God’s Sovereignty

Readings for today: Genesis 38-40

God is sovereign. God stands outside time and space. He is not bound by the constraints of this world. Not human history as it unfolds. Not the laws of physics He set in motion. Not the choices of His people, sinful or otherwise. God is sovereign. God is sitting on His throne in heaven even now. His hand at the controls. He moves according to His will and purpose. He acts in accordance with His character and nature. He is faithfully guiding all of history according to the plan He made from eternity.

We see this on display in the story of Judah and Tamar. Judah makes all the wrong choices in this passage. He marries a Canaanite woman. Two of his three sons are put to death for their sin. Judah reneges on his promise to Tamar. He withholds his third son out of fear of what might take place. He sleeps with someone he believes is a temple prostitute. He hypocritically accuses his daughter-in-law of sexual immorality once it’s discovered she’s pregnant. Finally, he repents when he realizes his own sinful choices have led him to this point. Still God uses it for His glory. Still God bends even Judah’s sinful choices to His sovereign will. The twins Tamar bears will become important figures in the line of Jesus. Tamar herself will gain a mention in the Savior’s genealogy.

We see God’s sovereignty on display in Joseph’s life as well. Arrogant and prideful, he is despised by his brothers. Sold into slavery for a profit, he ends up in Potiphar’s household where he finds great success as an estate manager. Falsely accused of attempted rape, Joseph is sent to prison where he continues to find ways to bless those around him. When Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker become his cellmates, he interprets their dreams. God is slowly but surely orchestrating all things for Joseph’s good. Including the evil he’s endured. Including his suffering and pain and hardship. Joseph will eventually rise to become almost as powerful as Pharaoh himself. He will use his position and influence to save his family. What his brothers intended for evil, God uses for good.

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is still sovereignly at work, orchestrating all things according to His divine purpose and will. Yes, our choices are real, sinful, godly, or otherwise. Yes, our suffering is real and so is our success. Yes, our pain is real and so is our joy. Yes, our heartbreak is real and so is the love we experience. God promises to use all these things for our good if we but love and trust Him. He doesn’t promise us an easy life. Doesn’t promise us a pain-free life. In fact, following Christ in this world will often result in the opposite.

This world is not our home. This world is not what God intended it to be. Humanity is broken. Deeply flawed at a fundamental level. But God still loves humanity. God still intends to work through humanity to bring about salvation to the earth. God will not give up on humanity. He will not give up on you. He will not give up on me. He is at work even now to bring to completion the good work He began in us in Christ. No matter what you are going through. No matter how many switchbacks you take in this life. Know that God is with you. God is leading you. God is guiding you. He wastes no part of your life. He will use it all to bring about your good and His glory.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 41-43

Dreamers

Readings for today: Genesis 34-37

Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A day we set aside in our nation to honor one of our heroes. A man who fought against racism and poverty and war. He dedicated his life to following the way of Jesus. Like Jesus, MLK displayed a fierce commitment to the truth. He refused to let injustice stand. He took great personal risks that put his life in danger on many occasions but never resorted to violence even in self-defense. One would think such a man would have been celebrated in his own time. Hailed as a hero especially in a nation that claimed a strong Christian heritage. Tragically, this was not the case. He was hated and violently opposed for his beliefs. Public opinion polls taken at the time of his death showed a 75% “disapproval” rating. What was it about MLK’s dream that was so dangerous? His radical commitment to peace posed a threat to a growing military industrial complex. His radical commitment to care for the poor posed a threat to runaway capitalism and corporate greed. His radical commitment to equality posed a threat to a nation who refused to repent for the sins of her racist past. And though our nation has made progress since those dark days in 1968, we still have so far to go before we see Dr. King’s dream realized.

I couldn’t help but think of Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech as I read our passage today. Joseph’s dreams were similarly dangerous. They posed a threat to a family system governed by the strict rules of an ancient near east culture. Younger sons did not rule over older sons nor did parents ever bow down to their children. Such a notion was deeply shameful and dishonoring which is why Joseph’s brothers respond so violently. They are well within their rights to cast him out of the family. Punish him for his transgressions even if their father will not. They know he is the favored son and perhaps they worried that Jacob may indeed upend the “system” to elevate Joseph and make all his dreams come true. Little did they know how their actions were serving the larger purposes of God. Indeed, decades will pass before Joseph will see his dreams realized. In that time, he would suffer tremendous hardship and pain. He would face disappointment time and time again. He would rise only to fall and he must have had his moments of despair. But eventually he came to a point where he could see what his brothers intended for evil, God intended for good.

I have to believe God is up to something similar in our day. As I reflect back on the events of the past few years, I find myself wondering if what we are seeing are the birth pangs of a new age. I think of the words of Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 24:4-8, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” You see, Jesus too has a dream. He dreams of a world where peace and justice reign. A world where wars will cease and hatred is replaced by love. A world where every injustice is made right and every wrong redressed. A world where truth and righteousness are lifted up and lies, deceit, and conspiracy theories laid low. He dreams of a world where the poor and needy and outcast are treated with compassion. He dreams of a world where sinners repent and every human being takes responsibility to steward the gifts and resources they’ve been given for glory of God and in service to His Kingdom.

Friends, our world is not friendly to dreamers. Especially those who dream God’s dreams. It will take courage to hold fast to God’s dreams in a world where violence and hatred and outrage and injustice are on the rise. It will take courage to turn the other cheek, repay evil with good, and offer a gentle answer in response to wrath. It will take courage to follow the dreams of Jesus.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 38-40

Supplanter

Readings for today: Genesis 30-33

Jacob is one of my favorites. He and I are so alike. I can remember when I was young making all these pacts with God. If God would take care of me…if God would provide for me…if God would come through for me…then I would be faithful. I would serve Him. Ultimately, of course, I was asking God to bless my plans. I was treating God like a genie in a lamp. I wanted Him to meet my needs. I wanted Him to give me what I desired. I never thought to ask Him what His desires were for my life. Nor was “submission” in my vocabulary. So I went about my life trying to make it all happen on my own. In my own strength. According to my own wisdom. There was a lot of manipulation and scheming and lying in those days. I hurt a lot of people I loved. Eventually, it all caught up to me and I found myself in a very dark place. That’s when I first wrestled with God. 

Back in 2009, my life was at a breaking point. My job was not going well. I could feel the walls closing in. Every conversation with those I reported to seemed to end in conflict. I felt helpless. I was discouraged. It took a huge effort just to get out of bed each day. Rather than own my responsibility for the condition I found myself in, I blamed others. I retreated emotionally and relationally from those I loved. I neglected my wife and children. I spent hours distracting myself. All to no avail. This went on for months. My wife grew more and more distant and angry and upset. My children bore the brunt of my frustration. And I justified every bit of it because I was hurt. I was misunderstood. I was being let down. Finally my wife sat me down for the hardest conversation we’ve ever had in our marriage. “I never thought I’d ever say this but I don’t like being married to you. You need to decide between me and your job. You have 24 hours.” Her words broke me. That night I wrestled with God. I yelled at Him. Shook my fists. Blamed Him for everything that had gone wrong. For hours I paced the floor, pouring out all my fears and frustrations at Him. He simply listened and waited. Eventually I exhausted myself and said, “God, I need your help. I’ve made a mess of my life. I’ve got nothing left. And I’m afraid I’m going to lose everything I hold dear.” God replied, “I know. I’m sitting in the middle of the mess with you. I’ve never left your side. I know you are afraid. I know you’ve failed. I know you’ve hurt those you love the most. But I can restore all things if you will simply hand your life over to me.” Thankfully, I did. It’s taken years but God has not only restored my marriage and my family and my career but He has given me so much more. 

