Sometimes I’m in a meeting listening to a presenter take a long, circuitous route to get to the point. I want to hollar out from the back (where I prefer to sit), just bottom line this for me—stop beating around the bush!

The apostle Paul often took an opposite approach, depending on his audience. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul felt church members needed the bottom line:

We do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God…What we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

Paul didn’t dilute the message about Jesus. He didn’t allude to secret knowledge only available for special people. He tricked no one, nor shamed anyone into following Jesus. Paul removed religious hurdles. Instead, he asked folks point blank to make a decision about Jesus.

Paul sat the truth on the table. Jesus Christ is Lord. I and my people serve him—how about you?

Nothing hidden in Corinth, and nothing hidden today. No ticket needed for entry. Jesus Christ is Lord—do we follow or turn away?

2 Corinthians 4 in reading the Bible in 2023

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A tingling feeling usually suggests something exciting, an experience we anticipate with a thrill. A tingle comes at an amusement park, or greeting someone you love after a long absence, or sitting down at a favorite restaurant.

But some tingles ain’t so great.

Manasseh, king of Judah, embraced every pagan custom possible, and egregiously offended the Lord. Then God spoke in judgement:

This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.

The Lord’s actions, be they graceful or disastrous, create tingling far and wide. In this case, God brought conquerers who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.

Manasseh later humbled himself and sought the favor of the Lord. He truly repented of his sins and unfaithfulness, and the Lord restored him to his throne in Jerusalem. A happy ending, after a great deal of unnecessary pain and suffering.

Enjoy that tingling feeling when it comes with a friend or a fine meal. But pay attention when goose bumps arrive with foreboding. Because not all tingles point to good news.

2 Kings 21 & 2 Chronicles 33 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2023

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I hear a platitude about God and his relationship to us repeated regularly—God just wants me to be happy. But how does anyone know that’s what God wants for you or me? The Bible never uses such a phrase. This idea springs from our therapeutic culture that places us at the center of the universe—God exists to make me happy.

But what if God wants more for us than happiness? What if happiness (such an elusive feeling) is simply a by-product of something else? The Lord, speaking through Isaiah, clarified the attributes of people who draw his attention:

These are the ones I look on with favor; those are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

Happiness, if it comes at all, emerges from a heart in tune with the Lord. A heart close to the Lord remains modest, chastened, and shudders before God’s holiness. Furthermore, such a person finds themselves exposed when reading their Bible. The scriptures point them toward God and away from self. Knowing God and walking with him become the focus—not our happiness.

God just wants me to be happy expresses a shallow, childish view of the Christian faith. God holds so much more. Tremble at his word and see how much deeper the Lord may take you.

Isaiah 66 in reading the Bible in 2023

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Shame has gone out of fashion in parts of our culture. Internalizing too much shame is bad for anyone, but the fact that people parade around some of our cities without clothes seems to call for a touch of shame. No one needs to see that.

David prayed, knowing his potential to shame the good name of the Lord:

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you. Lord, the Lord Almighty, may those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me; God of Israel may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me.

Like David, I pray that my words and actions as a follower of Jesus and a religious missionary worker do not bring shame to the gospel. I carry the potential, the folly in my heart, to turn people away from the good news of Jesus. We see it often, and the Lord hates such hypocrisy.

David’s prayer is a warning for all of us who profess a strong commitment to the Lord. I also need to pray, Heavenly Father, keep me from harming someone else’s relationship with you.

I heard Dr. Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, ask the Lord to take him home before he did something to disgrace his Savior. David shares a similar sentiment, and it’s a sobering thought for me to wrestle with as well.

Psalm 69 in reading the Bible in 2023

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