards the young men who smashed my locks changed. I forgave much easier as they paid me back for their misdeeds. I rooted for them to learn and make better decisions in the future.

Their steady payments of restitution moved me from adversary to ally.

I have no idea where these young men are today. But I hope they benefited from their run-in with a wise judge applying biblical concepts.

Numbers 5 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo on Unsplash

In the section of Hebrews describing people of great faith, the author (unknown to us) tells of men and women who lived exciting adventures. People who passed through the Red Sea on dry land, the parents of Moses who hid him from Pharaoh, and the prostitute Rahab who welcomed the spies.

Then the writer turned to those whose adventure soured. Others who were tortured…some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning…killed by the sword…

They were sawed in two…

Who sawed who in two?

According to legend, Manasseh, furious with Isaiah for prophesying Jerusalem’s destruction, ordered his arrest. Isaiah fled to the countryside and hid in the hollow trunk of a tree. Once discovered, Manasseh ordered the tree cut down with Isaiah still inside.

The king sawed the prophet in two.

Quite a reward for faithfully proclaiming God’s words to his nation. Isaiah, and all the others who faced persecution and death for their faith, earned this commendation:

The world was not worthy of them.

Today in Ukraine followers of Jesus care for neighbors as shells fall around them. Other saints around the world face difficulty, ridicule, persecution and even death as they pursue the ways of the Lord. I forget the ease of my life and the practice of my faith.

So it helps me to remember that among us walk those of whom the world is not worthy, and from my place of safety I pray for them this day.

Hebrews 11 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Michael Fenton