Category: Bible (Page 2 of 352)

When we meet someone we haven’t seen for a long time we politely say, you haven’t changed at all! While this little white lie reveals our good breeding, both parties know change has occurred. The wrinkles give evidence.

It’s said that the only constant in our world is change. But one we look to never changes: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The author followed with this injunction: Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

The Jewish Christians who received this letter may have been tempted by certain ceremonial foods, thought to be advantageous in drawing closer to God. But the author turns them away from fads and toward Jesus Christ himself—don’t substitute the ritual for the one to whom the ritual is aimed.

Of course, I find myself guilty of the same. Lots of teachings bear the stamp of Jesus. It helps a writer make their point by appealing to the nature of Jesus, or to how they think Jesus would certainly act if he were standing here in the flesh. People hold a myriad of views about Jesus. Many wield the idea of Jesus like a magic wand, using his name to sway others toward their cause.

But Jesus never changes. I change, my views and perspectives change, the world around me changes. But not Jesus. To understand Jesus hew to the original. Only by studying the Jesus of the Scriptures do I gain insight into the Jesus in my life.

There is no Jesus 2.0. In the Bible we find the Jesus followed by fishermen, laborers, housewives and kings. Experience the one who is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8-9

Photo from the Camino de Santiago

We overlook Jesus to our disservice.

The author of Hebrews tells us: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

Jesus holds the universe. Don’t picture Atlas with the world on his back—Jesus doesn’t squeeze a dead weight at arm’s length. The concept here is dynamic. Jesus carries the universe along, infusing it with life and beauty. The leaf falls and the flower blooms due to his sustaining jurisdiction.

The word of Jesus carries force. It doesn’t lie bound within a book or hidden away on a shelf. On the contrary, it does things. The Greek word used to describe this power is dynamis (from which we the English dynamite), giving us a hint of the strength involved.

I tend to think of Jesus as a category in my life. Sometimes I have him in mind, sometimes not. But in reality, Jesus allows me to breath, to eat, to talk with my wife and to sleep at night. The nature of Jesus allows us all to exist. Some hold Jesus as a myth, or a fairy tale, or a lie foisted upon gullible people—but they’ve missed the mark.

In reality, below all misconceptions, the true Jesus remains. He allows our universe to function and creates a place for our flourishing, both now and into eternity. I do my soul a good turn when I give attention to our amazing God.

Hebrews 1:1-3

Photo by Aaron Burden

The Lord spoke to Moses and passed along a prayer of blessing that Aaron and the priests were to pray for the people:

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.

The phrase make his face shine upon you can also be translated to mean may the Lord smile upon you. We can literally pray for God’s smile.

Aaron’s prayer was meant to help people experience the favor and protection of God. While we should remember this petition for ourselves, it was originally meant to be prayed for others, and we can do so today.

It’s easy to adapt these phrases for someone else. Just substitute the name of the person for whom you’re praying for the word you. Give it a try:

May the Lord bless ________ and protect________. May the Lord smile upon ________ and be gracious to ________. May the Lord show ________ his favor and give ________ his peace.

You and I can do few things for people better than praying that God show them his favor. Praying in this way is addictive. I spent a good bit of time this morning lifting up family and friends as the Holy Spirit brought each to mind.

Pray for God’s smile. It’s not silly or pollyanna-ish, but rather an encouragement from the Lord himself.

Numbers 6:22-27

Photo by Davide Cantelli

I like simple instructions. Perhaps that’s one reason why I enjoy planting flowers. Dig a hole, drop in seed, water, fertilize and watch it grow. The concept is simple, and yet a bed of blooming flowers come spring is profound.

Here’s some simple instructions given to those of us who profess to follow Jesus: Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Uncomplicated directions for a successful life—do good and share.

Not difficult to understand, but challenging to practice. I don’t want to do good to people that annoy me. Nor do I want to share my hard-earned resources with them.

But God understands this challenge. Often it’s a sacrifice. I lose something, but I gain so much more by growing closer to the heart of God. Such acts, even through gritted teeth, please the Lord. My life begins to bloom.

Do good and share. Try it today and enjoy the results.

Hebrews 13:16

Photo by Dave Lowe