You can get better at anything if you practice. Friends of mine practice gardening, always learning and improving their skills at growing flowers and vegetables and fruits. Physicians describe their medical work as a practice, developing an experienced eye in treating health issues over many years of work. Even that dastardly yet magnificent game of golf yields to practice—or so I’m told.

It pays to practice when it comes to the Scriptures as well. The writer of Hebrews chided the church in Rome over their lack of growth: Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

This group failed to engage with the Scriptures beyond a cursory level. Their shallowness grew evident as the society around them pressed in. They appeared to have trouble with what was good and what was evil, difficulty with right living. They faced persecution, and it eased the pressure to pump the brakes on living by God’s word in their pagan city.

Instead of remaining childish, these young believers were encouraged to further exercise the things they had been taught: Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Constant use refers to training, working out, practicing, meaningful activity guided toward a specific end. By delving into the Scriptures daily, over weeks and months and years, the disciple gains wisdom, a certain gravitas, and more easily avoids the evil laid before them.

No one gains anything from staying in the kiddie pool when it comes to the teachings of the Bible. It pays to practice, be it gardening or medicine or golf—and especially when understanding the Scriptures in order to live as a fully engaged follower of Jesus.

Hebrews 5 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Sandie Clarke

In a crisp reality check, two priests made an unauthorized offering before the Lord—contrary to his painstakingly explained instructions. So fire came out of the presence of the Lord and consumed them.

Best to follow instructions. Like grabbing a downed power line, Nadab and Abihu got toasted. Why did these newly ordained priests ignore what had been clearly explained to them only days before?

They clearly did not respect the Lord enough to follow his commands given through Moses. Perhaps their newly privileged position swelled their hearts, leading to a less than respectful, even flippant attitude? Were any of their fellow priests around when they loaded their censors? Were they warned, or did they stride in on their own?

This scene serves as a stark reminder of the Lord’s holiness. It also shows our need for a mediator, an intercessor between you and me and this overpoweringly Holy God. Thankfully, Jesus serves this role. The writer of Hebrews points out:

Since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess…Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we my receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

I don’t imagine any of the priests who served after this incident approached the Lord with confidence. They checked and double-checked their protocols of sacrifice. They moved with trepidation, hoping to avoid the fate of the sons of Aaron. You and I however (thanks to nothing we’ve ever done), can move toward God with boldness and presence of mind.

Because Jesus took the jolt of fire meant for us.

Leviticus 10 & Hebrews 4 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Jonas Frey

King David boasted a long history of success on the battlefield. He attracted talented advisors and amassed great wealth. A gifted leader, he could have easily placed great confidence in his talents and wisdom. But his reliance turned a different direction.

Notice the supreme confidence of David in the Lord his God: The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

A shepherd who faced a range of difficulties on his rise to the throne, David no longer worried about personal enemies or marauding armies. Instead, David worried only that God would turn away from him, hide his face, or abandon his servant.

Despite threats both external and internal, David clung to the Lord. With unshakable belief he expressed his thoughts: I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

I appreciate those words and need them in my life. David’s confidence reflects a long walk with the Lord, years of persistence. His confidence can be ours, if we stick to that long walk in the same direction.

Psalm 27 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Karl Fredrickson

When I was at the University of Missouri I enjoyed playing pick-up basketball. Our rec center held multiple courts, and games went on morning to night. Several friends from my dorm and I played most every day. Over lunch one afternoon a new kid touted his basketball abilities. In fact, he claimed to have played a game in high school against our university’s All-American center and held him to a season low. We walked to the gym later that day excited to add a talented player to our gang of hoopsters.

It only took a trip or two down the court to realize our new friend stunk at basketball. He could hardly dribble. He flung the ball and clanged it off the backboard. He guarded his opponent like a matador, swinging out of the way. Absolutely ridiculous. We ungraciously called him out for his story of high school stardom (remember, college guys carry few filters). He lost the invite to join us ever again.

Why did we blow up in frustration? The kid claimed to be something he was not. He was a hypocrite. He bragged and bragged, but failed to back up his claims. The sad part is that if he would have just said, I’m not very good, but I like playing basketball, he would have fit right in. Lots of guys at the rec center weren’t any good, but they never claimed to shut down All-Americans.

I avoid hypocrites as much as possible, and most everyone feels the same way. Even King David wrote, I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites.

Hypocrite = actor. The same root leads to both words. While I enjoy actors on stage or screen, I don’t want to live with false people in my day-to-day. A hypocrite displays concern but their heart is elsewhere. A hypocrite says one thing and does another.

A hypocrite, when discovered, loses trust and rarely gains it back.

In my experience, the religious hypocrite turns people off to faith in Jesus more than anything else. Which is why it’s so important to avoid that role (easier said than done). We all carry a whiff of the hypocritical.

I’m at my best when I ask the Holy Spirit to reveal hypocritical ways within me, and then take care to match my pontificating with how I play the game.

Psalm 26 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Tom Briskey