 You are about to embark on an adventure with the Word Nerd! We are going to learn a couple Hebrew and Greek words from the Bible. It will be painless, I promise. Here is the cheat sheet for today’s lesson:  These words aren’t just ancient vocabulary — they explain why we don't have to live in constant guilt. I hope you brought a water bottle and some manna to snack on, because our Word Nerd trip starts in a portable tent in the desert. We are entering sacred ground as we peer into the innermost section of the tabernacle. Behind a thick curtain, in the Holy of Holies, was the Ark of the Covenant. If we could look inside the Ark, we would see stone tablets with the Law, bread that never got moldy, and a perpetually blooming tree branch. But today we are going to talk about what is above the Ark. Our Hebrew word -- kapporeth - was the cover of the Ark, with two large golden cherubim (angels) attached to it. This wasn’t just a fancy top for a fancy box. In Exodus 25:22, Yahweh says that he will meet with Moses above the mercy seat. This meeting place represented God’s presence with his people. The sovereign, omnipotent God is not an impersonal, distant deity. But there is a problem. How can a perfect, holy God meet with sinful, rebellious people? (You know, the same people who worshipped a golden calf and had a big party while Moses was on the mountain?) The answer to that question is found at the next stop on the tour. Jump back on the camel with me so we can head to Leviticus 16. Here, Yahweh tells Moses that only the high priest can enter behind the curtain of the Holy of Holies. And only once a year. Oh, and only if he came with a sin offering and a burnt offering. But there’s more. He has to wear specific garments, create a cloud of incense, and sprinkle blood on the atonement cover (mercy seat) -- not once, but seven times. Whew, that’s a lot to remember! Their sin separated them from God, but God provided a way so that their sin would be covered. Because of the sacrificial blood that was sprinkled on the mercy seat, God showed favor to those who deserved only punishment and death for their sin. The atonement covered the people’s guilt. Mercy is God’s undeserved favor. This is what happened at the kapporeth — the mercy seat. And so the problem was solved. Well, until they sinned again. And the guilt returned. They needed a sacrifice that would not have to be repeated. To discover how that became possible, we are going to take our camels and travel to the New Testament. Since Duolingo hadn’t been invented yet, the author of Hebrews will help us with our Greek language lesson. In Hebrews 9, the author talks about the tabernacle and the Holy of Holies— using the word “hilasterion” in verse 5 (translated as “mercy seat” in the ESV). Then he explains that these items and rituals pointed forward to a far better reality. It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper. They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform. But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God! The blood that was sprinkled on the mercy seat — daily, monthly, yearly — was a temporary fix for the separation between God and man. But they couldn’t “perfect our conscience”. People need a permanent heart change. The animal sacrifices couldn’t do that. Jesus’ sacrifice was the plan all along. Jesus was the sin offering. The one for all time. There is one more time that the word “hilasterion” is used in the New Testament. Most translations use the English words “propitiation” or “atonement” for the Greek word “hilasterion”. But we will look at the CSB to appreciate the full connection with the “kapporeth” of the Old Testament. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. Look closely. Did you see it? Jesus IS the mercy seat. God presented him. God wanted to be with his people. And so he offered his Son as the final sacrifice for sin. God the Father sent the Son to shed his blood for us. Stop and read those words from Romans 3:25 again. Slowly. And worship. We have been cleansed and perfected. When Yahweh sees us, he sees Jesus’ righteousness. When God gave us the faith to believe, our hearts were changed. Permanently. We still struggle with sin and doubt at times, but we don’t have to perform elaborate rituals or go through a religious leader to have our guilt removed. The things you think you have to do to keep the overwhelming guilt at bay? Replace them with meditation on Hebrews 9. When you remember that awful thing you said (or thought) — go to Christ. Each time you become aware of a sinful or selfish desire — remember what Christ did. Our redemption has been secured. We can rest in the assurance of what He has done for us. Our feelings may cause us to doubt at times. But Scripture is clear. If you trust in Jesus as your mercy seat, your guilt is gone.
