Category: Bible (Page 52 of 356)

The prophets of Baal took to Elijah’s proposal like pigs to slop. Elijah challenged the Baal followers to a contest on the top of Mount Carmel. They would call out to Baal, Elijah would call out to the Jehovah, and the deity that answered would show up as the true God.

The devotees of Baal whirled around their alter. They called out, shouted and begged. Slashing themselves , they added blood and pain to their entreaties. They exhibited great faith. These champions begged from morning to afternoon, under a hot sun, but to no avail—there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

Then Elijah took center stage. After preparing his sacrifice and dousing it with buckets and buckets of water, Elijah asked the Lord to show himself. Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

The onlookers fell on their faces in fear and awe and worship. No decision about God left.

Which leaves me to wonder, what gods I look to for answers which are no gods at all? Where do I put my trust apart from the Lord? My own perceived wisdom, the whisperings of the world, the cravings in my gut? What does is mean to live a good life—overflowing bank accounts or strong relationships with those around me?

Only one God rules this world. The Lord responds in his time and his ways. Fire may not shoot down from heaven when I pray, but I can rest assured that the Lord pays attention.

I Kings 18 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Jeremy Thomas

In just a few lines of text we get introduced to two of the most reprehensible men found in the Bible. Ahab ascended to the throne of Israel. He committed all the sins of his fathers, married the conniving Jezebel, and led his people into the embrace of demonic gods. Ahab did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.

In those same days a man rebuilt the city of Jericho. Destroyed when the children of Israel entered the promised land, the city lay under a curse. Joshua swore: Cursed in the presence of the Lord is the man who restores and rebuilds this city of Jericho! He will lay its foundation at the cost of his firstborn, and at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.

Hiel, a man of staggering ambition, didn’t believe in curses. Or, he felt the loss of two sons was a small price for making a name for himself. Regardless, he moved forward: Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.

That these two loathsome men appear on the same page of our Bible speaks to the callous nature of the era. Life was cheap. Leaders moved away from the Lord and toward the veneration of power and wealth. Society devolved, beginning a long slide towards God’s judgement.

Who’s to say we’re not in the midst of such decline today? Let us pray for our country and our world, and ask the Lord to check those who use others for personal gain. Because regardless of the despicable characters around us, God still controls this world and all who move upon it.

1 Kings 16 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Don Kaveen

It’s nice to receive a random act of kindness. My neighbor, whose yard borders mine, made a few extra passes with his mower across our property line last week. I discovered his act when I mowed my yard the next day. I enjoyed the lighter load on a hot day. Random acts of kindness are great, but Paul encouraged more from those who follow Jesus.

In a letter to Titus, a young pastor, Paul reminded him to spotlight the rebirth and renewal found only through Jesus. Then Paul added:

I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Jesus followers are saved in order to do good. Not just to be good, or to critique the lack of goodness in others. But to be careful to devote themselves to doing good. Careful brings to mind thoughtfulness, planned actions leading to good outcomes. Putting shoe leather to ideas of how to help. Devote implies a commitment. Doing good costs us something, like giving up free hours or handing over extra money. A devoted person does so regularly.

Paul sees thoughtful, committed service as the outcome of faith in Jesus Christ. God’s grace in our life boomerangs back into the lives of others. This way of living remains excellent and profitable for everyone. It serves the Lord, the believer, and the beneficiaries of our good works. Or as a famous office manager once said, it creates a win-win-win situation.

Titus 3 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Elianna Gill

Paul adds a cryptic reference to the final lines of his second letter to Timothy, indeed his last recorded writings:

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.

Who was this lion Paul referenced? Likely Nero, the emperor of Rome. Nero opposed early Christians and heavily persecuted the church. Along with many of the faithful, Nero also ordered the death of Peter by crucifixion.

Alas, Paul did not escape the lion for long. Nero later sentenced Paul to be beheaded, carrying out the execution near Rome. Which makes Paul’s next line to Timothy especially poignant:

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord rescued Paul from every attack save one. Nero finally ended Paul’s life, but we can rest assured that the Lord safely carried Paul to his heavenly kingdom.

2 Timothy in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Ajeet Panesar