We pulled up late in the evening with a carload of tired kids. My wife carried our sleeping daughter inside, then turned and in a low voice said, something’s wrong! What was wrong? We drove up on a robbery in progress. When our garage door when up, the thieves fled out the back.

I never saw it coming. A dark house on a holiday night presented the opportunity. The wretches broke in a door, took several items along with some cash, and eluded the police. I dozed by that broken door for the next several nights, baseball bat in hand, worried because the police mentioned that thieves often return.

When Paul writes you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, I understand the metaphor. Thieves arrive unexpected. They surprise and create havoc. Yet every day, all over the world, thieves ply their trade.

The day of the Lord will eventually arrive. We don’t talk about this idea that seems anachronistic and outdated. I think most people feel like the plan has timed out. Two thousand years and nothing, so the idea is moot. But remember that a thousand years is like a day to the Lord (1 Peter 3:8), so it’s been less than two God-days since Paul’s warning. Not much time at all.

I also remember that the Lord wants no one to perish but all to come to repentance (1 Peter 3:9), so he delays way longer than you or I ever would. For that we remain grateful.

What am I to do in the meantime? Maintain my faith, love and serve others, and make the way of salvation known to those around me. Do the work and avoid the lullabies of the world.

The day may be distant, but the day is coming.

1 Thessalonians 5 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Rémi Thorel

I’m happy on this day to be the father of three wonderful kids. I’m also happy to have enjoyed the gift of a good father (and grandfathers). I’m most grateful to live under the hand of our gracious heavenly Father.

Jesus taught us to pray to our Father:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

The Bible contains lots of names for God, but Jesus instructed us to use Father when praying. Which makes sense coming from the Son, and insightful for me to remember the close familial ties expressed in this prayer.

I know friends who either never knew their father, or experienced a jilted relationship with their father. Many find thinking of God as Father difficult because of their own father’s conduct or absence. Today may be less than joyous for them.

But take heart in these words spoken to David, which encourage those of us attempting to follow our Father:

I’ll be a father to him, and he’ll be a son to me. When he does wrong, I’ll discipline him in the usual ways, the pitfalls and obstacles of this mortal life. But I’ll never remove my gracious love from him (2 Samuel 7:14-15).

No matter your father—or how you father—our Father in heaven remains engaged and steady.

Which is what good Dads do.

Photo by Jon Tyson

I participated in the termination of an employee on a handful of occasions. In other words, we fired some folks over the years. I work for a campus ministry where we never have enough people, so firing one is our last choice. A number of reviews and hard conversations precede the final cut. I’ve noticed this proverb play out each time:

Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

The employees who received pink slips ignored multiple warnings about their behavior at work, and they expressed shock and anger at what they perceived as a rash decision. They never saw it coming, although everyone around them saw it quite clearly.

I hated each situation, as necessary as each proved. I’ll admit that most dismissals brought relief—to those of us left, not necessarily to the dismissed.

After few of these I started to observe a pattern. The stiff-necked—those who blocked feedback, who shrugged off evaluations, who bristled at criticism—left their leaders with no other recourse than to let them go. Game over.

I’ve seen this behavior enough to know I’d better listen to thoughts expressed on my reviews. If someone’s taken the time to write it, or even tell me personally, then I should pay attention. No one benefits from my stiff-neck, especially not me.

Proverbs 29:1 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Sigmund

Who makes you better? As you look around, or look back, who are the people that challenge you to grow? I remember graduating from a small high school where I was a good student, then enrolling in a large university where I swam in a sea of good students. It was both intimidating and exhilarating. Going to class and studying with other driven undergrads sharpened my academic skills.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

I need iron on iron relationships to check my bad impulses and encourage the good. I need those who will call me out when I’m wrong, and make me better than I could be on my own. I don’t need more friends on social media, but I do need living, breathing human beings across my table.

Many good work colleagues sharpened me professionally throughout my career. I’m grateful for each one. Good friends continue to sharpen me spiritually and socially. And my good spouse sharpens me in many ways (or at least she tries—what’s so wrong with drinking milk right from the carton?).

When iron sharpens iron sparks fly. Dross and rust flake off. The loud and dirty process takes effort and humility. But the result? I’m much better off, and so are those around me.

Recognize and nurture such relationships when they come along—they arrive as a gift from the hand of the Lord.

Proverbs 27:17 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by C D-X