Sometimes my faith stalls.

Or even flatlines until some jolt comes along to bring me back. Paul wrote to those needing a jolt in Philippi. After musing about a better life in the presence of Jesus, Paul returned to the moment:

But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.

Paul helped young believers blossom into mature followers of Jesus. In doing so he spread the joy that results from such faith. As for me, a dearth of joy often reveals a sputtering faith, a lack of keeping on. The two—progress and joy—move together.

I like this job description Paul employed—one who helps others mature and find joy in the person of Jesus. He hoped the Philippians boasting in Jesus Christ will abound on account of me. If my faith grows and a sense of joy pervades my soul, then Paul deserves some of the credit. He stayed true to his calling.

You and I can also stay true. We can help others progress in their faith and experience the joy discovered therein. It’s a high calling, one each follower of Jesus is encouraged to employ. But if we can help others boast in Jesus Christ, then we have something to boast about as well.

Philippians 1 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Tim Mossholder

Paul turns our minds toward an alternate reality when he says our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Whoa—hard to grasp this concept of evil forces opposing our faith. But Paul not only underscores the truth, but lists ways to fight back. Because we are in a fight, and the day to stand firm comes to us all.

Paul goes on to describe the armor each Jesus-follower possesses. First on the list? The belt of truth buckled around your waist. The Word of God, the Christian Scriptures, form an invaluable part of the necessary attributes to live an open life of faith in our challenging world. If I lose my belt, everything else fails as well.

Time to cinch it up and get to work.

Ephesians 6 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Ben White

Years ago I attended a Veteran’s Day ceremony on a foggy morning in the Ozarks. Two trumpets sounded Taps, the second echoing the first. In the cold, silent mist the haunting melody created a powerful moment to honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.

The Lord announced his presence to Moses with a trumpet blast. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

When the people with Moses felt the mountain quaking and heard the trumpet blaring they trembled with fear. They kept their distance, happy for Moses to climb up and speak with the Lord and leave them behind.

No one missed the sound of the Lord’s trumpet. Even the deaf felt it and knew it sounded. Its otherworldly power and tone caused listeners to go to their knees.

We’re told Jesus will return at the sound of a trumpet. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

If we experience the return of the Lord, we’ll immediately drop to our knees. It’s the only response we might muster at the call of his trumpet.

Exodus 19 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Joseph Hersh

One of the most chilling verses in all the Bible comes from Exodus:

At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon…

It wasn’t as if Pharaoh hadn’t been warned. Through months of plagues the Egyptians endured the wrath of God. Why did they not understand the Lord was as good as his word? But they learned, just as all the world learned, a God existed capable freeing the enslaved from bondage through unimaginable miracles.

Still, a part of me stops and wonders, if the Lord would do such a thing—what else is He capable of?

I misunderstand God. I neglect questioning my assumptions about the Lord. The images from scripture of the God who freed the children of Israel fail to match up with the therapeutic god I hope salves my desires and chuckles at my dalliances.

This verse punches my lazy beliefs in the nose. I’m not sure what I think, except that I need to think more about the God I follow and his ways of working in this world.

Exodus 12 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Paul Zoetemeijer