Category: Bible (Page 79 of 356)

Following the ways of Jesus gets long. The psalmist refers to the valley of the shadow of death for a reason, because we all face disheartening days. In such times it’s tempting to quit. Plus, in the cacophony of cancel culture keeping my head down feels safer when people accuse Christians of bigotry and harm.

But it pays to stick with the Lord. The early church in Rome faced waves of intense persecution. Authorities martyred both Peter and Paul during one span. But these church members were encouraged to hang tough:

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

God honors our commitment to him, whether we see it in this life or not. Don’t give up. Take one more step. If you quit, start again. Better and lasting possessions await each of us who stick with the Lord. Remember who is worthy of your confidence.

Keep the faith.

Hebrews 10 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich

In the Bible we read of those who came long before us and how they overcame obstacle after obstacle—by faith. By faith Abel…by faith Enoch…by faith Noah…by faith Abraham…by faith Sarah…by faith Moses…

Abraham moved to an unknown land, while Sarah longed for a baby her entire life. Unnamed others faced mistreatment, persecution, jeers and imprisonment—even to the point of being sawed in two. By faith they persevered.

None of these saints experienced the culmination of God’s work that later arrived with Jesus.These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

They hoped beyond this world. These ancestors knew there had to be more. They sensed a reality beyond their day to day. They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.

At times I get the same feeling. This world appears burnt around the edges. Society crumbles. To think there must be a better place comes natural. I’m longing for a superior country, one that exists just beyond my reach. A land more vibrant and just and engaging and alive than anyone can imagine.

Our ancestors hoped for a Messiah arriving in a misty future. We trust in a Messiah emerging from a misty past, a Savior to lead us into a better country.

Hebrews 11 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge

I’ve always been intrigued by this bit of advice in the Bible:

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Such a a mysterious promise. Demonstrate open-handed generosity to strangers? Because who knows—one might be an angel?

I wonder if I’ve ever helped an angel, or walked by one in my distrust of unfamiliar people? I’m sure I’ve missed more than I’ve entertained. I err on the side of suspicion.

But the injunction here is to err on the side of loving others. First, stick with our brothers and sisters. Don’t give up on each other. Then take a risk and reach out to those outside our circle. Demonstrate warmth, show kindness, and listen. Hospitality places us face to face with others.

I find this uncomfortable. I’d rather make an on-line donation and go about my day. But the type of love God calls us to is inconvenient and messy. And sometimes attended to by angels.

Hebrews 13 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Matt Collamer

I try to get up and move my body in some way every day. I enjoy walking, especially getting outside under a blue sky. Other days I go to the gym. The discipline of exercise benefits the whole of my life. I stay healthier, I think better, and I’m kinder with people.

At the gym I always start using the weights and realize once again the work involved. Trainers use the phrase “resistance training” for a reason. My muscles benefit from the stress of pushing and pulling, even as they complain.

The writer of Hebrews pointed out the value of discipline the Lord brings into the life of his followers. He wrote:

God disciplines us for our good, in order that we might share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

The challenges I face serve to train me, and allow me to share in God’s holiness. It turns my attitude around when I go from, This stinks, how do I get out of this situation? to What might the Lord have to me in the middle of such a hard time?

Discipline may not feel delightful in the moment, whether it be at the gym or in middle of demanding situations. But seeing these times as the Lord’s training rather than his punishment allows me to reap a depth of character and eventually peace. Not so pleasant today, but worth it tomorrow.

Hebrews 12 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Ambitious Studio* – Rick Barrett