Jacob begins his journey to Laban’s household in much the same way. He makes pacts with God, assuming God will bless his plans. Genesis 28:20-21, "If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God...” And for the next two decades, he worked hard at life. He got married. He had children. He amassed a fortune. He thought he was doing it all on his own. And he’s not the only one. Everyone involved in the story seems to think they are in charge. Leah and Rachel battle over who gets to sleep with Jacob, each trying to win Jacob’s affections by having as many children as possible. Leah even “buys” a night with Jacob from Rachel with mandrakes (an ancient aphrodisiac)! Laban and Jacob try to outscheme one another as they compete for flocks of goats. Laban removing a certain number. Jacob countering this (or so he thinks) by superstitiously having his goats breed in front of certain trees that have been peeled, etc. It’s all very humorous in a way and I actually think we are meant to laugh along with the story as it unfolds.  

Of course, the impact of all this scheming and manipulation is brokenness. Jacob’s relationship with Laban deteriorates to the point where he realizes he needs to flee. For seven days, Laban chases him until God comes to him in a dream warning him not to touch Jacob. But that’s not the worst of it. Jacob has gone from the frying pan into the fire as he knows he will have to face his brother Esau again. The last time he saw Esau, his brother wanted to kill him and now he hears Esau is bringing four hundred men to meet him. Jacob’s scared. Anxious. Afraid. He’s trapped between Laban and Esau. Two men who hate him for what he’s done. He cannot escape. So he does the only thing he knows how to do. He puts together a plan. He divides his camp with the hope one can escape. He puts together a large gift and sends it on ahead hoping to ease Esau’s anger. And after he has completed all his preparations, he finds himself alone. Alone with his fears. Alone with his anxiety. All alone in the dark.

That’s when God shows up and He begins to go to work on Jacob. Wrestling with him. Struggling with him. Forcing Jacob to come to grips with himself on a lot of levels. Forcing Jacob to face his past, his sin, his fear, his brokenness. But Jacob is a strong and stubborn man. He fights God all night long. He doesn’t want to give in.  Doesn’t want to surrender. Finally, God dislocates his hip. And Jacob is defeated. But even in his defeat, Jacob won’t let go. Not until God blesses him. So God gives him a new name. From this point forward Jacob will be known as Israel which means “God-contended.” Jacob had fought with God and had prevailed. Not that he beat God but that he beat himself. He finally came to grips with who he was before God. Something he confirms in 32:30 when he says, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been spared.” Jacob is humbled. He’s finally surrendered. He’s finally submitted himself to God and one can see his heart change in his reconciliation with Esau. 

What’s your relationship with God like? Is it transactional? Meaning, you scratch God’s back and He scratch’s yours? Do you find yourself asking God to bless your plans or are you seeking His plan for your life? Have you ever wrestled with God like Jacob? Have you ever been humbled by God? Broken by God? I certainly have been at several points in my own life. It’s part of the discipleship process. We must learn to surrender our own will to His and it’s not an easy or always pleasant process.  

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 34-37

Family Dysfunction

Readings for today: Genesis 27-29

Family dysfunction. It’s universal. Every family has their issues. Every family has skeletons tucked away in the closet. Every family passes on sinful patterns from one generation to the next. This is as true for the families in the Bible as it is for our own families in the 21st century. This is also one of the reasons the Bible continues to hold such authority after thousands of years. It is raw. It is honest. It doesn’t cover up or make excuses for the sins of believers. It lifts them up and puts them on full display in order to convey the fundamental message that all human beings are broken. All human beings are sinful. All human beings have wandered and gone astray and stand in desperate need of God’s saving grace.

Consider what we read today. The sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob has escalated to the point where even their parents have taken sides. Isaac favors Esau while Rebekah favors Jacob. Things come to a head when Isaac calls Esau in to prepare him to receive the “blessing.” This was a legally binding arrangement whereby all the power and authority of the clan would pass from one generation to the next. Esau stood to inherit everything while Jacob would be left with nothing. Rebekah catches wind of the plan and hatches a plot to elevate her favored son. The whole story is full of deception, rage, betrayal, and murderous plots. Jacob is successful in stealing his brother’s birthright and inheritance but has to flee for his life to Haran where Abraham’s brother settled years earlier. There he is served a dish of his own medicine by his cousin Laban who tricks him into marrying Leah instead of Rachel.

Amazingly enough, God meets Jacob in the midst of all this turmoil. Jacob sets up camp for the night on his journey from Beersheba to Haran. As he slept, God spoke to him through visions and dreams. (Cue “Stairway to Heaven”…) “I am God, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. I’m giving the ground on which you are sleeping to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will be as the dust of the Earth; they’ll stretch from west to east and from north to south. All the families of the Earth will bless themselves in you and your descendants. Yes. I’ll stay with you, I’ll protect you wherever you go, and I’ll bring you back to this very ground. I’ll stick with you until I’ve done everything I promised you.” (Genesis‬ ‭28‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Once again, note the unilateral nature of God’s promises. Their fulfillment is not contingent on anything Jacob will or will not do. They are not dependent on Jacob’s works or even his faith. God simply declares to Jacob that He will be his God and Jacob will be His servant. This is the essence of grace.

All of us grew up in dysfunctional families to a certain degree. Some more so than others. Thankfully, God is gracious and merciful to work through our dysfunction to make us into the men and women He calls to be. The great news of the gospel is that God will indeed stick with us until He has fulfilled all His promises towards us. And what has God promised us? He will wash away every sin. He will wipe away every tear. He will use all things for our good and for His glory. He will make us new. Take a moment and rest in the assurances of these promises today!

Readings for tomorrow: None

God’s Promise

Readings for today: Genesis 24-26

God will fulfill His promise. God will be faithful to His covenant. God will make sure His mandate is followed. From the beginning of Genesis we have seen a common theme appear over and over again. Be fruitful. Multiply. Fill the earth. Exercise dominion over all God has made. This is God’s plan for humanity. This is God’s plan for His people. This is the direction given to Adam and Eve. Noah and his family. Abraham and Sarah. And now it comes to Isaac and Rebekah.

However, an important grammatical change has taken place. Instead of humanity being responsible for fulfilling this mandate, God Himself takes the responsibility on. “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake." (Genesis‬ ‭26:3-4, 24‬) God will not let His covenant be broken. God will not let His promises fail. Despite the mistakes and missteps we make along the way - like claiming our wives as our sisters or conflict with our neighbors - God uses all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. Remember, God has committed Himself to us. He walked through the halves of the animals to signify the gravity of His resolve. The plan of God cannot fail because God will not fail.

