It’s pretty easy for me to allow angst to creep into my life. All I have to do is scroll the news feed on my phone, then turn to commentary on social media. I’ll face the demise of the world order, chaos in the streets, all my rights taken away and climate catastrophe. But no worries, I’ll find plenty of stuff to buy in order to distract me from the real problems I face.

Certain thieves prove more effective than others in getting into our personal space. While some push recognition, others promise money and pleasure. The 24/7 news cycle steals calm, and converting politics into a religion creates anger. Medicating it all with alcohol or food opens a side door, and constant advertising never lets us close any egress. The phone in my hand opens a gateway to mental anguish. Thieves of my soul don’t need to sneak in the window because I unlatch the door and leave it swinging open.

Fortunately, Jesus offers a better way.

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that you may have life and have it abundantly.

The door of Jesus promises protection from looters of my soul. In Him in find a true state of quality. My life opens to relationships of depth while the allure of shiny things fade. I edge away from self-centeredness and learn to think of others as I think of myself. Best of all, Jesus pours out this type of living in abundance. Lavish, copious, overflowing — mass quantities of grace and peace.

Lock out the thieves. Instead, choose life in abundance by opening the Jesus door.

John 10:9-10

Photo by Jan Tinneberg

I take my eyesight for granted, until I find myself squinting at the text of a book printed in a tiny font. The problem is that a few years ago those words were not tiny at all, and I read the same book with ease. My favorite wonder of this age is the Kindle reader, which allows me to resize the font of any book I’m reading as big as I want. Thank you technology.

Many of us live with poor eyesight, and even the apostle Paul suffered in this way. But I cannot imagine a life of blindness. Jesus once healed a blind man on a Sabbath day. The Pharisees got wind of this miracle and brought the man in for questioning. After grilling him and his parents and accusing Jesus of violating Sabbath laws, the man simply responded, Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.

The man was blind from birth. As an adult he finally experienced the brilliant world around him through his eyes, restored to 20/20 vision. He exulted in these new powers. He told everyone, including a tribunal of religious leaders.

Though I was blind, now I see. The man pointed to Jesus. His argument involved no deep revelations from the Hebrew scriptures, philosophical insights, or profound comments on the nature of man. Rather, he spoke of the One who saved him body and soul.

I was blind, now I see. Still a good answer for anyone who questions why you follow Jesus.

John 9:25

Photo by Wesley Tingey

We live in a world of competing truths. I hear people casually refer to their personal version of truth, saying things like, that’s true for you but not for me. Such a vapid sentiment might apply to preferred ice cream flavors, but when it comes to truth to set your life by, mushy ideas fall flat.

Jesus spoke a great deal about truth. Here’s an example: Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Some Christians center on the words of Jesus, printed in red in many Bibles. They push the writings of the apostles and the Old Testament to a lower tier. Focusing particularly on the teachings of Jesus will certainly change your life. But Jesus himself referred to the prophets and embraced the full orb of the Scriptures. Why cheat yourself? Take in the red and black words together and enjoy the mix.

The truth will set you free. If I read and ponder and wrestle with the text under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I discover a path to truth. When I practice these teachings in my daily life, among actual people and real situations, Jesus’ concepts emerge to set me free from the expectations and empty promises of this world.

One truth, one way, one life. It’s beautiful, creative and sustaining, and it’s found only in and through Jesus Christ.

John 8:31-32

Photo by Susan Holt Simpson

Angered at the ongoing rejection of his gifts and the refusal to heed his prophets, God handed the people of Israel over to invaders. Not benevolent occupiers, but the worst of the worst.

I will pour out my indignation upon you; I will blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and I will deliver you into the hands of brutish men, skillful to destroy.

God delivered Israel to abhorrent men. In rejecting the One who delivered them from Egypt, they opened the door to savage, vicious, accomplished masters of destruction. Orcs overwhelmed the land.

The people of Israel earned this retribution as they continually rejected God year after year. By burning their children alive to appease demons in the guise of gods, they exhibited brutal behavior of their own. These people destroyed a culture based on the law of God. They grew cruel and hostile long before the invasion. The people of Israel sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind.

How is our culture any different?

Not that we live in a theocratic era, but if we sow savage behaviors will we not reap a similar whirlwind of destruction? Do we not also destroy children on the alters of expediency and convenience? If history is our guide, a storm will eventually appear.

I cannot snap my fingers and change the world. But I can sow to the ways of the Lord. I can attempt to love my neighbor as myself, including children both born and unborn. In so doing I stave off the brutish and destructive a little longer, and help others discover the grace and mercy of our amazing God.

Ezekiel 21:31

Photo by Jade Koroliuk