Did you know that Jesus prayed specifically for you and me? In his last days on the earth he prayed for his disciples, then turned his attention all of us who came later:

I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, just as you are in me and I am in you…I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Jesus prayed for unity among all his followers. Honestly, I ain’t seen much of that over the years. But if Jesus prayed it, seems like I should try to follow him in that direction.

I can listen to my fellow believers, engage in theological hospitality, reserve judgement and disagree with respect. Practice loving by faith, and those outside our churches begin to take notice. Not much goodwill emerges from our societal discourses. A broad variety of professing Christians, focused together on Jesus, points to a hopeful direction.

Lord, knit us together. Today make me a small answer to your prayer for unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

John 17 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Brian Wangenheim

My wife reminds me at times that I need to eat better. I reply, what’s better than nachos and halloween candy for supper? I actually try to eat healthy, but temptations to a sound diet abound.

Four young men in Babylon took a restrictive approach to their diet. Enrolled in an intensive program to develop court officials, these men faced tables filled with meat offered to idols, or meat of which the blood was not drained properly. The law of Moses marked such food unfit for devout Jews to consume.

Daniel asked the chief official for permission to refrain. Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearances with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.

The wise official consented to the experiment and the young men flourished. Sticking to their diet, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednago and Daniel stood out in health and vigor. On top of that, the Lord gave them knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning (thus taking all the fear out of final exams).

I wonder what areas of tradition I hold to when the Lord may have an unorthodox plan in mind to benefit both me and those around me? Am I open enough to listen? The hero of the above story is the chief official who was willing to try something new. His small gamble not only served these four men, but eventually his king and his nation. Perhaps the Lord whispered in his ear along with Daniel?

Try an experiment. Do something fresh, like listening to scripture, or asking about co-worker’s families, or serving a cranky neighbor. Give it 10 days and see how things go. The Lord may have something better—totally unexpected—waiting around the corner.

A good diet goes a long way.

Daniel 1 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Nathan Dumlao

Jesus spent several intense days preparing his followers for the fact that he would soon leave them. Understanding their consternation, he forecast the gift to come:

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you…when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.

Jesus sent the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to indwell and empower all believers. An advocate works as a defender, supporter and champion. For a follower of Jesus our advocate, the Holy Spirit, is our biggest backer.

The Holy Spirit discerns truth from lies, reality from fantasy. I need that help now more than ever, with competing narratives swirling from all the disparate voices in this world. The truth is out there, if I give my Guide room to reveal it.

Unfortunately, I often overlook the Holy Spirit, because my Advocate speaks in a still, small voice. His whisper takes time and attention to detect. I need quiet, no phone or computer or television. The Holy Spirit is a gracious guest, so I must ask him to speak into into my life.

Embrace the greatest gift sent to us by Jesus, the source of hope and power to lead an abundant Christian life. Open your life to the Advocate.

John 16 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by 愚木混株 cdd20

This time of year the front gutter on my house fills with leaves. The leaves are dry, and most tend to blow away. But a few stick and attract more. Over the coming winter I won’t notice. Snow fills the gutters and melts slowly, trickling past the leaves. But when serious rains arrive, the downspout clogs, water pours over the top and begins to ruin the siding. Willful ignorance today leads to problems next summer.

My heart works a lot like my rain gutter. It gathers small distractions, hardly a concern, until the piling on leads to issues.

David understood this issue of the heart. He wrote, Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Years later, the Lord spoke through the prophet Ezekiel of a heart replacement. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

My heart hardens and plugs, then sheds the living waters of the Lord. I need the Holy Spirit to remove the detritus and allow my heart to soften, to once again fear the Lord, keep his laws, and detect his whisper.

Just like I watch my gutter, I gotta watch my heart. The rains are coming and I want to be ready.

Psalm 86 & Ezekiel 36 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Jon Sailer