This truth is life-changing. For people. For churches. For anyone who calls on the name of the Lord. God may not fulfill all your desires. He may not grant all your wishes. He may not answer all your prayers. But if you seek Him, He will make you fruitful. He will multiply your reach and influence. He will bless you so that you fill the earth with His glory and His image. He will give you dominion over whatever spheres of influence you find yourself in. Not so you will be healthy and wealthy. Not so you will never experience suffering or hardship. One cannot measure God’s faithfulness using worldly means! No, this is about God’s Kingdom. God’s glory. God’s honor. God’s plan from before the foundations of the world. God will have His way on earth. God will have His way with us. God will not rest until His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

So what is our role? Worship. Note Isaac’s response to God’s promise in his life. “He built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent…” (Genesis‬ ‭26:25‬) God simply wants our worship. Our love. Our adoration. He simply wants us to thank Him. Praise Him. Glory in all He is doing on our behalf. He simply wants our submission. Our obedience. Our trust that His way is the best way - really, the only way - to live. God loves you, friends! God is for you! God is with you! God is working even now to bring His plan to pass in your life. Will you walk before Him like Abraham? Will you seek Him like Isaac? Will you submit your way and your will to Him like our forefathers and foremothers in the faith?

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 27-29

Talking Down to Us

Readings for today: Genesis 20-23

Though the Bible was written for us, it was not written to us. It was originally written to a particular people at a particular time in a particular place with a particular language and cultural worldview. It is essential we keep this principle in mind, especially as we read the Old Testament. The stories can feel so foreign to us and that’s because they are! You are catching a glimpse into the ancient near east and the cultural divide between us and them is as vast as the Grand Canyon.

God speaks down to us. He gets on our level. He meets us where we are. This was as true for Abraham and Sarah as it is for us. God speaks through the culture of the day. He speaks through the language of the day. He speaks through the normative attitudes and actions of the time to reveal Himself and shift our way of thinking. Consider what we read today. Abraham and Sarah hiding their relationship out of fear of how they would be received among the Philistines. The exile of Hagar and Ishmael from Abraham’s camp. The incident over land and water. The purchasing of the burial plot for Sarah. And, of course, the famous story of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac.

Each of these stories is difficult for us to understand. We don’t understand why Abraham and Sarah felt it necessary to lie about their relationship because we live in a world where such relationships are respected and honored. You don’t take another person’s spouse as your own. Things were much different in the ancient near east where women were largely considered property and local kings did whatever they thought was right. We don’t understand how Abraham could cast out his own son and his son’s mother and leave them essentially to die and that’s because we live in a world where every life has equal value and worth and property is shared equally among all children. Things were much different in the ancient near east where masters and slaves were not considered equals nor were their children. The threat to the clan was real if Ishmael were to grow up in the family and become a competitor with Isaac for leadership. We don’t understand the critical, life-saving importance of wells because we live in a world where water flows from a tap. We don’t understand the importance of the conversation between Abraham and Ephron over the purchase of the cave of Machpelah because we don’t live in a culture with a tradition of haggling. And we, for sure, do not understand how a father could ever take his child up a mountain to sacrifice him. This makes absolutely no sense to us. It is abusive and horrific and yet it was a normative cultural practice in the ancient near east.

So what can we learn from such stories? Well, ask yourself what Abraham and Sarah are learning. Remember, they came from pagan backgrounds. They had no knowledge of God. They didn’t even know His name! They had no access to the Ten Commandments. They had no experience with His miraculous saving work. They simply knew this God had reached out to them and established His covenant with them. As they walked with Him, they learned to trust Him. Learned to depend on Him. Learned to lean on Him. So, for example, they learned they didn’t need to hide their relationship because God would protect them. As they dug wells and set up altars and purchased burial plots, they began to see how God’s promise to give them this particular land would be fulfilled. As Ishmael grew up into a mighty leader in his own right and a prince over many nations, Abraham learned how God works through even our sinful, abusive choices for His purposes. And finally, by taking Isaac up a mountain for sacrifice and finding a ram caught in the thicket, Abraham learned that his God was different than the pagan gods he had grown up with. His God wouldn’t accept human sacrifice and instead treasures the lives of those He made in His image.

The Bible wasn’t written to us but it was written for us so what can we learn from these stories? What principles can we draw out that are applicable to our own time and place? Where do we find ourselves learning about God’s provision and protection? Growing in our understanding of who God is and what He’s all about? How is God speaking to you today? How is God revealing Himself to you in this new year?

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 24-26

Partnership

Readings for today: Genesis 17-19

God wants a relationship. This is the basic, fundamental truth that runs throughout the Bible. He loves us the creature He made in His own image and His desire is to partner with this creature to care for all creation. Relationships of love cannot be coerced. They must be chosen. So throughout the Bible humanity is faced with a choice. Will they embrace a relationship with God or will they go their own way? Will they love this God in return or will they keep their love to themselves? Will they partner with this God and fulfill the creation mandate they were given or will they reject His offer of partnership and instead exploit creation for their own purposes? A lot rides on the choices we make. God holds us responsible for our decisions. Because we are given “agency” or free will, we must accept the consequences of that freedom. When we are faithful, the consequences are good. When we are the faithless, the consequences can be terrible.

Consider what takes place in our story today. God appears to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre. Abraham and Sarah welcome Him in true Middle Eastern style. They prepare a meal. They welcome Him to their table. They feast and fellowship with Him. When it’s time for God to leave, Abraham escorted Him from the camp. Along the way, God makes this amazing statement, “Shall I keep back from Abraham what I’m about to do? Abraham is going to become a large and strong nation; all the nations of the world are going to find themselves blessed through him. Yes, I’ve settled on him as the one to train his children and future family to observe God’s way of life, live kindly and generously and fairly, so that God can complete in Abraham what he promised him.” (Genesis‬ ‭18‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭MSG) Here we have a window into how God sees His relationship with Abraham. It’s clear He wants a partner in Abraham. He wants someone He can work with for the good of the world. In order for Abraham to be a partner, God has to let him in on His plans.

What a contrast to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah! The brief picture we get shows a city full of horrific violence. They violate the sacred laws of hospitality that govern that part of the world to this day. Visitors to their cities are not safe. They are subjected to all kinds of violence, some of it sexual. We also know from Ezekiel 16 that these cities were filled with pride and arrogance, greed and selfishness, injustice and oppression, as well as “all manner of detestable things.” When God shows up in Sodom, He is attacked rather than welcomed. The people there have clearly rejected any offer of partnership and instead seem hell-bent on destroying all God has made. Things are so bad that God can’t even find ten righteous people. Not even among Lot’s own family.

God loves creation. He loves everything He has made. As such, He hates to see it corrupted. Hates to see it exploited. Hates to see what happens when evil seemingly runs wild. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah made their choice. They used their God-given freedom for selfish, violent, and horrific ends. God cannot allow such injustice to stand so He judges the cities. He literally rains down fire as an act of purifying judgment to cleanse the earth of their sin. It’s terrifying. Lot and his daughters are the only survivors, fleeing to a nearby city that is spared. Lot’s wife makes her choice by looking back with longing on the life they once led and is turned into a pillar of salt. The message seems clear. God will not compromise with human sin. When we reject our partnership with Him, the impact on our lives and the lives of those we love is dreadful.

