Sometimes tragedy or violence or disease cut a life short of fully flowering. We always wonder—what might have been?

Consider the first martyr in Christian history.

The Apostles chose Stephen to run a program caring for widows, describing him as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Stephen ministered publicly as well—now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

When he preached, Stephen’s face shone like the face of an angel, not in cuteness like we describe babies, but in a sense of holiness that struck awe and jealousy.

Eventually arrested, Stephen gave a powerful sermon condemning the religious elites, who were furious and gnashed their teeth at him, and stoned him to death. Thus a life of massive promise cut short.

What might have been if Stephen lived longer? What miracles would we read about today? Where might he have traveled on missionary journeys? What books might he have written?

Sad to consider the loss of such a man who followed the Lord. But it’s also fascinating to remember that watching the debacle of Stephen’s murder stood Saul, soon to become Paul. The Lord taketh away and the Lord giveth.

I also wonder who’s next? What man or woman stands on the sidelines waiting for a nudge from the Lord to get into the fray? That’s an exciting thought—who will the Lord raise up next? Let’s pray for saints to follow in Stephen’s footsteps.

Acts 6 & 7 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Street Donkey

The Philistines oppressed Israel for years. Finally, under the leadership of Samuel, the Lord interceded with such loud thunder the Philistines panicked and fled. The armies of Israel won a huge victory and ushered in an era of peace.

A new monument soon commemorated the site: Samuel took a stone and set it up…He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

Ebenezer means stone of help.

The old hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing comes to mind. What seems like a strange lyric, Here I raise my Ebenezer, now makes sense. Here I raise my stone of help forms a clearer image.

Prone to wander, another lyric from the hymn, has always made sense. I am prone to wander away from the Lord and his ways. The chosen people of God shared this same tendency. The entire history of Israel recorded in the Old Testament reflects our proclivity to wander.

Which is why Samuel set up a stone. Something solid and immovable to remember the Lord’s help. I also need solid markers to remember the Lord’s help in my life.

The Scriptures provide one such stone. The cross provides another. I hung a print of Supper at Emmaus, the painting by Carravaggio, on my wall to help me remember the power of being surprised by Jesus.

What do you see when you look around that do the same for you?

1 Samuel 7 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Kristin Ellis

This morning I read a bit in 1st Samuel, then a chapter in Acts, moving as directed by my annual Bible reading schedule. I glanced down at the plan and noticed one more passage rounding out the day’s offerings—Psalm 23.

I immediately knew this psalm would close my time in the scriptures for the day. How can I move on to something else with these images settling in my mind? Why hurry through the greatest words ever penned to describe the goodness of our God? So I sat still and enjoyed them for a few minutes.

I’m not so good at memorizing scripture, but I memorized this psalm years ago and think of it often—tattooed in my brain. Here’s the version I prefer, New King James, with classic phrasing intact. I hope you enjoy it and let it settle for a bit before moving on with your day:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For you are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Daniela Díaz

Sometimes scoundrels and priests are one and the same—Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.

Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons in question, served as priests to the Lord in ancient Israel. Inheriting their positions, the men took full advantage of their privilege. They bullied people who came to worship and took what they wanted—both sacrificially and sexually.

Various commentators on this passage describe these men as worthless, careless and irreligious, vicious, refusing to acknowledge honor or love, and my personal favorite—unprofitable abandoned wretches.

I’ve known a lot of preachers in my day, but few unprofitable abandoned wretches.

At this time of the year weeds start to sprout in my garden. When I notice, I lean over to tug them out of the ground. But since that’s a hassle, I often move on. Returning days later a healthy, flourishing, nuisance winks up at me. Now I need gloves and a tool to pull the weed and dig out the roots.

Which is how the bad around us thrives. In my life poor influences creep in like weeds, and I leave them underfoot because I’m lazy. Noxious roots sink little by little, deeper and deeper, undermining my good intentions with their spread.

Eli’s refusal to deal with Hophni and Phinehas remind me of my reluctance to seriously consider the influences swirling around me. It’s worth a good, hard look. Little weeds pull much easier than fully mature plants.

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

Photo by Julian