One spring our beautiful cherry tree failed to leaf out and bloom. Concerned, I called my tree guy, an older gentlemen with years of experience. A man of few words, he walked around the tree, gave it a good look and said, it’s dead. Hoping to salvage some of the tree I asked, how dead? Without looking back he replied, deadern’ a doornail dead.

A hangry Jesus impressed his disciples through his interaction with a tree. The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

The next day the group passed the same tree, now withered from the roots—deadern’ a doornail dead. The disciples were amazed. Jesus then explained the lesson:

Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Pray without doubt and amazing things happen—seems ridiculous. Yet Jesus opens this possibility to his disciples. I wonder what they were thinking as they stood looking at that tree?

The most challenging thought for me comes from the caveat Jesus added at the end. To be effective in prayer I need to forgive anyone I hold anything against. Maybe this is the issue with most of my prayers? A lack of forgiveness toward one person hinders the effectiveness of all my prayers.

Forgiveness forms a powerful theme in the teachings of Jesus. We grow more like him and develop into deeper people as we forgive those we find hard to forgive. When Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself, he meant to forgive them as well.

Without the Lord’s intervention, our hearts are deadern’ a doornail dead and incapable of forgiving anyone. Jesus is telling us that (with the Holy Spirit’s help) we can indeed forgive those we find unforgivable, and enrich our lives in the process.

The miracle of the withered fig tree points us toward the even greater miracle of forgiveness.

Mark 11 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Arun Clarke

I plan to read through the Bible cover to cover again this year. As best I can, I try to make reading habitual. I usually read early in the morning with coffee and journal close at hand. As I continue day after day, I look forward to these quiet moments in my schedule.

Even then, some days I’m tempted to skip. To fight this tendency it helps me to stay aware of several habit-busters that derail my efforts. Here’s a few I beat back regularly:

1. I’m busy

I stay engaged most of the day. However, I have free time with my morning coffee, a window during my commute, a break at lunch, and a bit of peace before my eyes close at night. I’m rarely too busy to read a section of Scripture.

2. The Bible is boring

Let’s face it, the book of Numbers is boring. But to stay bored with the Bible I must avoid the story of the woman who killed a man with a tent peg, or the king who died with maggots dripping from his bowels. I should also stay away from the life of Moses and Jesus, along with most of the rest of the Bible.

3. The Bible is not relevant to my life

The words of Scripture hold the potential to change everything about me—why I live my life, where I spend my money, who I run with, the way I think about my future—my very reason for being. I left this excuse behind long ago, but still it pops to mind occasionally.

4. I prefer the New Testament to the Old

I pick and choose the parts of the Bible I favor. Focusing on certain sections of the Bible, while ignoring less palatable ones, emerges from my right to live life as I please—just like the buffet line where I slide past the vegetables and pile on the desserts. Avoiding uncomfortable biblical texts actually cuts the power out of the Scriptures.

5. Social media

I catch up on news. I watch sports highlights. Or I just swipe in boredom. Social media is the greatest disseminator of ignorance in human history. Why waste my time here?

6. I’ll listen to a sermon instead

So many good sermons and storytellers. But even the best, most godly people fail to speak words as powerfully as the Holy Spirit (unless they quote the Holy Scripture). Substituting podcasts for scripture is no substitute for personal time in the text.

7. I get tired of reading

I also like to listen to the Bible. Teachers taught the scriptures orally for years and years. Hearing passages spoken out loud creates new ways to unearth the wonders of the text. Lots of great recordings of the Bible exist, and I can listen most anywhere.

8. I’m lazy

Finally the root of the issue. It’s easier to watch TV and let my mind slowly corrode than engage with the Scriptures.

In Summary

As you can see, I’ve developed some pretty good habit-busters. You may add some of your own. Even though I read through the Bible annually, I still have to fight through the inertia of getting started some days.

The Word of God is living and active—far more powerful than we give it credit. My heart and soul, as well as the people around me, are better off as I develop—and stick with—the habit of giving part of my day to the Scriptures.

Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Joshua Hoehne

Several days a week I go to the gym. I need the exercise, and I don’t get much in my regular job. I usually stay for an hour or so, either working with weights or cardio. After about 20 minutes I’m ready to quit and go home. I think, that’s a plenty good workout, I can leave. Or I whine, I’m worn out, I’ll slide now and come back tomorrow when I’m rested.

But I know that the next 40 minutes brings the payoff. I’m already in the gym, warmed up, body moving and heart pumping. I’m on the cusp of the most fruitful time of exercise, if I can just deny that inner voice telling me to quit.

Good things happen when I deny myself.

In a much more serious way, Jesus spoke of the denial necessary for those who attempt to follow him:

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Jesus tells us to deny ourselves and take up the cross. Denial becomes a life and death matter. The health of my soul depends on following his words and rejecting my inner voice telling me to quit.

It’s tempting to deny the way of Jesus in order to gain the approval of the world. I can even stay really religious, and if I tuck away those biblical teachings regarding strict sexual practices or the sanctity of life no one will complain. But the way of the cross involves dealing with those issues and more, regardless of popularity or derision or safety.

It’s hard in the gym to deny myself, but I do so knowing the results are worth it. It’s even harder to deny myself and take up the cross as I navigate our cultural morass. But the payoff, my soul in the hands of our Savior, far exceeds the pain I may experience in this present moment.

Mark 8 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Samuel Girven

Sometimes the Lord surprises in wonderful ways, like an expansive view opening up at the top of a hill, or an encouraging call from an old friend. But on certain occasions God jolts with goodness.

Sarah, the wife of Abraham, never could get pregnant. During a divine visit the Lord predicted that Sarah, well past the age of child-bearing, would hold her own baby in her arms one year hence. Sarah overheard the conversation and laughed bitterly. The Lord overheard her and called her on it, leaving her alone to ponder her thoughts.

Fast forward one year later:

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”

Isaac means he laughs. I love the choice of name, the irony a reminder of the goodness of the Lord. Although she was no saint, God turned Sarah’s disbelief and bitterness into unbelievable joy.

Perhaps God wants the same for you and me? Where might he turn bitterness into laughter? It’s worth taking time to think and ask and open ourselves to the unusual ways of the Lord.

Genesis 21 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Liane Metzler