It’s a sobering read. It’s one of the the things I appreciate most about the Bible. It reveals God in all His holiness and majesty and glory and it reveals humanity in all her corruption and sin and tendency for evil. It forces us to reflect on how far we have fallen and how much we need a Savior. Someone who will deliver us from the eternal consequences of our decisions. Spend some time today taking an honest inventory of your thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the depths of your sin and then let Him lead you to a deeper and greater and fuller appreciation of God’s grace and forgiveness revealed in Christ on the cross. Thanks be to God that the wrath He poured out on Sodom was poured out on His Son so we could be saved!

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 20-23

The God Who Sees

Readings for today: Genesis 14-16

It is both comforting and convicting to know we’ve caught God’s attention. He is faithful. Eternally so. His eyes never leave us. He never forsakes us. He is with us when we wake. He is with us when we sleep. He is with us at work, at school, at home. There is never a moment that escapes His glance. Never a time when our thoughts or actions are hidden from His sight.  

This is incredibly encouraging when we are suffering like Hagar. A woman who gets caught up in a power struggle between her master and mistress. A woman who’s marginalized. Mistreated. Abused. She runs into the wilderness, fearing for her life. She doesn’t know where she is going only that she cannot remain in Sarai’s household. She is pregnant. Alone. Afraid. But God is with her. He sees her. He meets her along the way. Meets her in the wilderness. Meets her in her desperation. And He gives her a promise. Her son will grow strong and powerful. He will eventually break free from the bonds of slavery. God will bless him. 

The reminder above is incredibly convicting when we are engaged in sin like Sarai. A woman struggling with her own fears and failures and shame. She lashes out. She mistreats Hagar though she was the one who put her in this position in the first place. She lashes out at her husband who had agreed to the plan. She even laughs at God when He suggests she will bear a son within a year.

The same God who sees our pain is the same God who sees our sin and thankfully, He meets both with grace. Perhaps you find yourself in pain today. You are suffering. Struggling. The new year has not gotten off to a great start. You feel accused. You feel mistreated. Everything in you wants to run. Get away from it all. Take comfort in the fact that God sees what you are going through and He will look after you as surely as He looked after Hagar. Perhaps you find yourself locked in sin. Thoughts, attitudes, and actions you know do not line up with God’s Word. You’ve been battling these demons for years or maybe you’ve simply been content to live in sin. Be warned! God will not be mocked! And He sees everything you do. What you believe to be hidden. What you believe to be secret. The work you’ve done to fool everyone around you is not unknown to God. He sees it all and He is actively at work to bring you to repentance. 

Grace is truly a double-edged sword. It hits us where it hurts and it brings both comfort and conviction. Will you receive the grace of God today? Will you turn and meet the gaze of the “God who sees?”  The God who is faithful to look after us in our sin and in our suffering? 

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 17-19

God’s Initiation

Readings for today: Genesis 12-13

The Bible is clear…God wants a relationship with us. Jews and Christians both live by this fundamental truth. Religion for us is not about a list of rules we follow in order to make our way to God. It is not a way for us to earn our way into heaven. It is not a way for us to earn God’s favor or blessing upon our lives. It is fundamentally a relationship. The intersection of God’s Life with human life. The exchange of Divine Love with human love. This relationship takes place at God’s initiation. He makes the initial approach. He makes the decision to leave the heavenly dimension where He lives in eternal glory and come to the earthly dimension to meet us where we are. Without God making this decision, we could not have a relationship with Him for we do not have the power to move from this world to the next. He must come to us.

God speaks to Abram. “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you. I’ll make you a great nation and bless you. I’ll make you famous; you’ll be a blessing. I’ll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I’ll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Notice God places no conditions on His covenant. He will do these things for Abram simply because He loves him. He will do these things for Abram because He has a plan for the world and He desires to use Abram to bring about His will on earth. Abram is almost a bystander to this covenant. God appears to Abram. “I will give this land to your children.” (Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Once again, there are no conditions. No expectations. God is simply going to give Abram a gift. One more time in our readings for today, God speaks. “Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. I’ll make your descendants like dust—counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So—on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I’m giving it all to you.” (Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Once more, Abram is blessed. Not because of his obedience. Not because of his faithfulness. Not because of his goodness. He is blessed simply out of grace.

This is the difference between a covenant and a contract. A covenant is relational. A contract is transactional. A covenant operates by grace. A contract by works. In a covenant, both parties respond to each other out of love. In a contract, both parties respond out of obligation. Yes, Abram leaves his home and kindred and country. Yes, Abram builds altars to God. Yes, Abram prays. But these responses are not grounded in duty or debt but in the natural, loving response one makes when in an intimate relationship with their Creator.

In Jesus Christ, God comes to us. God meets us on our level. He takes on our sin. He removes our guilt. He does this purely out of grace. Not because we’ve earned it or achieved it or won it through our own effort. Through Christ, God initiates a covenant of grace with us and those who have been adopted into this covenant find themselves naturally responding to such grace with loving obedience. We don’t have to think about it. We don’t have to strive for it. We don’t have to make ourselves do it. We love because He first loved us. We serve because He first served us. We give because He first gave to us. This is the heart of the gospel.

Take some time and reflect on your relationship with God today. Do you find yourself obeying out of gratitude or guilt? Do you find yourself worshipping out of thankfulness or obligation? Is serving Christ a chore or is it a joy? The answers to these questions will tell you whether you see your relationship as a covenant or a contract. If the latter, know that God is extending you an invitation today to let go of your need to strive and work so hard and live by grace!

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 14-16

Table of Nations

Readings for today: Genesis 10-11

Genesis 10 is the famous “Table of Nations” which lists the founders of seventy nations descended from Noah and his family. This is not an exhaustive list. The Biblical genealogies are always abridged. They include the names the ancients deemed important at the time. Lesser nations or those siblings who are less culturally relevant at the time are left out. Some of the nations listed are easily identifiable even to this day. Others are far more obscure. All attempts to identify them meet with varying degrees of success due to the time and cultural distance between our world and the ancient world. However, here’s one attempt just to help you picture it…

Why is the table important? What relevance does it have for us today? First of all, it shows those nations most important to ancient Israel. That’s why Egypt, Babylon, and Assyria all feature prominently. These empires will become Israel’s greatest enemies. It’s also why the Canaanite tribes are all mentioned because of the challenges they will present Israel on a regular basis. But perhaps most of all, it shows the deep, fundamental connection Israel has with the nations around them. When God calls Israel to be a “light to the nations”, she is being called to illuminate the gospel for her cousins no matter how distant they may be. She is being called to bring the gospel to her extended family. Yes, she is set apart but not for isolation. She is set apart in order to put the mercies of God’s grace on display so the nations will hear and be glad and turn to the Lord in faith.

