I enjoy growing fruits and vegetables (and flowers) in my garden. Only I don’t actually make them grow. I simply plant the seeds and let nature take over. I studied biology in college, so I understand a bit about germination and the process of a seed forming roots and pulling nutrients from the soil. Like any good gardener I fertilize and water generously. But how a tiny seed placed in the dirt eventually produces food for my table remains mysterious to me.

Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a seed. He said, This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scattered seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

Like biology, I’ve studied church growth and missions and methods of outreach for years. I’ve led and participated in many such efforts. But the growth of the kingdom remains mysterious. Only God convinces a person to turn their life towards him. I don’t need to know how it all works, but I can scatter seed. Then whether I sleep or get up, pay attention or not, the kernels sprout and grow.

Looking at this world I sometimes wonder how anything good takes root at all. But the kingdom of God emerges in ways I cannot fathom. Mysterious and marvelous and miraculous, God grows his kingdom every day.

Mark 4 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Markus Spiske

Jesus constantly ran afoul of the religious establishment. Here’s an example:

Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.

Jesus indeed healed the man, simply telling him to stretch out his hand. The withered limb rejuvenated before their eyes. But the religious leaders present in the room considered healing to be work, and it was against Jewish law to work, even to heal someone, on the Sabbath.

While these leaders grew angry, it strikes me that they severely misconstrued the one who stood before them. Healing a crippled hand involved no work at all from Jesus. He merely spoke a few words. Present at creation, Jesus commanded all of creation, Sabbath included. He reminded those present that it is always lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

Whether it’s restoring a maimed hand or flinging stars into space, God speaks and marvelous things happen. It’s no work at all for Jesus to do good in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Perhaps we should bring our shriveled souls before him more often.

Mark 3 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Jackson David

One of the unfortunate results of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace involves producing the goods necessary for life. In the garden God provided everything—mangos, peaches, air fryers filled with chicken nuggets—all ripe and delicious. But now not so much. The Lord explained the new reality to Adam:

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.

Along with toiling in the dust, you and I came from dust and will return to dust. History points out that lots of people better than us are today nothing more than particles of soil. Next time you pass a cemetery give a thought to the sobering finality represented by the headstones. Our time in this world is a mere dot on the ever-expanding line of eternity.

What will we make of this period between dust and dust? A good part of my time is spent earning the food I eat. But in the midst of such labor will I live only for myself? Or might I help others discover the God who forms us from dust?

As I consider this reality at the start of a new year I’m compelled to question my daily priorities and practices. How will I interact with God, myself and others in this brief interlude between dust and dust?

Genesis 3 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Kunj Parekh

Years ago after a day of skiing we stopped on the way home for dinner. The kids and my wife decided on a place that served Japanese bowls, hot rice and teriyaki chicken sounding fabulous after a cold day on the slopes.

As we ordered the waitress showed me a special offering. If I signed up for their frequent guest card, I immediately got 20% off the first meal, along with a discount for every visit thereafter. The persistent server explained that by taking the plastic card I could enjoy immediate savings, even if I never returned. She glanced at my family, then looked me in the eye and commented with more than a dash of shrewdness—Why would you not do that?

I took the card.

This morning I was struck by the even better deal found in the Scriptures. Psalm 19 reads:

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

What does the Word of God provide? Among other things, refreshment, wisdom, joy, light, warnings and rewards. What better way to start a new year than to develop a habit yielding such benefits? It’s quite simple. If I commit time and thought to the words written in the Good Book and begin to apply them to my life, then I prosper.

Why would I not do that?

Psalm 19 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Ryan Kwok