My Daily Pause

Category: Fast Five

  • Why Should I Read My Bible?

    Bible slice

    Wow. Seven years.

    From the very beginning, this site was intended to be a place to encourage Bible reading and scripture memorization. For my personal growth, it has helped me to stay accountable to my Bible study routine. For those of you who read and study along with the thoughts I post here, I appreciate your comments and sharing and requests to reuse the material.

    This week is the seven year anniversary of the first post I made on this site! (March 5th) It was a simple post that took me a few hours to get just right. It simply answered the question, “Why should I read my Bible?” Since seven is thought to represent a perfect number in the Bible, I’m going to consider this a milestone year and celebrate a little.

    First, a reprint of that post:

    Why should I read my Bible?

    1. To easily detect misuse of Scripture (Matthew 4:5-7)
    2. To be ready to answer tough questions (1 Peter 3:15)
    3. It has all we need to guide us (2 Timothy 3:16)
    4. It fills our minds with good things (Philippians 4:8)
    5. To show God you care (2 Timothy 2:15)

    Second, this is the 7th anniversary, so we need two more in the list:

    6. It causes our faith to grow (Romans 10:17)
    7. It is dangerous not to mature spiritually (Hebrews 6:1-7)

    Third, encouragement:

    Read your Bibles daily.

    Study it.

    Memorize some of it, and learn where to find the rest of it.

    Eventually, it will become a real habit.

    Eventually, you will become an expert.

    Are you a daily Bible reader yet? Reply below to tell me how you do it.

  • 7 Reason Jesus Taught With Parables

    Jesus teaching in the Temple, from the book Standard Bible Story Readers, Book Five (1928) Authors O. A. Stemler and Bess Bruce Cleaveland
    Jesus teaching in the Temple, from the book Standard Bible Story Readers, Book Five (1928) Authors O. A. Stemler and Bess Bruce Cleaveland

    Those who have read the four Gospels will have noticed two things about the way Jesus taught his followers. He used miracles and parables. We can understand how the miracles worked as a teaching device, but the parables? Not so much. The disciples were very curious about this approach also, and even asked him one day. (Matthew 13:10-17)

    Unfortunately, not everyone that had the opportunity to hear Jesus speak wanted to hear it. Sounds like people today too, doesn’t it? When Jesus explained the parables, it was usually only after the disciples were taken aside. Those who truly want to hear the word, will take the time to sit down with it and work on understanding it.

    Based on what Jesus was facing in his time, here are seven reasons why he taught in parables.

    1. Prophecy Isaiah 6:9-10
    2. Confound the spies and Pharisees
    3. Challenged His disciples to greater spiritual discernment
    4. The Hebrew people were familiar with the method
    5. Easy to remember
    6. Interesting
    7. The teachings were unsuitable for use against him in court

    The next time you read from the gospels, look for the subtle differences a believer and a nonbeliever would see in those parables.

  • The 10 Resurrections in the Bible

    The Entombment of Christ - 1602–1603 - Caravaggio (1571-1610)
    The Entombment of Christ – 1602–1603 – Caravaggio (1571-1610)

    We don’t talk about the other resurrections much.

    I can’t recall ever hearing about the one recorded in Matthew 27:58 in any major context. After doing a little research, it turns out that it is a historically debated event for the last several centuries.

    I wanted to take the time to look at the other resurrections recorded in scripture today, so here they in Biblical order:

    • The Widow of Sarepta’s son – 1 Kings 17
    • The Shunamite’s son – 2 Kings 4
    • The man that touched Elijah’s bones – 2 Kings 13
    • Jairus’ daughter – Matthew 9
    • The saints in Jerusalem – Matthew 27:58
    • The widow of Nain’s son – Luke 7
    • Lazarus – John 11
    • Dorcus – Acts 9:41
    • Eutychus – Acts 20:9-10

    Obviously, none of these matter to us the same way that Christ’s resurrection does, but they do server as an excellent reminder of the God’s power.

    Bonuses

    I will file this one away as an example of God’s providence. Did you ever notice that Jesus was provided with a brand new tomb? If he had been put into a used tomb, his resurrection could have been attributed to touching the bones of a prophet like the 2 Kings 13 event.

    It’s no wonder the Centurion was convinced. It looks like the only graves that opened were of those Matthew considered saints. This is probably a good preview of how it will happen on judgment day.