One more thing…the Table of Nations reveals the plan of salvation. God working through the line of Shem all the way to Terah to bring a man named Abram into view. The man through whom God’s promises for the world will come to pass. It’s a great reminder that even when we may not be able to see it, God is working. Even when we may not be able to feel it or touch it, God is working. As generations come and generations go, God is always at work to bring His plans to pass. May you walk in that confidence today!

Readings for tomorrow: None

Renewing the Call

Readings for today: Genesis 8-9, Psalms 12

We aren’t even nine chapters into the Bible and already humanity is a train wreck. Violence. Oppression. Brutality. Their evil is so great that God regrets having made them in the first place. Take a moment and imagine the grief of God? Imagine His disappointment at what the creature made in His own image has become? Imagine the heartbreak of God as He realizes humanity has reached a point of no return? The future of creation itself is at stake unless God acts. So God takes the extraordinary step of flooding the earth. Now whether the flood truly covered the entire earth or was localized to the area where humanity lived at the time is immaterial. The point here is the evil of humanity was so great that God’s justice required Him to give them the death penalty. It’s a stark reminder of how deep our sin runs.

Thankfully, all is not lost. Noah and his family find favor with God and are saved. They are delivered from the flood and, in turn, become deliverers themselves. Through their faithfulness, many species of animals and birds are saved. And once the floodwaters recede, they are able to repopulate the earth. It’s an act of re-creation. God has remade the earth. By sending the flood, the earth became “formless and void” once again while the Spirit of God “hovered over the face of the waters.” Once the waters evaporate and Noah disembarks, he is greeted with a new kind of Eden. An earth that has been profoundly reshaped. And once again, God renews the original mandate He gave to Adam. “God blessed Noah and his sons: He said, “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill the Earth! Every living creature—birds, animals, fish—will fall under your spell and be afraid of you. You’re responsible for them. All living creatures are yours for food; just as I gave you the plants, now I give you everything else. Except for meat with its lifeblood still in it—don’t eat that.” (Genesis‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭MSG)

God has called us to be stewards of all He has made. There is no “Plan B.” There is no backup if we should fail. God has determined to work in us and through us to cultivate and nourish creation. He has determined to work in us and through us to bring about His plan of salvation. He has determined to work in us and through us to bring blessing and peace upon the earth. We are responsible. Like it or not, we hold dominion and authority over all God has made. And God will hold us accountable for how we exercise such authority. Will we be tyrants? Oppressors? Exploiting others for personal gain? Or will we be servants? Liberators? Caring for and sharing the resources God has given us so all might flourish and thrive?

This is our challenge, friends. How will others experience you today? How will you steward the resources God has given you? Resources of time, talent, and treasure? Will you work today for your own gain or for the gain of others? Will you seek today your own good or the good of others? Will you resist the temptation to tear others down and instead do your best to build them up? Will you be an encourager? A man or woman of blessing? Someone who is generous and kind and gentle? Will you lift up those who have fallen? Pray for those who are hurting? Help bear the burdens of those who are struggling? Every day we have opportunities. Every day we make choices. Every day we have the chance to fulfill the mandate God has given us and help make the world a better place.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 10-11

Walking with God

Readings for today: Genesis 6-7

Enoch walked with God. Noah walked with God. Abraham walked with God. It’s a phrase that’s repeated over and over again throughout the Bible to describe the lives of the righteous. They walk with God. They keep in step with the Spirit of God. They do not run ahead of God. They do not lag behind God. They walk with Him every hour of every day. Does this mean they are perfect? Surely not. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Does this mean they never wander away? Not at all. All like sheep have gone astray. Does this mean they never stumble or fall? Nope. All of us stumble. All of us fall from time to time. But when we do we are not down for long because God has a grip on us.

We live in terrible times. At least that’s what we believe. Media outlets report horror story after horror story on a daily basis. Social media seems specifically designed to heighten tension and outrage and anger and hate. Extreme elements on either side of the political spectrum threaten to tear our country apart with their lies. Pressures on our families and communities are often too much to bear resulting in divorce, separation, and divisions. Our children bear the brunt of this stress, reporting increasingly high levels of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. (See Jonathan Haidt’s recent article in the Wall Street Journal on the “National Crisis of Gen Z.”) In the face of all this bad news, it’s easy to give up. It’s easy to turn inward and simply focus on ourselves. It’s easy to isolate out of a sense of self-preservation. But we are not the first to face such times…

“God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, “I’ll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I’m sorry I made them.” But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah. This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. As far as God was concerned, the Earth had become a sewer; there was violence everywhere. God took one look and saw how bad it was, everyone corrupt and corrupting—life itself corrupt to the core.” (Genesis‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬-‭12‬ ‭MSG)

But Noah was different. Noah was a good man. Noah was a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. In the face of all the evil that surrounded him and hemmed him in on every side, Noah refused to isolate. Noah refused to give into the temptation to take care of himself. Noah refused to give into fear and instead chose the path of faith. Noah walked with God.

What our world needs more than ever are men and women who have the courage and faith to walk with God. To be people of integrity in their communities. To dare to be different in the name of Jesus. Today is a day of opportunity. A day to walk with God. To walk with God in our homes. To walk with God into our workplaces. To walk with God as we hang out with friends and those we love. To walk with God among our neighbors. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you are walking with God if you are a Christian. He is with you. He resides inside you through the presence of the Holy Spirit. He is there to guide you and protect you and lift you up if and when you fall. If you start to go astray, He will pursue you. He will never let you go. The call from God’s Word today is simply to be the man or woman God has created you to be. To walk intentionally with God through every circumstance of life.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 8-9, Psalms 12

The Fall

Readings for today: Genesis 3-5

Like us, the ancients often wondered why the world is the way that it is. Why is the world so harsh and unyielding? Why is humanity so brutal and prone to violence? Why does evil exist? Why do people die? Why is there suffering and pain? These are existential questions that have haunted the human race from the beginning. Remember, God is speaking to a people who live in the Ancient Near East. He is speaking to people who already have a worldview. People who already have a fully formed set of beliefs about the world around them. He is reshaping their worldview. Revealing to them the truth of how things came into existence and why things are the way that they are. Through the author of Genesis - traditionally Moses - He is letting them in on the truth of human existence and helping them understand their role in the creative order.

So back to those persistent questions…why does evil exist? Why is there pain and suffering? Why do people die? Why is life in this world so hard? God’s answer is clear. The fault lies with humanity. We were given charge over all of creation. We were set in a Garden to work and to cultivate it alongside our Creator. Because God wanted a partner, not a slave, we were given free will which means we had the very real choice to continue working in God’s paradise or seek to remake the world according to our design. Tragically, we chose the latter. We don’t know how long Adam and Eve labored in the Garden, naked and unashamed. We don’t know how many millennia passed with them working side by side in perfect communion with God. We only know that one day it all came to an end. They began to covet the forbidden fruit. Whether the serpent was real or simply a metaphor for the devil, we do know they gave into temptation. They saw the fruit was good. They crossed the boundary God had set. They rejected His law and aspired to a role not their own. They wanted to be like God so like God they became. The problem, of course, is human beings do not have the power of God or the heart of God or the wisdom of God which turned us into tyrants. We began to oppress each other…the woman longing for the man and the man lording it over her. We began to oppress creation…the land itself refusing to produce for us as we exploited it. Conflict. Violence. Brokenness. All these things entered the world as a result of our decision and we’ve been suffering the consequences ever since.

