I heard a man in an airport restroom a few days ago cursing about an un-flushed toilet. His rant echoed across the potties, while the rest of us went quietly about our business. Did he expect compassion from a roomful of men waiting on delayed flights?

I understand his frustration, and it reminded me of how gratefulness runs in short supply. Annoyed at the delays to my flight, I forgot that my trip across the United States took only an evening when once it took weeks. So much of my attitude depends on perspective.

David wrote about the Lord’s perspective in regards to you and me: As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

Last week my wife and I spent time with Nora, our wonderful nine week old granddaughter. Nora cries to let us know she’s hungry—it’s the only way she has to communicate. I don’t hold that against her. I understand it’s normal for a child that age, and I happily hand her back to her parents.

The Lord understands you and I in the same way. He remembers that we are dust. Perhaps we do would well to remember the same. The Lord is vastly superior to us in every way, and He knows we have a long way to go. His compassion stemming from his perspective envelopes us as we journey through life.

Which brings me to gratitude. I’m often the infant crying for I know not what, and the Lord is present even if I fail to realize it. As David says, the Lord satisfies your desires with good things, and for that I can be grateful.

Psalm 103 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by insung yoon

This morning I finished the last chapters of the Bible. This concludes my 29th time reading the Bible all the way through, cover to cover.

I read Job 40-42, Psalm 150, and Revelation 22. These passages provide fitting endings for my journey, as God blessed Job and the psalmist leads us in praise to the Lord. The end of Revelation tells of the tree of life, whose leaves are for the healing of nations, foliage we need desperately today.

The words of the Good Book are trustworthy and true, meriting our attention and mental energy. No time spent here is wasted. Its value compounds as the Holy Spirit roots the words in our hearts and brings fruit through the years.

Revelation, the last book in the Bible, ends with a prayer and a blessing.

The prayer—Amen, come Lord Jesus. Still pausing, but the wait won’t be forever.

The blessing—The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. No need not wait, we rest in grace today.

Hopeful words to close this book given to us from our hopeful God.

Revelation 22 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Colin Carey

It’s important in certain situations to get your name on the list. I call ahead to get my name on the list for seating at restaurants. I look for my name on the upgrade list when flying, even though I never get called forward to first class (but there’s always hope).

The end of the Bible describes the new Jerusalem. A heavenly city created from translucent gold and lined with jewels, it’s lit by the glory of God and the lamp of the Lamb. There’s no night there, nor crying or mourning or pain.

Sounds like heaven. How do I get in?

Nothing unclean will enter, nor anyone who does anything detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

I want my name on that list.

Medieval theologians believed that only one person in a thousand made it to heaven. A number to current thinkers believe everyone will eventually walk through those pearly gates. I fall somewhere in the middle.

But for any of us to get in, our name needs to be listed in that book—the Lamb’s book of life.

How do I make that happen? I cannot do it on my own, so I must ask the Lamb—Christ Jesus himself—to write me in. I cannot demand this, of course, but must humble myself, offer Jesus my life, take on his yoke and follow.

If my name’s on that list, it got there by no merit of my own. I don’t deserve it. But Jesus writes names with his graceful hand, and let’s hope he includes yours and mine as he does so.

Revelation 21 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Thomas Martinsen

Merry Christmas!

This day, two thousand twenty five-ish years ago, Jesus was born in a manger, a place intended for animals, certainly not the first choice of lodging.

Mary gave birth far from family and Joseph, young and inexperienced, did the best he could. Both persevered and bravely delivered the Christ-child into this world.

Revelation 19 describes a book of life where names are recorded of those who will spend eternity with the Lord. John 1 tells how in the beginning was the Word, referring to Jesus with the Father at creation.

In between, a child arrived in Bethlehem, fulfilling creation and taking names for the book of life. Present at the beginning, made flesh in the middle, and closing the book at the end.

Alpha and Omega born this day.

Photo by Walter Chávez