January 17 / Joel 1:1-2:17

Joel 1:1-2:17

Dear RTB’ers,

Joel. Locusts! It’s hard to read this passage without wincing at the devastation brought on by these insects. Many months ago we read about the locusts plague in Exodus 10:1-20 and probably smiled at the plight of the Egyptians as Pharoah was refusing Moses’ requests to let the Israelites go. But when we read about this locust plague in Joel, it’s much different. It’s like we’re reading it in present personal time instead of as a third-party observer: …gnawing locust…swarming locust…creeping locust…stripping locust… It has made my vine a waste and my fig tree a stump. It has stripped them bare and hurled them away; their branches have become white. (Joel 1:4,7, NASB)

Some scholars argue that this locust plague is metaphorical, that it actually relates to invading armies from Assyria or Babylonia, but it seems much more real to me that the Lord is judging His people, Israel: The LORD utters His voice before His army; for His camp is exceedingly great; He who executes His word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it? “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” (vv. 2:11-13)

It really struck me – what a powerful passage it is that we read today! Yet even now … rend your hearts and not your garments.

Blessings!

See also: October 2 (2023) / Joel.

January 16 / Jonah 3-4

Jonah 3-4

Dear RTB’ers,

I’m trying to imagine a real-life scenario for us. Imagine that you are working in an office. You don’t like your job, but you do your best. Then your boss gets an award for work that you’ve done – and never mentions you or your contribution. You sulk. You go back to your office and do the minimum necessary to keep your job. Then your boss’s supervisor looks at your work record and, realizing that you’ve been overlooked offers you a promotion, a move to a much better position. You’re thrilled! You’ve now got a window office and a private room. Then the CFO tells that supervisor that we cannot afford your new position and you must go back to your old office and your old job – and your original boss slides into that new position and that new office. End of story. Your reaction?

I think that I would be seriously bummed and I would be angry at my (original) boss for not honoring my work when s/he had the chance. And I would be jealous of her/him in that new office. Yeah. Not happy!

But I’m not God: And should not I pity [your boss]… who does not know their right hand from their left…? (v. 4:11, seriously edited)

Yes, these kinds of metaphors typically fail to get at the real meaning of the original story. Thankfully, God did have pity on Nineveh and does have pity on me and loves me deeply, even though I don’t know my right hand from my left…

Blessings!

See also: June 3 (2023) / Jonah.

January 15 / Jonah 1-2

Jonah 1-2

Dear RTB’ers,

Jonah! We leave Matthew for a couple of weeks while we cover six of the twelve “Minor Prophets”, Jonah being the first of these. Jonah is a story with which we are all familiar. It’s a standard in children’s Bible story books – and yes, it also has theological and historical intrigues for adults.

But getting beyond the essence of today’s reading – the basic story and Jonah’s prayer – we see something unusual in this historical context. I don’t imagine the average ancient sailor to be composed of a gentle nature, yet these sailors do what they can to rescue Jonah from his fate: Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they called out to the LORD, “O LORD, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.” (vv. 1:13-14) They first work hard to spare Jonah’s life; then when that fails they call out to the Lord – obviously a God stronger than any of the pagan gods they have known. So, a hint of compassion in these pagan Gentiles… Can it be that there is a hint of goodness in all of us, even though …all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… (Romans 3:23) and …None is righteous, no, not one…? (Romans 3:10) These sailors provide us a soft moment in an otherwise harsh story. Nice.

Blessings!

January 14 / Matthew 7:13-29

Matthew 7:13-29

Dear RTB’ers,

Much of Scripture is deeply personal for me, as it should be (ideally) for anyone reading these Spirit-inspired words. Today there are two items that touch me every time I read them.

Surprisingly, the first has a negative connotation: Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (vv. 21-23) In all my born-again years I have been very active in every church that I have attended – with finances, in leading Bible studies, and in children’s ministries. I often fear that I could say to God, “Lord, Lord, did I not…” and He could reply with “…depart from Me…” Instead I want to be … the one who does the will of my Father… So, all the more I need to seek His will, not mine.