    Nicodemus was there too. (John 19:39) He helped Joseph and the Marys tend to the body. Here is an official Sanhedrin member that witnessed his death. No “not really dead” theories have legs to stand on because of this.

  • Six Ways to Avoid Woe

    Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees - between 1886 and 1894 - James Tissot (1836–1902)
    Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees – between 1886 and 1894 – James Tissot (1836–1902)

    The Jews missed a great opportunity. They overlooked the signs (or just ignored them) that the Messiah was present among them. How did that happen?

    I’m not sure what the crowd’s reaction was at the time, but I have always gotten a good chuckle when Jesus summed it up for them:

    You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! – Matthew 23:24

    All things considered, we live in a great spot on God’s timeline. We have more resources to read, study, and analyze God’s word than ever before. We should realize though, we are not insulated from making the same mistakes the Jews made. Jesus gave us a great outline of what they did wrong in Matthew 23, where he continues his harshest language directed at the Jews. If we are to avoid being in the same situation, we should consider the things he told them:

    • Your example can both save or hinder others (Matthew 23:13)
    • Convert others to God’s word, not a man’s opinion (Matthew 23:15)
    • Become known as one whose promise is always binding (Matthew 23:16-22)
    • Concern yourself with important matters, not trifles (Matthew 23:23-24)
    • Outward appearances are less important than what we do and what we think (Matthew 23:25-26 and Matthew 23:27-28)
    • Honor the truth over tradition (Matthew 23:30-31)

    What are some ways we can use these things to improve personally, in our families and in our churches?

  • When Jesus Returns

    Comparing John 14, Acts 1:11; 3:21; 2 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and others, we can get a sense of Christ’s return from heaven’s perspective.

    Peter's Denial - 1660 - Rembrandt (1606–1669)
    Peter’s Denial – 1660 – Rembrandt (1606–1669)

    Things Christ will do when he returns:

    • He will raise the dead to life (John 5:24-29)
    • He will proceed with the judgment (John 5:24-29; Matthew 25:31-36)
    • He will destroy the wicked and reward the righteous (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)
    • He will give the crown of life to the faithful (2 Timothy 4:7,8)
    • He will stop reigning, delivering up the kingdom to God (1 Corinthians 15:28).

    Things Christ will not do:

    • He will not offer himself a second time for the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:26-28)
    • He will not restore any phase of fleshly or national Israel (Race is nothing with God – Galatians 3:27)
    • He will not set up a kingdom (He’s already done that, the church is his kingdom)
    • He will not extend a second chance for unbelievers to repent (Hebrews 9:27)

    Things Christ is doing at this moment:

    • He is reigning until all of his enemies have been put under foot (1 Corinthians 15:25f)
    • He is interceding for the redeemed (Hebrews 7:25)
    • He is administering all authority in heaven and upon earth (Matthew 28:18-20)
    • He is providentially overseeing the fortunes of his church on earth (Matthew 28:19,20)
    • He is preparing a home for the faithful (John 14:3)

    Daily Bible reading for November 22

    Psalm 113
    2 Kings 21
    Isaiah 11-12
    John 14

  • Prepare For Worship

    As we prepare for worship today, let us really prepare.

    Before Worship

    As you are getting ready, be deliberate about the setting yourself up to be in a positive mood.

    • Stretch or exercise lightly
    • Eat something
    • Dress well
    • Sing some hymns – just the parts you know by heart

    These are all things that set you up to have a great day, every day. They also show your intention of worshiping God rather than that you just barely made it.

    During Worship

    When you get to worship, make sure you are fully involved. Put away the world for a couple of hours. A complete worship should look something like:

    • Bible class – listen, participate, ask questions. The teacher spent a lot of time preparing for you.
    • Singing – bring your heart to this part of the worship, it is your instrument (Ephesians 5:19)
    • Praying – listen to every word as they are offered up to God. Prayer is powerful (James 5:16)
    • Communion – contemplate the love of God shown through the gift of his Son. (John 3:16)
    • Giving – You should have already planned the portion of you earnings you will return to the Lord (1 Corinthians 16:2)
    • Sermon – Again, someone spent a lot of time preparing. Takes notes. Write good points in the margin of your Bible. Try to understand.

    Part of worshiping in spirit and in truth is actually being there in your whole heart, mind and body. (John 4:24) Start today looking for ways to improve that.