The book of Ezekiel pulls no punches. Page after page records the impending judgement on Jerusalem, Israel and the surrounding nations. The Lord tired of his people pursuing other gods, and spoke of the punishment to result.

But the Lord also looked to extend mercy.

I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.

Moses stood in the breach in his day (Psalm 106:23), but no one stepped forward in the days of Ezekiel. Tragic losses followed.

What might it mean to stand in the gap on behalf of the land?

First it means I should pray. Pray for those around me, my family and neighbors. I should extend prayers for my leaders, both locally and nationally. I pray for wisdom, and for hearts turned to the things of the Lord.

Along with prayer, these words call for leadership. It may involve small steps to start, but helping where I can, serving my neighbor, and looking for ways to bless my community.

The Lord needs people to take the lead toward righteous living—never a path too crowded. Standing in the gap is not complicated, but it does take courage and perseverance.

Ezekiel 22:30 in week forty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Ivan Aleksic

I watched a TV series a couple of weeks ago about people turning into vampires. I must admit that I like scary movies. October usually brings a few new ones to check out, and vampires always turn my head.

In this show two characters discussed what happens when we die. They shared a fairly benign dream about being one with the stars and melding with the universal energy around us, the sort of thing I hear often, although not in many vampire movies. I was caught off guard when one said that she will finally become the I AM.

Many years ago I read a book by a famous actress, all about her spiritual journeys. In the last chapter she also revealed how she came to realize she is the I AM.

Jesus spent a good deal of time arguing with religious teachers, explaining to them who he was and why he came. Jesus told of Abraham, and how he rejoiced at seeing the day of Jesus arrive. The teachers objected, as Abraham was long dead. Jesus told them, Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I AM.

Jesus asserted his continual existence, from before the birth of Abraham to that day. He made an audacious claim to divinity. Remember what God told Moses? This is what you are to say to the Israelites, I AM has sent me to you (Exodus 3:14).

When Jesus claimed I AM for himself, the astutely theological Jews around him picked up stones to stone him, understanding his claim to godhood. Only God goes by the name I AM. To appropriate it for ourselves points to the heights of vanity and hubris—an impulse that never quite leaves our hearts.

Thankfully, there’s only one I AM, and it ain’t you and it ain’t me.

John 8 in week forty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Joshua Newton

As we might guess, the emergence of Jesus in ancient Israel brought all sorts of questions and arguments and craziness. Many marveled at his teaching, while others dismissed him as demon-possessed.

Jesus spoke into the debates with wisdom that spans the centuries: Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.

I wonder what Jesus meant by judge correctly?

We get a hint from the argumentation around Jesus. One group believed that based on his stunning words and miraculous works, Jesus stood before them as the Messiah. Another pushed back with a point from prophecy that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, not Galilee (where Jesus grew up). But no one stopped to ask Jesus, who we know entered life in a Bethlehem stable.

Jesus first appeared to fail the criteria of Messiah, but upon deeper investigation he passed the test. Is that part of what Jesus meant by judge correctly?

It seems to me that judging correctly involves gathering facts, asking questions, listening carefully to answers, and considering an issue from various perspectives.

Exactly the opposite of social media.

Most of my experiences on social media involve everyone talking and no one listening. I watch again and again the rush to judgement based on social media misinformation, and the resulting cost to good people’s lives and character.

Jesus spoke to our behavior 2,000 years ago. Stunning how little we’ve changed.

John 7 in week forty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Christopher Ott

Sometimes we face situations where more mouths to feed show up than we expected. When that happens, we simply slice thinner pieces of pie, and everyone gets a taste of dessert, or a gracious host goes without in deference to the guests.

But when hanging around with Jesus, the disciples learned of new possibilities. Asked to feed a great crowd of people, the disciples brought over a boy carrying five small loafs and two small fish, and asked an obvious question—how far will they go among so many?

As the crowd settled in, Jesus gave thanks and began distributing the loafs and fish. How far did they go? To five thousand hungry mouths, with a dozen baskets of left-overs. I wonder if that little boy ever ate a loaf of bread again without thinking of Jesus?

I often look at my resources with a scarcity mindset, feeling the need to preserve, carefully steward, and watch over my time and money and stuff. I’m afraid of running out, or spreading it all too thin. I shy from generosity.

In contrast, Jesus offers an abundance mindset. The Lord of the universe, who spoke the worlds into being, who fed thousands from a boy’s lunch pail, might just be able to meet my needs.

If there’s not enough Jesus just makes more.

Trusting the Lord in this way allows my generosity to expand, even when I’m not sure if I can afford to be generous. I can look to an abundant God to add loaves and fishes and whatever I need to the challenging places in my life.

John 6 in week forty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Rob Curran