0 Comments
 In the dark
Eyes wide open Everyone else sleeping Pain unending Fatigue beyond description But rest fails me Tried the pills Counted the sheep Imagined the positive Look to my savior Sink into His arms Trust His ways Accept His comfort Beg for His mercy Cry, scream, toss, pace Where’s the rest? How can I make it through the night? How will I face tomorrow? Does it bring exhaustion? How much pain to endure? Draw upon His strength Cradled in His wings He won’t forsake me My burden is His His love sustains me I cannot bear it No more tears left They don’t understand The hours drag The minutes stretch Yet promise abounds This life is not forever This is my hope Transformed body Pain gone forever Sabbath rest eternal Shalom uninterrupted Shining streets Crystal waters Praises eternal Victorious King Scripture for Meditation: Psalm 6:6-9 Psalm 34:17-19 Psalm 42:1-5 Isaiah 40:28-31 Matthew 11:28-30 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Romans 8:18-25 Revelation 21:1-4 Also see: In the Middle of Suffering  Why does the book of Job make us wait so long before we hear God speak?
We read chapter after chapter of speeches from Job’s friends. The “miserable comforters” repeat their talking points to Job with little compassion and abundant arrogance. Their advice is unhelpful and much of their theology is misguided. And still, they keep talking. Even Job’s speeches can be confusing. And long. And repetitive at times. Seriously, how many different ways does Job say he wishes he had never been born? We find ourselves wanting to skip to the last few chapters when Job finally hears from God. We also wish we could fast forward through our suffering. God could send us an email to tell us what he wants us to learn. Then we would understand why we are suffering. We could do something to fix it, memorize a few key verses, and go back to living our blessed lives. Except — that is exactly what Job’s friends were telling him to do. Job endured his friends' dubious counsel for many days and nights. Abraham looked for the promised heir for decades. The Israelites waited more than 400 years between the last words from a prophet and the birth of Jesus. And here we are — waiting in the delay between Jesus’ ascension and his return. A terminal diagnosis. Wading through broken relationships. Facing another expensive repair bill. We know this isn’t the way things are supposed to be. Because of Adam and Eve’s rebellion, we all experience suffering. We know that some day there will be an end to the brokenness. And yet, as we wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled, the suffering lingers. The delay is the lesson. Job needed to wrestle with his questions, his confusion, his pain, and his friends. There was purpose in the process. He needed the waiting. And we do too. The question is: How are we waiting? We can learn from Job as we see how he endured the accusations of his friends and the agony of God’s silence. He lamented, turned to God, and desperately clung to hope. Job took time to lament. He did not brush the ashes off his sackcloth, pull himself up by his sandal straps, and say, “Oh well, time to move on.” With undisguised anguish, he asked questions. Job voiced his doubts and his deepest emotions. Our omniscient God already knows what we are thinking and feeling, so there is no need to cover or deny what is in our hearts. Maybe we are longing for a relationship that hasn’t started yet. Or we are mourning the loss of the memories we didn’t get to make with someone who has died. We can grieve with raw honesty. God gave us emotions — he doesn’t expect us to be unfeeling stoics that present a strong facade. Lament brings our pain to God while we continue to trust and wait. Job knew God is sovereign and has control over all that had happened. There were times when he felt as though God was distant and didn’t care what was happening to him. But Job’s words also showed that he knew God isn’t an impersonal dictator (contrary to his friends’ theological talking points). Job never asked for his wealth to be restored, or for his children to be brought back to life. But he continually expressed his desire to experience the intimacy and friendship he had once enjoyed with God. Suffering can distort our perspective by making us feel as though God is far away or has abandoned us. As we wait, we wonder if God has forgotten his promises to bless us. It seems like our prayers for unsaved friends and family bounce back to us unheard. We feel like we can’t face another day of unrelenting pain. Rather than allowing our feelings to pull us away from God, we can use these feelings to push us toward God. We know that as believers, we have the constant presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We can pray honestly and admit that God feels distant while we cling to the certain knowledge that he is near. God is here, even in the darkness of waiting. Another lesson we learn from Job’s waiting is hope. Job didn’t know about Jesus, the cross, or the resurrection. And yet, in the midst of his lament and pleading for closeness with God, we see glimpses of