The second item is much more positive – the wise man who built his house on the rock in Mt. 7:24-27. Those elements coming against the house reflect the strength of the roof (the rain), the foundation (the floods), and the walls (the winds). Carol and I chose these verses for the Gospel reading at our wedding. We wanted our family “house” to be built on “the rock”. And God has certainly been faithful for us these past 42+ years! Interestingly, our opening hymn at church this past Sunday was “Fairest Lord Jesus”. That hymn was also the opening song for our wedding. Memories…!!

Blessings!

See also:

January 13 / Matthew 7:1-12

Matthew 7:1-12

Dear RTB’ers,

Judging (…don’t) and asking (…do). So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (v. 12) Also known as the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Now you know where that came from (if you didn’t know already!). 😊!

Blessings!

See also:

January 12 / Matthew 6:19-34

Matthew 6:19-34

Dear RTB’ers,

Wealth and anxiety. Two separate topics? Or two topics closely tied together…? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (v. 31) It takes wealth (income) for us to buy our food and drink and clothing – and housing, possibly the most expensive today, but not mentioned by Jesus. And these basic necessities are a difficult purchase for millions of Americans – and an even greater problem for billions of people worldwide.

Money anxiety is a serious problem in the USA today. We see both spouses working just to meet the bills for life’s basic necessities. Then we see childcare so expensive that parents have a difficult time justifying both of them working. Then we have healthcare and healthcare insurance also expensive and increasingly so, a major issue in Congress today. And alongside all that we see pockets of enormous wealth. I remember a time when “millionaire” was a big term; today we talk of billionaires and their undue influence. I even saw an item recently that we have some individuals approaching trillionaire status. And people continue to go homeless and hungry.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth … but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven … For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters … You cannot serve God and money. (vv. 19-21, 24)

Blessings!

See also:

January 11 / Matthew 6:1-18

Matthew 6:1-18

Dear RTB’ers,

Giving, praying, fasting. Yesterday we saw five sets of “You have heard…But…” teachings from Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount”. Today we have three more pairings, “…they have their reward in full … But… your Father … will reward you.” (vv. 6:2,4; 5,6; 16,18) We have only a few sentences each about giving and fasting, with half of today’s verses about praying, including Jesus teaching us the “Our Father”. At the end of that prayer Jesus offers an additional emphasis on forgiveness. Interestingly, Carol and I watched a movie yesterday evening in which forgiveness was one of the main themes in the restoration of a broken relationship. A divine echo…? I’m asking myself (you might be asking yourself) whether forgiveness is something that is hindering my (your) spiritual growth. Something to think and pray about…

Blessings!

See also:

January 10 / Matthew 5:17-48

Matthew 5:17-48

Dear RTB’ers,

“…you have heard that it was said… But…” (Mt. 5:21,27,33,38,43). With each of these phrases Jesus offers a teaching that takes the Law (a commandment) to a new level, replacing the original with a higher standard reflecting a heart attitude different from a physical activity. Although Jesus has a rejoinder for each of the originals, I think that His response to the fifth of these sayings covers most any “…you have heard…” situation that we can imagine: “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Mt. 5:44). Love, not anger. Love, not lust. Love, not oath-taking. Love, not revenge. Love, not hate. Love.

Blessings!

See also:

January 8 / Matthew 4

Matthew 4

Dear RTB’ers,

Today’s reading covers Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, His “settling” in Capernaum, and His calling His first disciples. But what struck me was the few verses after these incidents: And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching … and proclaiming the gospel … and healing every disease and every affliction … and they brought Him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, and those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and He healed them. (vv. 23-24) Matthew covers in a few verses what we see in multiple chapters in Mark and Luke and what would have been a whole season in The Chosen. [NOTE: Yes, we will see much healing in later chapters, but Matthew says a lot in these few verses without going into detail.] My Study Bible noted that Matthew has a much larger focus on teaching (with a major focus on parables) than any of the other gospel writers. We will see this fully tomorrow when we begin the Sermon on the Mount, three chapters covering the next six days.

Blessings!

See also: