More mysterious than the dark web, powers of a spiritual nature writhe and contort in their opposition to us.

If we hope to take the Scriptures seriously, all of them, we cannot merely skim these passages in order to get to the more uplifting ones.

There are things we cannot see in our world, some more wonderful than we could ever imagine, some more terrible.

Why do we doubt they exist? If one believes in God, an omnipotent creator beyond our senses, why should it be a leap to believe in angels and demons? For the very God we claim to believe warns us of them.

The Lord does not leave us helpless. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. While we possess the means to resist, resistance involves weapons and wrestling and extinguishing flaming darts. Not for the faint of heart, nor for the ignorant.

And best of all, the last battle is already settled: He (Jesus) disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him (Colossians 2:15).

But in the meantime, keep the hidden world on the edge of your vision.

Ephesians 6 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Samet Kurtkus

In an echo of do unto others as you would have them do unto you, Paul instructs the church members in Philippi: In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Easy to read—hard to practice.

Paul writes to folks living and working and worshipping in close proximity to each other, which makes all this so much harder.

I nod politely to an acquaintance, I help them carry something to their car, I give them a few minutes of my time. I’m not close to them, they don’t infringe on my interests, and so it’s easy to play nice.

But Paul wants me to consider those with whom I work closely, those who disagree with my good ideas or talk over me. Some people fail to grasp just how wonderful I am. Or worse, they know me well enough to know I’m not so wonderful.

In the first situation I act nice on auto-pilot. But in the second, I need the Holy Spirit to remind me of Paul’s words and to empower me to live them out. Only then can I truly look to the interests of others.

Philippians 2 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Carine L.

In a few days, heads or tails will determine which team gets the ball first in the Super Bowl, the coin toss yielding a fair and unbiased decision. It’s the first picture that pops into my mind when I read about a unique decision-making process used by the Israelites.

Put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

Sounds mysterious. Did these stones (the breastpiece constructed for Aaron contained various precious stones) work like a coin toss? Or a role of the dice? Maybe an ancient magic 8-ball?

These were certainly not a source of magic divination, as the Lord expressly prohibited such practices. Urim means light, and Thummim means perfection. Perhaps they symbolized the special relationship of the high priest before the Lord? A tool to determine the Lord’s guidance when no other way existed?

The mystery remains.

Jesus gave to those who follow him something far more powerful than the Urim and Thummim—the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Truth indwells the believer and serves as our source of wisdom and insight.

I know I don’t value this gift enough. Despite my forgetfulness, I’m grateful the Holy Spirit remains more personal—and much more accessible—than those stones of the ancient high priest.

Exodus 28 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Andy Henderson

Pauls introduces his letter to those following the way of Jesus in Philippi with greetings and a prayer:

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ…

As life goes on, I experience how love grows and deepens and matures. My wife and I took vows 35 years ago. We married and honeymooned in one type of love, but over the years that love deepened and matured into a different sort of love. It’s hard to explain, but there certainly exists a great deal more knowledge and insight today than all those years ago.

How does one grow love? Following this prayer, Paul describes his situation of imprisonment and chains—the same fate reserved for the believers reading his letter.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear I that still have.

We abound in love when we struggle together, when we stand firm in the one Spirit, when we strive together as one in the faith, when we value humility over selfish ambition.

I don’t want to sound simplistic, because so much work goes into a healthy marriage and a healthy church. But let’s not forget that so much good comes to both from struggling together shoulder to shoulder.

Philippians 1 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Austin Kehmeier