Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Sometimes he displays his grace through you

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Simon Ray on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Titus 2 and 3.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11,12).

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:1,2).

From some past bible class, I wrote two things in the margins of Titus in my bible: “The gospel must prove itself in the public square” and “Churches are agents of transformation in culture.”

Does the gospel make a difference? We know it does. It changes everything. Our justification by grace through faith in Christ covers our past with forgiveness and assures us of eternal life in the future.

But what about today? Does the gospel make a difference today?

A little kindness makes a big difference. It doesn’t just make life more pleasant. It makes grace real.

Grace isn’t just an idea. It has a pulse. It’s breathing. It’s a person. It’s Jesus. It’s his people. It’s me.

Have you ever been surprised when grace shows up in your life? Like that time when you didn’t quarrel with someone? Or when you responded gently to a comment someone made that you didn’t necessarily agree with? What about that time when you treated someone with kindness?

It happens every once in a while, doesn’t it? God displays his grace through you.

Posted in Life

“Have you seen my suitcase?”

Posted on by William Douthwaite

There’s a lot to notice in this picture I took on an evening walk with the big dog. Besides the inside of a car door, a truck full of blue metal, and a vintage mail box, I spied a suitcase underneath the SUV.

So I have a question. Will they remember the suitcase when it’s time to go to work tomorrow morning? I’ll bet they don’t. I’ll bet they back out and wonder, “What’s the scraping noise?” as they drag it down the street.

Or even before that, someone rushing to the airport will ask, “Hey, have you seen my suitcase?”

Maybe it was a joke. “Let’s slide his suitcase under the car. He’ll never look for it there.”

It could have happened by accident. The bag may have rolled down the driveway, tipped over and slid under the car. Not likely.

Tried to pack too much stuff? That’s one way to flatten it out so you can zip it shut.

Perhaps they didn’t see it when they pulled in last night. Someone just drove right over the dark suitcase on a dark night.

If the authorities are searching your house, they won’t find anything if you slid your luggage under the SUV in the driveway. Although if noticed it, I’m sure law enforcement would, too.

Or maybe they were testing the sturdiness of this suitcase. Just like the ape that threw luggage around in the old American Tourister commercial.

Next time around the block, I’ll look to see if it’s still there, out in the yard, or even down the street.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Level ground

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Lidia Nikole on Unsplash

A few “through the bible” thoughts from Philemon.

When Paul sends Philemon back to Onesimus, it is “no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother – especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord” (Philemon 16).

In the margin of my bible I had written, “The ground is level before the cross.” Faith in Christ not only changes our relationship with God, but also with other people. None is better or worse than another. We’re all in desperate need of grace. We all have a Savior who brings that grace to us, no matter who we are or who we used to be.

This is a totally different worldview, isn’t it? We constantly compare ourselves with others, looking up to some, condemning others. We don’t even know them. Not really.

One song lyric described Jesus as one who looked down on us, but never looked down on us. The former is situational. He is on the throne, ruling over all. The latter is relational. He doesn’t condemn us, but does everything he possibly can to save us.

Wouldn’t it be something if we all shared his perspective?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Plenty of contentment

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Holly Mandarich on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from 1 Timothy 6.

“If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:8).

When I read those words, my first thought is, “Yeah, right. Who does that?” Who’s content with life’s basic needs? No one I know.

What about a house? Utilities? A bed, a dresser, a lamp, and a table and chairs for the dining room? Pots and pans, dishes and cups, and utensils for the kitchen? Appliances? Curtains for the windows? Cleaning supplies? Transportation to and from your job? Glasses? A watch?

From there it’s a small step to a cell phone, wi-fi, various insurances (which someone demands you have), a termite bond, a backpack, trashcan, lightbulbs, a coffee maker, and a microwave.

I don’t think any of that is excessive. In my world, those things are required. Well, almost.

But even with all that, contentment is elusive. Everyone – yes, everyone – is working hard to steal my contentment and sell me something. From door-to-door folks to ads that accompany my Google searches, hard working sales people hawk so many things I never knew I needed! Everything I own can be upgraded to something better. Shelf lives are short, so everything must be replaced often. Who has time to be content?

Maybe Paul was writing about himself and his traveling companions. On their missionary journeys, they didn’t have to worry about homes and vehicles and everything associated with them. Indeed, all they needed was some clothing, some food, and a place to stay for the night. It’s like living out of a backpack, working odd jobs, and depending on the hospitality of others for a place to stay.

So, in this example, the less I have (just a backpack) – or see others have – the more content I am. That’s not intuitive. But it’s worth pondering.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Itching ears

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Tom Spross on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from 2 Timothy 4.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

God knew about the algorithm a long time ago.