The Bible forces us to confront our deepest, truest nature. We are sinners to the core. Corrupt and depraved. We covet. We get angry. We lash out at those we love. We even resort to violence in order to get our way. Most of all, we want to be like God. We want to be independent and free but we do not have the ability to use our freedom for godly purposes. Because of sin, our freedom gets twisted into selfishness, greed, narcissistic tendencies, pursuit of pleasure, and so many other proclivities that are not healthy nor good. The choices we make don’t just impact us either. They impact those who live with us and around us. They impact the world in which we live. The earth, the sea, the climate, and all manner of living things. Why? Because God never revokes His mandate. He never removes us from our divinely ordained role in the created order. Despite our sin, we remain stewards for good or for ill and God continues to pursue a partnership with us. It’s amazing when you stop to think about it. God could just as easily wiped us out and started all over but instead He chooses to persevere in chasing after us, not wishing any to perish but all to return to a relationship with Him. This is the heart of the gospel, of course, and it is why God will send us His Son.

So take a moment and consider your life today. Think about the people you will meet. The choices you will make. Where you will spend your time and energy and resources. Are you living your life in partnership with God or are you still trying to be your own god? Are you making decisions with His purposes in mind or are you doing what’s best for you? Are you cultivating and caring for all God has placed under your authority or are you using and exploiting these things for your own ends? Take these questions to prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to better align your life with God today.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 6-7

Tikkun Olam

Readings for today: John 1:1-3, Psalm 8, 104

My Jewish friends have this saying, “Tikkun olam.” Literally, it means “repair of the world” and it reflects the responsibility Jewish people feel for all of God’s creation. They believe they are responsible not just for themselves but for their neighbors and for society at large. They seek the good of those around them as well as creation itself. They long for renewal and restoration spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and socially. For them, “repair” comes as God’s heart is reflected in the people, policies, and politics of our world and they dedicate their lives and resources towards this great end. Why do they feel so strongly about this principle? Where does such an idea come from?

Psalm 8:5-9. “We’ve so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden’s dawn light. You put us in charge of your handcrafted world, repeated to us your Genesis-charge, Made us stewards of sheep and cattle, even animals out in the wild, Birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps. God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world.” (MSG) It’s a restatement of the creation mandate given to us in Genesis 1:26-28. “God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.” (MSG)

There’s just no getting around it. We are responsible for the world God has made. We are called to be stewards over all of creation. We are commanded to care for and cultivate creation. We are to work in such a way that creation flourishes and thrives. We are not to use it for our own purposes. We are not to exploit it for our own ends. We are not to consume it to feed our insatiable appetites. We are to dedicate our lives to bring repair, renewal, and restoration. We are to help heal the ravages of sin and death. We are to make whole that which was broken. This is not just our temporal calling but our eternal calling as well. This is the work we will engage in once Jesus returns!

Every day is another chance for tikkun olam. Every conversation. Every interaction. Every decision. Every action or inaction. All carry significant, even eternal weight. Imagine what could break loose in your life if tikkun olam were your daily goal? Imagine how it would change your relationships? Imagine how it would change the way you see your work? Imagine how it would change your perspective on the challenges you face? Ultimately, tikkun olam is an invitation to join God in His work of renewal and restoration. It’s an invitation to partner with Him to care for all He has made including those you love and live among. Why don’t you join Him today?

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 3-5

Ancient Near East Cosmology

Readings for today: Genesis 1-2

The doctrine of accommodation is the theological principle that God “condescends” to us and speaks to us in a way human beings can understand and to which they can respond. This is a critically important principle to apply to the first few chapters of Genesis. We have to remember God is speaking to a group of people living in the Ancient Near East who perceive their world in a particular way based upon the particular science of the time and their particular cultural beliefs. Genesis is not written to a people starting with a blank slate. They already have fully formed beliefs about the world around them and how it all came into being. God speaks into their world to reshape their understanding of things. He reshapes their understanding of creation and humanity and reveals His divine purposes to them. He tells them their origin story with Adam and Eve. He reminds them of their high calling to be faithful stewards over all He has made. He helps them understand the “why” behind the “what” of creation.

A close reading of Genesis one and two is confusing for many in the modern world. We know far more about the world and all that is in it than our Ancient Near East ancestors. We have telescopes probing the vast reaches of outer space. We have microscopes unlocking creation on a sub-atomic level. We’ve “thought God’s thoughts after Him” (Kepler) and discovered all kinds of immutable laws, strong and weak forces, dark and light matter, and energy that makes up our universe and we still have so much to learn. The launch of the James Webb telescope has allowed us to “travel” back in time over 13 billion years and see some the earliest moments of creation when galaxies were still in their infancy and stars and plants were beginning to form. It’s truly incredible and yet it can pose all kinds of problems when we come to the Biblical text. Some attempt to resolve this problem by trying to square modern science with the circle of Genesis 1. Some attempt to resolve this problem by rejecting science and/or the Biblical text altogether. A far more fruitful approach - to my mind at least - is to apply the doctrine of accommodation and seek to discern what exactly God is trying to reveal in the opening pages of Scripture.

Here I owe a great debt to Dr. John Walton who teaches Old Testament at Wheaton College. Dr. Walton argues we should take a “functional” approach to understanding Genesis 1. The people living in the Ancient Near East were less concerned with how things came into being and more concerned with the purpose behind them. So God creates light and darkness on the first day, the sky or “atmosphere” on the second day, and the land, oceans, and all plant life on the third day. For a person living in the Ancient Near East, the “functions” of each day were clear. Light and dark represent the creation of time. The sky or atmosphere represents the creation of weather. The land, oceans, and all plant life represent the foundation for a sustainable food source. Then God creates “functionaries.” He creates the sun and moon and stars to govern time and seasons. He fills the land, oceans, and skies with all kinds of different animals to build an ecological system that can sustain life. Finally, He creates humankind in His image to care for and cultivate and exercise dominion over all He has made and He charges them to “prosper, reproduce, and fill the earth.” Again, the point is less about how everything got here - on this point, Genesis 1:1 is clear, “First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don’t see.” (MSG) - and more on the order and purpose behind God’s creative acts.

When we view Genesis 1 and 2 through Ancient Near East eyes, we can focus less on the unnecessary and completely contrived “conflict” between faith and science and instead focus on why human beings were created and the mandate God has given us to care for His creation.

