After his arrest in Jerusalem, Paul spent time in prison where various officials repeatedly drug him in for questioning. No one could figure out what to do with this former Pharisee turned wild man preacher.

As Paul related his story of meeting Jesus on the Damascus road, he shared I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Messiah would suffer and as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and the Gentiles.

This proved too much for Festus, one of the local rulers who shouted back, You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you mad!

Paul’s schooling didn’t make him crazy—Jesus did. And this message about a risen from the dead Messiah drove Festus and his buddy Agrippa and his wife Bernice crazy as well. The story seemed preposterous, yet it rang of truth and spread through the country. Society, and its rulers, trembled under the weight.

The message of Jesus still sounds insane. But his craziness is worth catching.

Acts 26 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Alfons Morales

Do you ever read a verse in the Bible and without realizing it find it subtly changed in your mind? Here’s one I read this morning:

The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.

I found myself thinking instead—The Lord does whatever pleases me...

The gods of our age inspire this second translation. I’m promised by both secular influencers and TV preachers a god who exists to bless me. As a result I’m free to pursue the lifestyle I desire, the sexuality I crave, and the self-indulgence I’m told is good for me.

But read the line from the text again—The Lord does whatever pleases him…

I’m afraid god is not an app I open up when needed. If the Lord exists, and indeed does whatever pleases him, then it makes sense for me to spend time investigating what he finds pleasing. And only a few minutes of reading my Bible reveals it’s not all about me.

The Lord is a wild, unpredictable, unmanageable force, a loose cannon on the deck of our lives, a being we bow before in reverence and fear. He struck down the firstborn of Egypt—how does that sit with the image of a god we use as we please?

My advice? Be careful when you read, and don’t get verses like this mixed up in your head.

Psalm 135 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Viktor Forgacs

While a few leaders gain splash and attention in any successful organization, it’s the behind the scenes, quiet and effective workers that move the cause forward. I know many in this category who teach children, hold training seminars at the end of long days, pay bills, or carry out the trash. We all benefit from their selfless service.

Paul met a couple like this in Corinth. Aquila, along with his wife Priscilla (they are always mentioned together), made a living as tentmakers. Paul worked with them while he spent his Sabbath days in the synagogue reasoning about the faith. Aquila and Priscilla made sure Paul’s needs were met, allowing him to advance the faith without worry for food or a place to sleep.

In those long days of sewing, Paul’s theology rubbed off on his fellow tentmakers. Eighteen months later they all moved to Ephesus, where Pricilla and Aquila remained when Paul continued on his journeys. Later another teacher arrived who spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus. Yet this new teacher, Apollos, lacked the depth of knowledge carried by Paul and the apostles.

Enter Priscilla and Aquila.

When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Aquila and Priscilla welcomed Apollos into their house and molded a young man with fervor and gifts into a powerful communicator of the gospel—an echo of the way they created a haven for Paul’s ministry to flourish.

Two of the greatest gospel preachers in the early church benefited from the hospitality and wisdom of this faithful couple. You and I also benefit every time we open our New Testaments. How many, many more served quietly over the years in ways we benefit from but will never know? Of course, many of us serve in such ways today. Thank you for all you do.

So it encourages me to take heart and remember—quietly effective men and women change the world.

Acts 18 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Cindy Chen

Sometimes we just get lucky. Obed-Edom hosted the ark of the covenant for three months, totally by chance. King David parked it after a tragedy involving the ark’s move to Jerusalem. While David regrouped, Obed-Edom watched over the ark.

The scriptures put it this way: The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.

In what ways did the Lord bless this man and the people under his care? Did his fields bloom with the promise of a magnificent harvest? Or flocks and herds multiple? Did milk flow and bees produce honey in abundance?

Maybe barren women become pregnant? It’s recorded that the Lord blessed the following generations with capable men with the strength to do the work—descendants of Obed-Edom, 62 in all (1 Chronicles 25:5-8). That’s a lot of kids and grandkids—the blessings didn’t stop when the ark moved to Jerusalem.

I also wonder if relationships mended and people showed new kindnesses to one another? As the peace of the Lord descended on the household, they enjoyed a small taste of heaven.

In experiencing the presence of the ark, which was been in the presence of the Lord, these folks benefited from the reflection of his goodness. Not just in subtle ways, but in exuberant, lavish gifts from the hand of God, obvious enough to be recorded in the pages of scripture.

The choice to follow the Lord, to pursue that relationship, will eventually put all of us in the right place at the right time.

2 Samuel 6 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Robert Collins