Category: Bible (Page 59 of 356)

Cell phone reception continues to improve. I get a signal most anywhere I go, except for Rocky Mountain valleys or sections of the Great Plains. Holes in coverage continue to shrink, and we connect with each other easier than ever before.

Paul wrote to encourage his readers in Rome to stay in coverage: Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Faith initially dawned through messengers carrying the news about Jesus. Then words about Christ, as discovered in the Scriptures, sustained the faith of these fresh believers.

As followers of Jesus we need both that first message to come to faith, as well as ongoing messaging to grow in our faith. Our signal tower—the Bible—emits words of life. Stay within coverage and keep the faith.

Romans 10 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Joshua Slate

Not long ago, while picking out plants for my garden, a fellow shopper started telling me the best way to grow tomatoes. I didn’t ask for her advice, yet she freely shared her copious thoughts. She failed to ask me if I knew anything about tomatoes, just assumed I needed help. Perhaps I gave off that vibe.

I hear a lot of advice from a lot of people. Some asked for, some not, some helpful, some inane. All I can do is choose what to consider and what to ignore (like how to plant tomatoes from a chatterbox).

Solomon laid out the theme of a book filled with wise advice in this way:

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.

Solomon’s thoughts are justified and well-founded, with no cause for uncertainty. They come with a life-time warranty. For thousands of years people matched their behavior to his instructions and reaped the benefits.

Free for the taking, Solomon’s advice waits quietly in the pages of my Bible. No one’s chatting it in my ear. It’s up to me to open the book, thumb through the pages, read, consider, and apply. So good, so helpful, and so much better than the unsolicited advice I hear every day from the world around me.

Proverbs 1 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Courtney Smith

The book of Proverbs advises the reader to seek the types of wisdom and knowledge that come only from the Lord. In a world where conflicting ideas of sound thinking blizzard around us, it pays to give attention to this ancient text:

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

Very little advice I hear matches this encouragement to discover understanding found through the Lord. Like opening a locked chest containing unknown treasure, we don’t know what we’ll find, except we can be assured it’s better than silver or gold or rubies.

This week I finished the final reviews for my Doctor of Ministry degree. I submitted the last bit of paperwork and now await a diploma in the mail. It took two and a half years to complete the program, and cost me a chunk of time and money and attention. As part of my work I produced a tool for helping professors better tell their story of faith. You can check it out here.

Through this process of study and research I learned a great deal about academics and story-telling. The intellectual knowledge is helpful, but insights into the needs of others proved invaluable. I gained a greater depth of understanding, which is more precious than rubies, or even a diploma to hang on my wall.

Proverbs 3 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Ashin K Suresh

All through his reign, David collected massive amounts of materials for the construction of a palatial structure dedicated to the Lord. David understood that he would never see this temple, but he laid the plans for his son to accomplish the work.

David asked the people of Israel to join him in giving. They responded enthusiastically, and literally gave tons of gold, silver, bronze, iron and precious stones. They gave freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord.

Celebrating this abundance in front of the crowd, David spoke to the Lord—But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

David’s prayer acknowledged the fact that every precious item the Israelites offered came into their possession through the goodness of God. They simply handed it back.

Indeed, every good thing I hold originates from the hand of the Lord. Yesterday was our anniversary—my wife and I married 38 years ago. My wife is definitely a gift from the hand of God. Our marriage, children, grandchild, families, friends, house, bank accounts, vehicles, and the coffee in my cup all spring from the Lord.

Following David’s example I also pray, Now, my God, I give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Cherry Laithang