hope. Job knows God wouldn’t leave him to suffer meaninglessly. He grasps at the thought that there must be something beyond his current circumstances and the looming prospect of the grave. But we know that Job’s hope wasn’t just wishful thinking. We cling to a certain hope. Our hope is so sure, so settled, that it is as if it has already happened! We know that when Christ returns, there will be no more pain, sickness, broken relationships, or suffering. We know that death has lost its sting and we will live forever in resurrected, glorified bodies. We can wait expectantly for that day! The long chapters of Job teach us how to wait. The next time you read through the book of Job, read all the speeches. Prayerfully and expectantly look for the lessons that Job learned in his waiting. Linger on the God-breathed words to learn how you can suffer well in the waiting. Discover for yourself the hope that shines through the lament and questions. Other places in Scripture also show us that we are not alone in our suffering. Almost 40% of the Psalms are laments in response to suffering. Joseph and Daniel were captives in a foreign land. Hannah and Ruth faced difficult circumstances. But only one person was a truly innocent sufferer who endured perfectly. The Son of Man. The God who is near became flesh and lived among us. He suffered with us — and for us (1 Peter 2:21-24). Jesus is that hope that Job was looking for. Jesus is our hope also. In Him, our waiting is not wasted. Also see: Psalm 34: Trusting While Waiting Dear Chronic Condition  It was a lifetime ago, and yet it feels like yesterday. After a year of intermittent fevers, headaches, and dizziness, a CAT scan revealed that our ten-year-old son had a brain cyst. Because it was putting pressure on his brain, surgery was necessary. But first we had to wait for an ear infection to clear. After a week, the infection cleared up. We signed a paper giving a surgeon consent to drill a hole in our son’s skull—and then we waited for the doctor to tell us the surgery was finished. As I look back on those long hours of waiting, it is something I would never wish to go through again. But there is one thing I never want to forget. Each time I felt like I was going to fall apart, verses from Scripture would come to mind. My thoughts were scattered and foggy due to lack of sleep, but Scripture gave me something to focus on. God’s words provided comfort, strength, and hope. Time and time again, I would return to the words from Psalm 34. Psalm 34 became my anchor during those long hours of waiting. Psalm 34:1 – I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. At first, these words may seem confusing. How can we genuinely bless him during difficult times? Despite the circumstances, Yahweh is worthy of blessing, and we have many reasons to praise him. God often provides people who come alongside us to help. Like the psalmist, together we can exalt his name. Psalm 34:4 – I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. When fears threaten to overwhelm us, we can cry out to him. The pain and fear may remain, but they do not have the final word—Yahweh is always sustaining and surrounding us. Psalm 34:9 – Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! God does what is best for his children. He gave his own Son to provide for our greatest need. The love that compelled him to save us also provides for our daily needs. We can trust him and run to him for refuge—and in his care, we lack nothing that we truly need. Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. In the moments when we feel like we are going to fall apart, we turn to him. We can be comforted by the assurance that he is near and that he hears our prayers. We don’t have to rely on our own strength—his constant presence will strengthen us. Psalm 34:19-20 – Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. These words may seem confusing at first. Whereas the psalmist previously spoke about a group, here he points to one specific person. These words were quoted in the Gospels about Jesus’ crucifixion. God understands our suffering because his Son suffered. Psalm 34:22 – The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. We can cling to these words! While there are trials and suffering here and now, our lives will be redeemed. Regardless of the outcome of our present trial, our troubles in this life are brief compared to the eternal glory that we will soon enter. Our refuge is not in this broken world, but in him who has given us a certain hope. Each time I meditated on the words of this psalm, they reminded me where I can find lasting hope and comfort. After all the waiting, the doctor told us the surgery had gone well. Our son recovered quickly, and the symptoms he had endured for a year were resolved. None of the fears I had imagined became a reality. I am grateful for how God’s Word sustained me and helped me trust Him with the outcome. “I sought Yahweh and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” — Psalm 34:4 Also see: In the Middle of Suffering Dear Chronic Condition  “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.”