Readings for tomorrow: John 1:1-3, Psalm 8, 104

Bible in a Year 2023

Welcome, friends! My name is Doug Resler and I am a local church pastor living in Parker, CO. Over thirty years ago, I had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder. Before I met Christ, my life was heading towards a very dark place. I was isolated and disconnected from family and friends. I was drinking heavily. I was flunking out of school. I was struggling with depression. In the midst of my despair, a friend of mine from high school invited me to attend a campus ministry meeting on a Tuesday night. Desperate and not knowing where else to turn, I decided to go and heard a man named Mike Gaffney preach the gospel in a way I had never heard before. After the meeting, I asked how I could learn more about this God who loved me and I was encouraged to join a small group Bible study. After studying the Bible weekly with this small group of guys, I found myself becoming more and more open to faith and that’s when Jesus Christ came and found me. I can still remember the exact place I was standing on campus where it happened. After accepting Christ, my life began to change. It didn’t happen all at once. I still struggled mightily with addiction and depression but God surrounded me with Christian men and women who invested in me and helped me begin to put my life back together. One of those people was a man named Don Bachman.

Don was an older Christian man who had retired early from his career to mentor college students. He and I began to meet monthly and he encouraged me to begin reading the Bible every single day. He helped me understand that if I really wanted a relationship with God, I would do all I could to get to know God and the primary way we do that is through His Word. So here I am thirty years later - still meeting with Don on a monthly basis! - reading through the Bible each year and trying to help others do the same.

If you are joining us for the first time…welcome! We are glad you are here! We want you to know there are no questions or comments that are off limits! Reading the Bible will challenge you in all sorts of ways. It can be confusing and frustrating at times. You might find yourself feeling fearful and anxious along the way as your faith is stretched. You might find yourself struggling with doubts and uncertainties. These are quite normal and expected. We’ve established a private Facebook group - “Bible in a Year 2023 with Doug, Greg, Johnny, and Lucy” - that you can join where you can ask these questions openly and honestly. Just search for the group and ask to join.

If you are returning for another round…welcome! We’re glad you’re back! Let me encourage you to read a different version this year to keep things fresh. Perhaps listen to it audibly as you read along. Maybe even journal your own thoughts along the way. There’s always more to learn which is why reading the Bible never gets old.

As in previous years, the readings will be posted each day, Monday through Saturday, and we will take Sundays off. If you want to follow along in the YouVersion Bible App, you can search for and find the plan we are using under the title, “Reading God’s Story: One-Year Chronological Plan.” Please note the plan will not take us Genesis through Revelation but rather though the different books of the Bible as they are written which I find to be the most helpful. I trust the Lord will bless every moment you spend in His Word and I encourage you to pray each day for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to what He wants to reveal to you. Looking forward to the journey and if you are ever in Parker, CO, look me up at Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church!

Come, Lord Jesus

Readings for today: Revelation 19-22

“Come, Lord Jesus!” Echoing Paul’s famous phrase from 1 Corinthians 16:22 - “Maranatha” - John finishes the Revelation with what has become the heartcry of Christians for centuries. Come, Lord Jesus. Come soon. The vision John has received has reached its climax. The new heavens and new earth have come. New Jerusalem has descended out of heaven. God in the midst of her. The gates are open continually for the nations of the earth to receive their blessing. The leaves of the trees that grow beside the river of God are for their healing. God has wiped away every tear. God has done away with every evil. There is no more crying or suffering or pain. God has made good on His promise. The Alpha has issued the final “Omega.” What was once broken is now whole. What was once ruined has now been restored. The incomplete has been brought to completion. It is truly finished. All things are made new. 

The delay of the “parousia” or 2nd coming of Jesus has plagued Christians for centuries. Why does Jesus not return? What is He waiting for? Many Christians have believed He was coming back in their lifetimes. As they looked around at the evil and suffering in their world, they could not imagine things getting worse. Many believed they were seeing the four horsemen of Revelation storming all over the earth bringing war, disease, famine, and death. Such has been the lot of humanity since Cain first slew Abel all those years ago. The Apostles were no different. John, Paul, Peter, along with most of the Christians of the first century, believed Jesus was returning in their lifetimes. It colors some of the advice they gave to local churches. Scholars suggest you can even see Paul grappling with this delay, especially in his correspondence with the Corinthians and Thessalonians. 

Why hasn’t Jesus returned? Our atheist friends suggest it’s because God doesn’t exist. The “Father” Jesus so faithfully believed in is a myth. Jesus, as good as He was, made a mistake. Others suggest it’s because the work of the church isn’t finished. The Great Commission has yet to come to completion. We haven’t preached the gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation so everyone hasn’t yet had a chance to hear the good news. Still others believe it’s because the events of Revelation haven’t yet come to pass. The anti-Christ has yet to be revealed and as bad as things may be, they will get much, much worse before the end. To be honest, I have no idea why Jesus hasn’t returned and can only assume it’s because His plans for this world have yet to reach their fulfillment. Time doesn’t pass for God like it does for us. While we are stuck in “chronological” time. Time as it ticks by. God exists in “Kairos” time. Time outside of time. Special time. Anointed time. The appropriate time. And only God knows where we stand according to His eternal clock.  

What we can know is that Jesus promised He would come. No less than three separate times, He affirms this to John in the last chapter of Revelation.  

• "And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." (Rev. 22:7)

• "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Rev. 22:12-13)

• He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." (Rev. 22:20)

And what should our response be? To come to Jesus. “The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation‬ ‭22:17‬) Don’t miss this! The movement goes both ways. God comes to us, we come to Him. God returns to us, we return to Him. God draws near to us, we draw near to Him. This is the pattern God has set since the first chapters of Genesis and it repeats itself here at the end of Revelation. This is God’s great desire. It is the primary message He’s been preaching through the entire Bible. It is the Word He longs for us to hear and receive and respond to by faith. So trust Him, friends! Accept His invitation! Believe in His name and receive the salvation He offers you by grace! 

Readings for tomorrow: None

Blaming God

Readings for today: Revelation 14-18

I know a young man who grew up in our church family who has become an atheist. He and I dialogue from time to time about all that is wrong in the world. He simply cannot bring himself to believe in a good and all-powerful God when there is so much evil and suffering and heartache and pain. I have to admit I sympathize with him. I’ve seen man’s inhumanity to man firsthand. I’ve been to refugee camps and seen victims of attempted genocide. I’ve spent time with those dying of starvation or drought or famine. I’ve prayed with good friends who’ve been attacked and beaten and threatened for their faith. So I can understand where this young man is coming from. At the same time, I’ve challenged him as well. What if the problem isn’t God but us? What if the issue is the person looking back at us in the mirror? After all, my young friend does very little - by his own admission - to alleviate suffering. He does very little to help those in need. He gives no money. He gives no time. He takes no personal responsibility and this, I believe, is the root of our problems.

When God created the heavens and the earth, He created humanity in His own image. He gave us authority and dominion over all He had made. He entrusted His creation into our hands. He set us up as stewards and through our work the earth would flourish and thrive. He also gave us agency and free will. He didn’t want a slave, He wanted a partner. He wanted someone who would care about creation as much as He does. Tragically, we rejected our partnership with God and went our own way. We wanted creation for ourselves and what have we done with it? Exploited it. Abused it. Even raped it at times. We see creation as an expendable resource to satisfy our selfishness and greed. The result is pain. Suffering. Heartbreak. Human beings have an insatiable appetite so those who have much seek more and refuse to share with others. The result is a disproportionate allocation of resources. Some have more than they need while others do not have enough to survive. And rather than try to rectify this situation, we tend to double down. Might makes right. The rich get richer while the poor get poorer. It’s survival of the fittest on a global scale.

