Category: Bible (Page 64 of 423)

Martin Luther King Jr. famously preached, The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. I recently read this quote from Bono, The arc of the moral universe does not bend toward justice. It has to be bent, and this requires sheer force of will. I believe that MLK and the rest of us would agree. No matter how the moral universe turns—justice don’t come easy.

David faced rebellion from within his family and trusted advisors. Due in part to his own sin, a peaceful kingdom fell into chaos. In the midst of his trials, David turned to the Lord as he sought justice.

Those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

We too can trust in the Lord, and even rejoice knowing that by his hand the mouths of liars will be stopped. MLK built his calls for fairness and equity upon his faith in God, and Bono does the same today. The moral arc of the universe might indeed bend toward justice, but only if we involve the Lord in its bending.

Psalm 63

Photo by DIEU

We find mention of two brothers within the story of David, both sons of David’s older brother Shimea.

The first, Jonathan, served in the army and like his uncle before him, fought face to face with a giant. There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, struck him down. 

The other brother, Jonadab, worked as as advisor to the king’s court. David’s son Amnon sought Jonadab’s advice for a burning issue. Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimea, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. Shockingly, the conniving cousin urged Amnon to commit incest with his sister Tamar, setting off years of pain and recriminations.

Two brothers, one a fighter and the other a schemer. The first chose a route of service and sacrifice. The other an avenue of comfort and intrigue. When did their paths diverge?

We don’t know the details. But I have a sense that each made a series of small decisions throughout their young lives that led to vastly different outcomes. We see this story played out again and again.

Pay attention to choices. Seemingly innocuous decisions lead to results beyond our imagination. Also, don’t be reticent to speak into the lives of those in your orbit who seem to be aiming at the wrong target. A well-spoken word often turns a young person from getting to giving, and in so doing changes the trajectory of their life.

2 Samuel 13:3 & 1 Chronicles 20:7

Photo by Annie Spratt

In speaking to a group of church members, Paul quoted a line from Jesus passed down by his disciples—It is more blessed to give than to receive.

This may be the most repeated sound bite of Sunday School teachers over the years, along with sit down and don’t touch your neighbor. Do you remember when you first heard these words? I certainly don’t, but I got the message often and from a variety of sources. Unfortunately, I don’t hear it enough these days and it bears repeating.

Paul shared the verse in regards to helping those who were lacking in their community. Through the centuries followers of Jesus applied this teaching in myriads of situations. I also need to give, and do so without strings or expectations. It’s good both for me and the receiver of my gift.

In today’s high-tech age with all our possessions and conveniences and entertainments and foods to eat, the truth remains. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35

Photo by Nichika Sakurai

After a long ministry trip I sat in a window seat as the plane approached Denver. From my perch I watched a dense bank of clouds rolling over the mountains. Forecasters predicted a heavy storm with significant snowfall. Then the intercom crackled. The pilot announced that conditions were too dangerous to land and we were being diverted south. Instead of spending the snowy night in my warm house with wife and kids, I joined a couple hundred other stranded passengers in a cold hotel in Colorado Springs.

So go the indignities of travel. Over the years I’ve been delayed or stuck due to blizzards, ice storms, tornadoes, thunderstorms, mechanical issues, airline strikes and Covid-19. Once I waited a couple hours because the first class cabin didn’t have enough cutlery.

The apostle Paul traveled constantly, often under dangerous conditions. While on his way to Rome the captain risked a late season run across the Mediterranean. With no forecaster to tell them to divert, the ship ran into a major storm. But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. The uncontrollable vessel danced with the storm for 14 days, finally running aground on Malta with no loss of life. The Lord spared Paul and the passangers, but the ship and its cargo were lost.

Why would the Lord allow Paul, on a journey to carry the gospel to the capital of the world and appeal to Caesar, to be diverted by a storm? Wasn’t his mission vital to the growth of the faith? Couldn’t the Lord create calm seas and advantageous winds? Of course he could. But life doesn’t happen that way, even for the greatest missionary in history.

Nature is not concerned with the importance I place on my work. Neither is nature concerned with me spending nights in uncomfortable hotels (at least I got a room). Taking for granted every convenience, I forget the dominance of natural forces. This is our Father’s world, and sometimes this world reminds me its power—a mere glimmer of the authority and strength of its Creator.

Acts 27

Photo by Mark kassinos