John Piper Where are you right now? Are you discouraged and disillusioned, unsure how your current season in life matters? Your current job may seem tedious and unimportant. You are weary of changing diapers and playing Candy Land 12 times a day. Your marriage seems more like a business partnership than a reflection of the union of Christ and the church. The house is quiet, no longer filled with the ever present chaos and clutter of raising children. Your friendships feel disconnected because daily life seems to interfere with deep fellowship. You wonder if what you are doing matters. When I was studying to be a Spanish teacher, I had to take Spanish and Latin American literature classes in college, starting as far back as the Spanish mystics and El Cid (think of it as reading Shakespearean style literature - but in a foreign language). I didn’t understand how reading those archaic texts would help me teach teenagers how to say “The big house is green” in Spanish. I thought about switching to a different major a few (dozen) times in the first year! I plodded through a few hundred pages of Spanish literature per week, learning vocabulary I didn’t think I would ever use again. I did persevere, thanks to my family’s encouragement and fellow Spanish majors who helped me. (Remember, Google translate didn’t exist in the early ‘90s - so my friends and my five-inch-thick Spanish-English dictionary were my lifelines). Then I started teaching. I soon began to doubt that I was an effective ambassador for the marvels of Hispanic culture and language. I don’t have a peppy, high energy personality. I struggled to make connections with my students because I am not the teacher that students are drawn to share their struggles with or come to for advice. To be sure, providing for my family is enough of an incentive to continue working, but I couldn’t see a bigger purpose behind what I was doing. But God. From the time my husband and I were married, we have been members of a solid gospel-centered church. We have had the privilege of participating in almost three decades of sermons, Sunday school classes, and small groups led by faithful teachers and pastors. Through these opportunities, I started seeing that the many hours I spent reading and discussing Spanish literature had prepared me to read and study the Bible as a richly interconnected piece of literature with overarching themes, symbols, and a purposeful message. I started to apply the grammatical and linguistic skills I had mastered in Spanish to better understand the Bible by studying Hebrew and Greek. Through thousands of pages of Spanish literature I had built a foundation that would help me learn from Scripture. Not only did I start to see how learning Spanish language and literature helped shape me as a student of the Bible, but the years of daily lesson planning and interacting with my students were preparing me for an unexpected ministry. A friend at church recommended a couple of books for me to read about biblical counseling. My first reaction was “No way. I can’t be a counselor. I am not a touchy-feely, warm-and-fuzzy type of gal. I can’t counsel and help people who are struggling.” I also had a list of other reasons why counseling was not the ministry for me. But God. After reading the book “Competent to Counsel” by Jay Adams, all my reasons not to be a counselor were effectively dismantled and I registered for the first phase of training with the Association of Certified Bible Counselors (ACBC). Since finishing the certification, I have had the privilege of walking alongside individuals as they struggle and grow in sanctification. Three decades of writing lesson plans for Spanish class prepared me to develop agendas for sessions with counselees. The hours of finding and creating homework to help students learn Spanish gave me the resources to create short Bible studies and action steps for counselees to grow more in Christlikeness. All the times that I had to adjust my plans and change an activity on the go during a Spanish class to accommodate the needs of the students gave me the patience and flexibility I need for working with counselees. But God. Sarah doubted that she would be a mother. Moses spent four decades shepherding stubborn sheep in the wilderness. David spent years running from the king he had faithfully served. Anna lost her husband and spent years praying and fasting in the temple. The woman in Luke 8 was an outcast for 12 years because of her issue of blood. They waited, struggled, doubted. But God used those trials in powerful ways. We can’t always see in the moment how God is working in our life. It may take many years before we can look back and see how his providence allowed us to learn something or give us experience that can be applied to another area of life. Maybe what you are doing right now is preparing you to be involved in a ministry. Or maybe the lessons you are learning in the doldrums of daily life can be used to encourage and exhort others. Although it may be difficult to perceive God’s work in our life, we can be sure that he is always working. God often works in ways that we don’t understand or expect. We may doubt that our present circumstances are worthwhile, but we can know for certain that his sovereign purpose will be accomplished through our lives. We need to keep our eyes focused on the One who gives us purpose and will work all things for his glory and our good. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Ephesians 3:20-21  “As you follow the Lord Jesus, may you be one who sets your face to finish the course the Father has set before you. May God bless you in the afternoon of your life and make you a faithful follower of Jesus.” Christopher Ash, Not Old, Not Young, Not Done Here I am, in that lovely stage of life referred to as “perimenopause” which may last from 2 to 67 years. (Yes, I pronounced that as six-seeeven when I typed it -- I am a middle school teacher, after all). Our kids have left the nest, I am counting the days (and seconds) until retirement, and I am trying to age semi-gracefully. So when I spotted Christopher Ash’s book “Not Old, Not Young, Not Done: Following Jesus in Your 50s and 60s”, it only took me 6-7 seconds to decide to add it to my TBR list. After a couple of hot flashes, I quickly decided to upgrade the book from my ever-growing TBR list to the MRN (must read now) list. Within a few chapters, it had me nodding and thinking, this should go on my RAS (read again soon) list. I found myself wishing that this book had been published twenty years ago so that I could have been more prepared when the hormone roller coaster started. The “Menopause” appendix by Sarah Allen was itself worth the price of the book. (And yes, now her book Pause is on my TBR list.) With that said, don’t overlook this book if you are in your 40s, or 30s, or even 20s. It is never too soon to think about how we can follow Jesus faithfully in any stage of life. Ash’s book has a redemptive focus for every aspect of aging. Yes, we are going to lose muscle. Our reaction times will slow (oh good, now I have a legitimate excuse for being clumsy and uncoordinated). Our bodies will deteriorate (spoiler alert) and our minds are not exempt, either. Our frustration over these changes is because these things are not supposed to be normal. The creaky joints and leaky bladders are a reminder of the weight of sin. But as believers we know that this weight is light compared to the weight of glory that is coming (2 Corinthians 4:17). As I dove into this book, I kept thinking of people from our church—walking, talking examples of everything Ash was describing! I met regularly with a woman who, even before retirement was on the horizon, would talk about the plans that she and her husband had for serving after retirement. Ash encourages us to establish Titus 2 relationships — both with older believers who can help us and younger believers that we can mentor. These encouragements challenged me to reexamine how much time I spend filling my TBR list—and how little time I invest in relationships. Our bodies may be sagging and our minds may be lagging, but Ash gently reminds us that we can’t use those as an excuse to slack off in consistent godly habits. Reading our Bible, praying, and serving others can keep our hearts focused on an eternal perspective. Ash also warns us of the temptation to think that aging means we have earned the right to be grumpy or selfish. This made me pause — I can’t use second puberty as an excuse to treat others poorly. It is so easy to be blind to my faults and motives. These are reminders that I need to rely on Christ and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in my life. So, even as I struggle to make it through another day when I am mad at the world or feel like crying for no reason — his strength is evident in my weakness. From this book I learned that there is no retirement from growth in grace and sanctification. I can find ways to intentionally and diligently glorify God and serve others. I can even find joy amidst the rollercoaster of menopause and ever-changing middle school lingo. Because my identity is rooted in Christ, I am not defined by my physical and mental limitations. Because I am anchored by the hope found in his Word, I can do more than just survive —I can thrive. The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalm 92:12-15 (ESV)  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:1-4 What did you notice when you read the text of Ephesians 6:1-4? The command to children: “honor your father and mother” and the command to parents: “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” probably stood out. But what about the command to parents that Paul gives before he says “bring them up”? He gives a negative command even before the positive command. But the negative part of this verse is sometimes overlooked. It is easy for us to see the “specks” in our children’s eyes when we are training them, but we may miss the “beams” in our own eyes (Matthew 7:3-5). As we examine our “beams” through the lens of Scripture, we can begin to understand how we may unintentionally provoke our children to anger. Our lack of discipline, our words, our quick reactions, and our busy schedules may be hindering our efforts to bring up our children in the Lord. Proverbs 22:15 explains that discipline helps a child see the foolishness of his actions. Consequences and instruction are a crucial part of bringing up our children in the Lord. So as we consider what it means to