Is it any wonder the Book of Revelation spends so much time talking about God’s judgment? God will not be mocked. He will not let injustice and oppression and sin and evil have the last word. There is coming a day when the seven bowls will be poured out on the earth and the key question for us is this…will we repent? Or will we be like those in Revelation 16 who curse God instead? Will we humble ourselves before the Lord and submit to His sovereign will or will we be like the kings of the earth who march on Jerusalem and the Lamb? Will we repent of the many ways we have contributed to the evils of the world and the sufferings of those around us either by our action or non-action or will we continue to blame God as my young friend does? These are the questions God’s Word confronts us with today as we finish our Bible reading for the year. They are great to reflect on as we consider the kinds of changes God is calling us to in 2023.

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 19-22

Symbolism

Readings for today: Revelation 11-13

Today’s reading is filled with all kinds of symbolism. Symbolic numbers. Symbolic figures. Fantastic visions of beasts and dragons with multiple horns and heads. It’s like an installment of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The symbolism is notoriously difficult to decipher. Literally thousands of books have been written over the centuries as Christians attempted to make sense of what the Apostle John is trying to communicate here. Some attempt to take John more literally. They believe there will be two witnesses in Jerusalem who will be killed and then resurrected. They believe the beast is a real person as is the second beast called to prophesy on behalf of the first beast. They have spent all kinds of time trying to tie the number 666 to a specific person whether it be Nero, the pope, Hitler, or some future Anti-Christ who will emerge in the future. Others believe John is speaking more metaphorically. They believe he is describing the persecution of the church using language that can pass the Roman censors who would carefully monitor his communications from his prison on Patmos. They use the Old Testament as a cipher of sorts to make sense of what John writes.

Full disclosure, I tend towards the latter view. It makes the most sense to me. John is living in prison. The early church is facing fairly significant and widespread persecution. He’s already seen so many of his friends martyred. Indeed, he is the last of the disciples to survive. The churches he references in the first few chapters of this book are clearly under duress. They face all kinds of oppression, persecution, and violence. They are struggling internally with divisions. It’s not an easy time to preach the gospel and the future of the Jesus movement looks dicey at best. As a Jew, John has mastered the Old Testament. He knows it backwards and forwards. It was the only “Scripture” he had at the time as there would be no New Testament for about a hundred years. (Collections of what would become the New Testament started circulating in the 2nd century.) So he draws on the imagery of the Old Testament as he writes knowing his Christian friends all had access to it.

If one takes this position, several things become more clear. 1,260 days or 42 months or 3.5 years (all the same by the way because every month numbered 30 days in the ancient world) refer symbolically to the present age of the church. The age between the first and second comings of Christ where she will undergo great persecution as she preaches the gospel to the world. The two olive trees are a reference to Zerubbabel and Joshua from Zechariah 4 and signify faithful witness as do the two lampstands which are a reference back to the churches in Rev. 1:20. John is encouraging his friends to bear witness even to the point of death and trust the Lord to raise them back up again as He has promised. The woman who gives birth to the Messiah is faithful Israel. She who has been pursued by the devil since the Garden. Satan has been given authority to make war on the saints, much like he was given authority to afflict Job, but it will only be for a time. There have been many beasts throughout history who have promoted blasphemy and idolatry. In John’s day, it would have been the emperors of Rome who demanded to be worshipped. To take their mark was to betray the faith. To not take their mark was to become subject to all kinds of persecution. Thus the call for the “endurance and faith of the saints.” (Rev. 13:10b) The number 666 probably doesn’t refer to a particular person but rather the fulfillment of sin. The number six throughout the Book of Revelation refers to God’s judgment on sin just as the number seven refers to God’s victory over sin. The number six is seen as the number of “incompletion” or “imperfection” and the number seven is seen as the number of “completion” or “perfection.” The triple mention of the number six is an adaptation from the Old Testament where the triple mention of anything signified ultimate importance. “Holy, holy, holy” for example. Not only that but when John says “it is the number of a man”, he is most likely referring to general humanity. The Greek word is anthropos and when used without the definite article - as it is in Rev. 13:18 - it most often is a general reference to humankind not a particular person.

I realize that’s a lot to take in so what difference does it all make? Here’s where it’s important not to miss John’s major point. Christ wins. Despite the devil’s best efforts, he cannot catch up to the woman. He cannot devour the child. He cannot overcome the Lamb. When God blows the seventh trumpet, “The kingdoms of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 11:15) On that great day, all of faithful Israel and all the faithful saints of the church - symbolized by the twenty-four elders - will fall on their faces in worship before the Lord and give thanks to God for “destroying the destroyers of the earth.” (Rev. 11:18)

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 14-18

How Long?

Readings for today: Revelation 6-10

I often meet Christians who believe the Lord is coming back in their lifetime. They look at the world around us and see the evidence of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The white horse gallops through places like Ukraine where Russia seeks to conquer her former republic. The red horse rides through places like Somalia and South Sudan and Yemen where terrorist groups disrupt peace with violence. The black horse visits nations afflicted by famine due to natural disasters, locust plagues, climate change, and other calamities. And the pale horse eventually comes for us all, bringing not only famine but disease with him. Of course, these four horses don’t just ride in other parts of the globe. They are very present here at home as well. The conflict between political parties and extremist groups is real. The violence in cities like Chicago or on the southern border cannot be ignored. The plight of those living in food deserts in communities all over our country or those who struggle to find sustainable housing is heartbreaking. And the death of those we love due to tragedy, diseases like cancer or COVID, or some other event that robs those we love of life is more common than we want to admit.

This is why we cry out with the saints who have gone before us, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Rev. 6:10) I imagine Christians throughout history and around the globe today join us in that same cry. Can you imagine, for example, what it must have felt like to live in Europe during the Black Plague when 1/3 of the population died? Imagine living in the Holy Land when the Crusaders arrived or in Spain under the Inquisition? Imagine what it must have felt like to live under Stalin’s purges or the regimes of Pol Pot or Mao Zedong where millions lost their lives? Imagine what it must have felt like to live in the death camps in Nazi Germany or to be Tutsi in Rwanda during the genocide? I don’t share these examples to diminish the very real pain and suffering so many of us face on a daily basis but simply to help us gain some perspective on the delay of the parousia or the Lord’s return.

God has a plan. He is never early. He is never late. He arrives precisely on time. He sees all the evil that is taking place on the earth and He will one day come to judge the living and the dead. No crime will go unpunished. No wrong will fail to be made right. No injustice will be allowed to stand. No sin will go unaddressed. Those who bear His seal will be saved and will represent a multitude from every tribe, tongue, and nation on the earth. But until that day comes, life on earth will not be easy. We will experience trial and tribulation. But we can take heart for if we persevere in faith, we will receive a white robe, washed in the blood of Jesus Himself. We will find ourselves standing before the throne of God, serving Him day and night. We will hunger no more neither will we thirst. God will wipe away every tear and take away every sadness and make all things new. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus! Come quickly!

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 11-13