The more time I spend on social media and shopping online, the more the internet knows about me. It will quickly and efficiently begin to show me more of what I’ve read about and shopped for. A machine will become my teacher who suits my own passions, feeds my aspirations, and sells me things I never knew I needed. My news sources will reflect my bias. When I am repeatedly told what I want to hear, truth no longer matters.

God is not surprised by any of this. He simply charges his ministers to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). God’s word reveals that he is biased. It declares that he alone is God. There is no other. He alone can save. No one else can. He alone is all-powerful, holy, loving, righteous, all-knowing, and good. Yes, God is biased. But his word is also truth.

God is also biased because he loves us more than anything. We’re the apple of his eye, his treasured possession, and his dearly loved children. All that is not just what we want to hear. It is the truth.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

A thief in the night

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Some “through the bible” thoughts from 1 Thessalonians 5.

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

Here’s another example of reading and familiar passage of scripture and discovering new insights.

It can be disconcerting to anticipate the unexpected return of Christ “like a thief in the night.” Will I be ready? What if I’m not ready? How can I be ready?

But when I keep reading, my perspective changes.

“But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day” (5:4,5).

For those in Christ, it’s not nighttime. Jesus is the light. It’s the middle of the day. That’s not when the thief comes to break in and steal. That’s when we get up and go to work. Doing what? Keep reading.

“Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all…Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances” (5:14; 16-18).

There’s plenty to do in a world that can seem very dark because it fails to see or embrace the light. Part of the good news is that we not only live in the light, but we bring light to the world. Encouragement, joy, gratitude, and grace shine much needed brightness into the lives of others. And isn’t that one of the ways Jesus unexpected comes in the night?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Words with power

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on pexels

Some “through the bible” thoughts from 1 Thessalonians 1.

“Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:5).

It’s easy to forget that the gospel is more than just words. It is the power of God to change lives, produce hope, and inspire faith. The gospel itself is very simple: Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). But that simple message speaks of profound love, unequaled power, unfailing hope, and an amazing future. It’s a simple message that has changed the lives of young and old for millennia.

I find the power of words fascinating. Words can make me burst out in laughter or well up in tears. They can create images in my mind. Strung together they tell memorable stories. Words stir some to action. They may help others calm down.

We anticipate the first word of a child. We remember the last thing a loved one said to us before their death. We’ll look through dozens of greeting cards in search of the one with just the right words. Some permanently tattoo words on their bodies. Others creatively paint words on the sides of boxcars.

I find the power of the gospel fascinating, too. It’s a story. But Jesus makes it my story. It covers my past and reassures me of the future, giving me two secure handles for today. The same God who spoke creation into existence and called the dead back to life speaks into my life with power, the Holy Spirit, and conviction.

What a blessing!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Walking Worthy: Exhortation and Growth in Faith

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Kasper Rasmussen on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from 1 Thessalonians 2.

“We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12).

How much of the Christian faith involves the involvement and encouragement of others? Much more than we realize!

We’ve known for a long time that the most successful evangelism strategy is a simple invitation. Research shows again and again that most people go to a church because someone invited them. It’s not the music, the preacher, the building, the donuts, the children’s program, or the free gift for first-time visitors. It’s the encouragement of friends or family. Of course it’s not a fool-proof strategy. Not everyone will accept the invitation. But it’s the best we’ve got.

A personal relationship with God will always connect us with others who know him, trust him, listen to him, talk about him, and worship him. Sometimes just being with other Christians influences us. It’s like seeing what someone has ordered at a restaurant and saying, “I’ll have what she’s having.” Other times it’s their exhortation and encouragement. The only reason I ever sang in a choir, taught children, wrote devotional material, served on a board of directors, or went on a mission trip is because someone asked me to do those things. I’m glad they did, because with each experience, I grew in my faith and met some great people.

When Paul wrote these words to believers in Thessalonica, he wanted them to know how much he cared about them. He wanted them to experience the kingdom and glory of God. So he exhorted, encouraged, and challenged them to “walk in a manner worthy of God.” He urged them to be the people God had created and saved them to be.

I’m thankful for the many who exhort, encourage, and challenge me, too.

Posted in weather

Baby it’s cold outside (for some of us)

Posted on by William Douthwaite

We had a taste of Florida winter this past weekend. I woke to below-freezing temperatures for the first time in a while. After rooting through my dresser for a hat and some gloves, I went out layered in a t-shirt, hoodie, and coat. Any warmth from the sun was an hour away as the big dog and I set out on our pre-dawn walk.

Most mornings we encounter a few other dog walkers. We were very alone on our neighborhood loop.

Except for one guy. One guy was out scraping a light coating of ice off a windshield. This one guy was in nothing other than boxers. No pants, no shoes, no shirt, no hat, no gloves. Just boxers. He smiled and waved as we walked by, as if it were just another balmy day in the south.

I’ll bet it hasn’t been long since he moved to Florida. Once you spend a few decades here, you break out the coat when it’s in the 50’s. Until then, you wonder why everyone is bundled up!