provoke our children to anger, it’s important to clarify that this doesn’t mean that we should never deny our children something they want or avoid doing something they won’t like. As Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:29-32, our words should be gracious and kind. We should strive to speak encouraging and uplifting words whenever possible. Do we only quote Scripture when our children have been disobedient or disrespectful? And when we reprimand them, do we also demonstrate forgiveness when they have shown a desire to change? Frequent reminders of the gospel, grace, and forgiveness are crucial aspects of parenting — for ourselves and for our children! In addition to careful consideration of our words, it is also helpful to understand when it would be better to refrain from speaking. Proverbs 18:13 says “If a man gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” Pausing, listening carefully, and even taking time to pray before we speak can prevent misunderstanding. Resisting the urge to instantly provide an answer shows patience and humility and reflects God’s character to our children. Our words are important, but God’s words are even more important. In Deuteronomy 6:6-8, Moses tells the Israelites that they are to have God’s words in their heart and then they need to repeat them to their children throughout their daily routines. Learning about Scripture at church isn’t enough. If we neglect to talk about his Word on a daily basis, our children will have trouble understanding that Scripture is applicable to all aspects of our lives. Taking advantage of teaching moments during the course of the day is one way to provide consistent training in the Lord. Using windows of opportunity throughout the day is one way to incorporate God’s word into the rhythms of our lives. But it is also worthwhile to examine our schedules throughout the week. Do we set aside large chunks of time just to rest together as a family at home? Or are our schedules so full that we are rushing from one event to another? All our activities — sports, church ministry, clubs, music lessons — may be enjoyable and good. But when they crowd out the priorities of time with God and family, they become distractions from what is most important. These are some of the ways we may drift into habits that can provoke our children to anger. I am reminded of all the ways that we fell short in our parenting. We reacted in anger when we should have paused and prayed. We had seasons of busyness when dinner together at the table was a rare occasion. Sometimes I failed to see all the ways our kids were changing and growing more like Christ — and only focused on what they could do better. But we also know that neither our parenting nor our children’s salvation and growth in Christlikeness is dependent on our efforts. Jesus is the only perfect son — he lived a sinless life. Then he willingly suffered the punishment that we deserve. Jesus conquered sin and death once for all and was raised. It is in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection that we have hope for our children and ourselves. The cross reminds us that we can turn to God in repentance when we realize we have done something to provoke our children to anger. And then we can turn to our children to ask for their forgiveness. We can demonstrate humility when we fail and show forgiveness and grace when our children fail. We are responsible to parent faithfully while relying on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. But in the end, what our children need most is not perfect parents, but a perfect Savior.  We sing to Yahweh
We praise the Almighty He is our God He is the warrior Who has power over the enemy Holy, Holy, Holy God has triumphed -- we respond together Like the stars at creation From bondage and darkness He has led through the sea And we give thanks with melody Our song tells the story God has saved us through judgment The enemy boasted of certain victory Yahweh shattered him with fury Our song is a witness -- Of what God has done He has guided us and redeemed us When we go astray These words bring us back to truth We sing, we pray, we cry What we know is true The world is watching Let them see the power of your arm Let them hear us singing boldly We sing for the journey ahead When the way forward is uncertain We look back to remember We know that victory is at hand We sing for those who can’t-- When the storms threaten In weakness and in doubt -- Our voices carry them to the cross Anchoring them in hope We will be together someday Singing together of deliverance A choir of peoples praising him The song of Moses and the Lamb Free from the vanquished enemy We exalt the Almighty Who has power over the nations We worship you Yahweh You and you alone Holy, Holy, Holy Scripture references: Exodus 15; Revelation 15 This piece was inspired by a sermon preached by Pastor Ken Winter (Heritage Fellowship Church, Springfield, Ohio on January 11, 2026). You can watch the full sermon here.  New Year. New resolutions. New Bible reading plan. But wait, why are we talking about New Year’s resolutions in March? Because I suspect that, for many of us, our reading plan fizzled out somewhere around February 21. Or the lists of unclean animals in Leviticus.
