I’m not much into tattoos.

The gym where I work out features loads of folks with tattoos. Both men and women proudly display their artwork as they tone their bodies. I’m in the minority, one of the older guys with bare arms and legs. Now, I’ll admit that an inked-up bicep curling a heavy dumbbell looks impressive, and I feel hip around this group. But I can’t see myself visiting a tattoo artist.

I thought of these nice folks at my gym when reading Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian church this morning. When discussing the issue of circumcision, which caused great controversy in the earliest churches where Jewish-background believers meshed with Gentile-background believers, Paul focused on the primary issue:

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.

The way I look on the outside matters little if I refuse to keep the Lord’s commands. We all know this, right? However, it’s easy to slide into greater concern for appearance than obedience. I think for religious people—people truly concerned about living a life of faith—this presents a constant challenge.

A tattoo doesn’t add a bit of muscle mass, or quickness, or agility. Those who work out regularly obey a set of commands that guide their pursuit of fitness and strength. They know that tattoos don’t keep them in shape, rather hard work and discipline builds their bodies. It’s easy in the gym to tell who’s really strong, and the tattoo doesn’t matter. It’s a decoration.

Paul cuts to the core. The hard work and discipline of keeping God’s commands builds our faith. Focus here, and let the peripheral issues sort themselves out.

So, no tattoo for me, but I appreciate the reminder from my friends at the gym that sticking to the program—the commands—is what counts.

I Corinthians 7 in week thirty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Alora Griffiths

How far gone do you have to be in order to willing hand over your baby to be killed?

Human sacrifice occurred around the world over the centuries. Reading how the Aztecs incorporated human sacrifice into their religious culture boggles my mind (and roils my stomach). But the Aztecs sacrificed their enemies, which is one reason the Spanish found willing allies among other native peoples in their conquests through Mexico.

The people of Israel, on the other hand, sacrificed their own children to a pagan god in the form of ritual burning. Let that settle a minute. They handed over their babies to be burned to death—so their lives might prosper.

Un-freaking-believable.

How do people get so far gone? Years of ignoring the law of Moses, killing the prophets, and pursuing expediency created heart conditions that fostered the sacrifice of children. Also, remember the spiritual realities just beyond our sight. If we truly battle against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, then should we be surprised if aligning with the powers of this dark world (Ephesians 6:12) leads to such a heinous place?

Of course, the Lord long before condemned this behavior: When you enter the land your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire (Deuteronomy 18:9&10).

I can’t shake a thought popping into my head—it’s not impossible for us to go there. Societies slide into unexpected places. No one thought at the beginning the 20th century that Germany, a nation filled with churches and synagogues, would oversee the slaughter of millions of Jews thirty-five years later.

It’s not impossible—but it doesn’t have to happen.

We know the better way. The Lord provides for our lives, and the Son provides for our eternity. People around us need you and I to lovingly, yet unapologetically, make this known.

2 Kings 17 in week thirty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Charles Deluvio

Like old friends, the salesman received us warmly, offered cold bottled water, and led us to a pair of comfortable chairs. Papers lay in an orderly row across the table. We chatted about kids as we settled in. My wife and I drove across town to purchase a new vehicle, and I had been discussing the deal with the salesman for several days.

Our old Montero, which I loved, suffered a cracked engine block. Rather than pour more money into a far-gone vehicle, I decided to get something new. I checked out tons of cars, talked to salespeople, and did my research. Discovering what I wanted, I settled on this specific vehicle at this specific dealership, after a test drive and at least three phone calls to settle on the exact price.

With a twinge of excitement I reached for the pen. “Hold on just a second, I just heard something from my sales manager.” My new buddy stepped away for a few minutes, then returned with his boss. Apparently an unfortunate oversight occurred, a missed fee, hardly noticeable in the scheme of things, but the car actually costs $500 more. So sorry, here’s the new updated bill of sale.

According to my wife, my chin started to quiver, which she swears she’s only seen once or twice in our 35 years of marriage. I gnashed my teeth and sputtered my anger. The lovely greetings, the syrupy friendliness, all aimed at prying an extra $500 out of my pocket. I dropped the pen and walked out. Fortunately, my wife followed, because I left so mad I forgot about her.

No one likes to feel cheated.

The Apostle Paul scolded the church members at Corinth for cheating each other and taking one another to court. The Roman system allowed free access to the courts, and citizens embraced a litigious society. But Paul objected to believers suing one another in the pagan courts. He encouraged them to work things out among themselves, as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul offered this counter-cultural advice: Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.

In other words, if you happen to feel cheated sometimes, you can handle that. Rather, focus on your own business—are you cheating your brothers and sisters? Look out for those around you, and stop flailing at each other.

Paul reminds followers of Jesus that many of us were once cheats and swindlers ourselves, as well as thieves and idolators, sexually out of control, greedy and drunk and far from the kingdom of God.

Then he follows with really good news: But you were washed, your were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

No more gracious offer in all of eternity—and with no hidden fees.

1 Corinthians 6 in week thirty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Khara Woods

One of my favorite hymns is O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing by Charles Wesley. I especially like this verse:

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb
Your loosened tongues employ
Ye blind, behold your Savior come
And leap, ye lame, for joy

When I hear this song, I think back to the interaction between Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist. Wondering if Jesus might truly be the promised Messiah, they asked him straight up—are you the one? Jesus replied, Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

Along with miracles performed and people turning to the Lord, these phrases conveyed a deeper reference to John the Baptist, then suffering in prison and soon to be murdered.

Isaiah, some 700 years before, wrote this prophecy about the hoped for Messiah: Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Jesus referenced Isaiah in regards to himself. John, student of scripture and prophecy, immediately grasped this powerful, unequivocal and joyful message—the Messiah walks among us!

What proof accompanied the true Messiah? Blind eyes seeing color, deaf ears hearing babies cry, those who’ve only ever dragged themselves in the mud now racing through the square, and the voiceless yelling the goodness of God for all to hear.

Jesus added this last word in his conversation with John’s disciples: Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.

No problem for those lame now leaping for joy.

Matthew 11 & Isaiah 15 in week thirty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Harry Quan