Ever watch someone make a bad decision? You know disaster looms, and you speak up, but no change in behavior. Then the disheartening moment when your premonitions prove true.

I sense this type of frustration while reading the Lord’s admonition in Psalm 81:

Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—if you would only listen to me, Israel! You shall have no other foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me.

To these people searching in the wrong places, the Lord presents a better way—Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

Return to the Lord wholeheartedly and experience the Lord stuffing you like a mama bird feeding her young. Enjoy the finest of wheat and honey. But we know the end of the story. The children of Israel never quite abandoned those foreign gods.

What foreign gods entice me? Where do I look to meet my needs instead of turning to the Lord? Perhaps giving in to the desire for security and comfort, or accepting the norms of our world and no longer pushing back. Joining the narcissistic hordes and just coasting. But in the end all such gods only provide pockets full of holes—everything falls out and I’m left wanting more.

These ancient words apply today. If I focus my adoration solely on the Lord, and shove all other gods away, then at least the promise of his filling opens to me. Otherwise, I’m on my own. Better to open wide and see how the Lord stuffs my mouth.

Psalm 81 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Mateusz Stępień

Perhaps you watched the Super Bowl ad that drew both raves and criticism. Or any of the other videos urging people to take a fresh look at Jesus. If not, check out hegetsus.com. I find them fresh and compelling.

Of course, Jesus indeed gets us. As the writer of Hebrews explained, 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. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who have been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

In other words—He gets us.

Jesus faced temptation, no different than you and me. He identifies with us in our struggles and failures. Jesus understands our lack of resolve and periods of despair, and still he’s 100% in our corner.

This allows us to pray with confidence, to go searching for mercy and grace with hopefulness. No locked doors or stiff arms await. Only the patient, comprehending Son of God who suffers alongside you and me.

He get us. What an amazing thought to rest our souls in today.

Hebrews 4 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Gift Habeshaw

As I tromp through life I overlook many of the good things the Lord provides. Details easily distract me, like shoveling the driveway (it snowed last night) or running out of milk. Yet when I step back I understand the Lord sends moisture to nourish the earth, and there’s plenty of milk in the supermarket around the corner.

Even better to learn the Lord holds in reserve greater kindnesses for our future. King David prayed, how abundant are the good things that You have stored up for those who fear you, that You bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in You.

I have no idea the abundance the Lord possesses, but as the sustainer of the entire universe his storehouses remain vast. He couples his lavish grace with overflowing generosity. All we have comes from the Lord’s hand—family, friends, life itself, hope for the future, and overcoming death in the end.

Take refuge in the Lord. We don’t know what God has in mind for us, but it’s stored up in abundance.

Psalm 31 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Ruchindra Gunasekara

At times we all feel anxious in our faith. Challenges make us question God, and distrust his promises of goodness and care. As we hack our way through a difficult world, it’s healthy to wrestle and share frustrations with the Lord.

Far worse for our faith is to give up and become complacent. The writer of Hebrews penned this warning to church members:

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand…though you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you…you need milk not solid food!

This group stopped trying to understand the ways of the Lord. Why? Not for lack of good teaching or good people in their midst. Perhaps their gatherings grew comfortable, easy to slide in and slide out. Maybe in their city it was safer to keep quiet about their new faith in an unknown Messiah.

Or could it be that ongoing compromise with the values of the world kept them immature? This forms our overarching temptation today. Society wants you and I to mouth the phrase God is love, but disregard the reality that God is truth, and his truth requires adherence on our part.

Balancing both God’s love and God’s truth raises all sorts of uncomfortable issues. As a result a follower of Jesus clashes with the broader culture. True in the first century when this was written (remember the martyrs) and true today (people face persecution for their faith every day).

In the midst of our raucous world a milk diet fails to satisfy. Those who never expand their palate slip away. Complacency strangles the spirit—I’ve seen it over and over. Don’t let your faith journey stop with bland milk and stale crackers.

Living by the book requires sound teaching and rigorous application—you’ll need your strength. Eat something solid today.

Hebrews 5 & 6 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Jason Leung