We all know it’s important to read Scripture regularly. So we choose a Bible reading plan and then life happens. We forget a few days and then spend extra time rushing through to catch up. Fatigue and stress hinder our efforts -- so we skim quickly, check the box, and move on with our day. We don’t feel encouraged or inspired; we wonder if it’s worth the time. Sigh. I’ve been there. My bookmark has stalled in Leviticus many times! So how do we make good on our reading resolutions? How do we read all of Scripture -- yes, even Leviticus -- regularly, thoughtfully, and productively? Maybe we need to change our perspective! We typically see Bible reading as a plan to be executed with checkboxes to mark. Instead of thinking of it as another part of our “to do” list, let’s approach Bible reading as an adventure. This adventure is a life-changing experience! As Proverbs 2:4-5 says, “If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.” Here are some ways to embark on your treasure-seeking, Bible reading adventure. Chart your treasure map. It’s great to have a goal, but expecting to finish the Bible in a year may not be realistic. If you’ve chosen a year-long plan, ignore the dates. When you miss a day, just start where you left off. Don’t try to catch up on one, two, or twelve, days all at once. If it takes 615 days instead of 365 -- you’ve still read the entire Bible. That’s reason for celebration! Adjust your compass. As long as you are ignoring the dates, rather than working through the reading plan each day, make a goal of reading 4-5 times a week. Then use the other days to spend time reading for your small group study, looking back at the sermon notes from the last week, or doing a deeper dive on a topic or passage. Widen your treasure field. Since you won’t be following the plan every day, consider reading the Bible like you would another piece of literature. Read 5-10 chapters at once. You will start to see the repeated ideas and get a better feel for the human author’s style and tone. Return to the treasure. Another way to notice themes and tone from a specific book of the Bible is to read that book repeatedly over a short period of time. Instead of quickly moving on to the next book, read it again. And maybe a third time. This is the first step in doing an in-depth study of the book! Survey your treasure. After you read, write a one sentence summary of each chapter. If you use a journaling Bible, write it at the top of the page. Or start a notebook just for chapter summaries. This is a great tool to help you remember what you read. When you start reading the next day, go back and read the summaries from the previous chapters. It will remind you of the context of what you are about to read. Chapter summaries are also a great way to create an outline of the book if you are going to do a deeper study of the book. Seek help from the treasure’s Master. Ready your heart to learn from the Word by asking for help from the Author! Matt Smethhurst encourages us to read humbly, joyfully, desperately, studiously, obediently, expectantly, communally, and Christocentrically. In his book, Before You Open Your Bible: Nine Postures for Approaching God’s Word, he explains how these heart attitudes can reenergize our Bible reading adventure. Celebrate the quest. Treasure-seeking can be exciting, but it can also be hard work. You may get lost; you may not find nuggets of wisdom. Your adventure doesn’t always end in feeling encouraged or inspired. That’s okay! Your feelings are not the indication of the effectiveness of the Word. Regardless of the immediate outcome, you can be assured that God is working in your life through his Word. Spend some time thanking Him for Scripture and how His Word will bear fruit in the days and years to come. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11 |
RSS Feed