Often Paul the Apostle got on a roll when corresponding with the various churches under his watch. I picture his scribe feverishly scribbling to keep up.

In one short section of his letter to the church in Ephesus Paul hit bullseye after bullseye:

Walk in the way of love.

Not even a hint of sexual immorality.

You are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

Make the most of every opportunity.

Be filled with the Spirit.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Every point deserves careful thought and study on its own. Indeed, sermons have been preached and books written on each. Paul popped them off one after another, like a vocal artist at top form.

The Lord’s ideas for living with each other clearly emerge: love, submit, don’t waste opportunities. But how can a weak individual like myself do any of this?

There’s the beauty of it all. Paul underscores the power source—be filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit.

Otherwise I cannot do any of this for very long. But the Lord provides a way to actually live such a life, and for that Paul reminds us to give thanks. The Lord gives us ways to best live with one another, and the Lord gives us a relationship with the Holy Spirit to do so.

Ephesians 5 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Thomas Bormans

Moses edged his way up a mountain quaking under his feet, smoke billowing above him while thunder jarred his senses. The Lord met with Moses in front of the entire nation of Israel on Mount Sinai. Moses hiked back down the mountain with a set of commandments, which start like this:

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.

These commandments, the basis for worship and life and laws, have guided our behavior for thousands of years. Whether you keep them—or struggle with them—they provide a sound strategy for investing your life.

I notice when I read articles on my phone (I’m sort of a news junky), that the stories are often followed by flashy ads for investment opportunities. Most feel sketchy, and I don’t want them bombarding me in my feed, so I resist the click. Still, fresh offers appear daily.

When considering my investment strategy, I hope for solid results. I save money for retirement, and invest in what I hope will serve me and my wife for the long-term. Most all of us invest in this way.

So as I read about the giving of the 10 Commandments, I’m reminded of the long, long, long term success of investing in God and his word. Not always flashy, but guaranteed for long-term success.

Exodus 19 & 20 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya

Moses found himself slammed day after day. From morning until evening, Moses served as a judge for all the disputes, major and minor, among the people of Israel. At this point, roughly one million people trekked from Egypt to the promised land. A lot of people makes for a lot of squabbles.

Fortunately for Moses, his father-in-law Jethro, arrived for a visit. Looking on the chaotic scene, and the weariness of Moses, Jethro proposed a solution. Create a series of other judges to hear the people, and bring only the most difficult cases to you. Simple and elegant.

What happened next? Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

Moses, in his wisdom, jumped at this solution to lighten his load. Along with helping him, Jethro’s idea developed a cohort of wise judges to bless the nation. Most disputes could now be settle quickly, with less time to fester and grow worse.

Good advice is only good if you act upon it. Where might you need a Jethro to speak into some challenging aspect of your life? Pray for wise friends with elegant solutions, and pray for the wisdom to listen and act.

Exodus 18 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Levi Jones

I enjoyed a meal with friends in Mexico on a beautiful evening, outdoors under the trees and stars, our large table surrounded by charcoal braziers warming each diner. As the servers plated each dish before us, peacocks roamed the grounds. I never dreamed of such a place.

On our honeymoon my wife and I visited the Grand Canyon. Standing on the rim, I attempted to gain perspective on the depth and the width of the canyon. The view was more than I dreamed.

I walked into the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, Spain, excited to visit the unique cathedral. But nothing prepared me for the culmination of Antoni Gaudi’s vision of worship. Light and colors and curves lifted my spirit toward the heavens. It was like I was in a dream.

These experiences, and others just a wonderful, come to mind when I read Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians:

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

I’ve seen a lot, and I can imagine a lot, but apparently not near enough to keep up with the Spirit of the Lord working deeply and gently within me.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (The Message Version); reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022