My high school math teacher liked to hand out his tests prefaced with the bleak prediction, now we’ll separate the sheep from the goats. He enjoyed this bit of drama, but for the rest of us—sheep or goat—the biblical reference got lost in the angst of test-taking.

This idea of separating sheep from goat originated with Jesus. When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Jesus goes on to describe his sheep as those who give the hungry something to eat, who clothe the indigent, who care for the sick and the prisoner and the poor. The goats ignore all of the above, concerned only for themselves.

To give his point a bit more pop, Jesus pointed out that the righteous (the sheep) go away to eternal life, but the goats to eternal punishment. Consequences follow the culling of the herd.

Jesus laid out the natural results of faith in him. The Christian religion is not merely a private matter, but overflows into the ways we live. Jesus continually underscored our need to do unto others and we would have done unto us.

Fortunately, we don’t have to be good at math to understand Jesus. Sheep follow the Shepherd, goats not so much.

Matthew 25 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Harry Grout

Micah the prophet explained what the Lord wants from those who claim to follow him. Not expensive sacrifices or costly gifts, but surrender at the heart level.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Mercy involves leniency, forbearance, kindness and sympathy towards those around us. Lean towards grace, even when it’s undeserved. Micah pairs mercy with acting justly, an adherence to living a morally right and fair life. Grace combined with truth leads to a life blessed by God.

Finally, humility suggests a modest estimate of my value and importance. The Creator formed me from dust, not super-dust, despite what I believe about myself.

The formula sounds simple, rolling right off the tongue. However, acting justly and loving mercy and walking humbly runs counter to my inner tendencies. I need help from the Holy Spirit to push me in this direction.

But if I want what is good, for me and those around me, then I’ll allow the Lord to open my soul to mercy, justice, and humility.

Micah 6 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Claudia Raya

Last night my wife and I dropped by the grocery store to stock up after a long trip. I walked past a line of cars in the drive-through for the pharmacy attached to the store. Another pharmacy sits across the road and always features lines inside and out. Then I realized two more busy pharmacies lie within a mile radius. Lots of us fill lots of prescriptions to cure our many maladies.

Isaiah the prophet delivered a prescription to the people of Israel. Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

Despite their hardened hearts, if these men and women filled this prescription the Lord promised though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…if you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land.

Most of us fill our prescriptions and take our medicines religiously. We desire good health. The same applies to the soundness of our souls. The Scriptures lay out prescriptions for vigor, for robust living. Learn to do right and change your life.

Take the Bible’s prescriptions seriously, and begin to experience the Great Physician working within the ailing areas of your immortal being.

Isaiah 1 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Laurynas Me

Jesus constantly faced opponents looking to catch him in a contradiction or inconsistency. One day after a bout with one group another gang showed up. When the Pharisees heard that he silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?

Jesus replied, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. Then he added, A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus quieted this fresh group of skeptics by answering a question designed to frustrate him. Constantly probed and goaded, Jesus extended his wisdom not only to his followers, but to those out to do him harm.

Jesus put up with a lot of grief. He answered trick questions about taxes and marriage and the Scriptures, doing so with calmness and good humor. Today while many mock Jesus and ignore his teachings, Jesus remains patient. He wants none to perish, but all to turn to him.

Patience is a virtue, and Jesus exemplifies it at its best.

Matthew 22 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Clément Falize