Category: Through the Bible Devotions

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

You can count on him

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Frank OConnor on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Hebrews 10.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23).

The writer here refers to “confidence,” “full assurance,” and “without wavering.”

That would be a great place to be, wouldn’t it? Any one of those would be a good place to be, wouldn’t it?

Confidence is elusive. I probably could have done better. Full assurance would mean an absence of doubt. But who doesn’t have lots of questions? On any given day our faith can feel either strong or weak. Who doesn’t waver when the highs and lows of life hit hard?

The key to all that is in the last phrase: “He who promised is faithful” (10:23). God doesn’t change, waver, drift, waffle, yo-yo, flip-flop, or vacillate. He keeps his promises. He does what he says. His word is truth. He is trustworthy. He is the only source of confidence, assurance, and unwavering hope.

Old Faithful (pictured above) used to erupt every 60-70 minutes. Earthquakes have changed that interval to anywhere from 35 to 100 minutes. The geyser isn’t as faithful as it used to be.

My car faithfully starts up every morning. Until it doesn’t and I have to install a new battery. My AC faithfully keeps the house at a comfortable temperature. Until it doesn’t, and I have to call for service. My Amazon orders faithfully arrive within two days. Unless they don’t because of supply chain or shipping delays.

So it can be hard to grasp God’s perfect record of faithfulness. But after some investigation, he always does what he says. He fuels unique confidence, assurance, and unwavering hope.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

He’s better

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Hebrews 7-12.

So much of the book of Hebrews is about how Jesus is better. Angels are great. But Jesus is better (Hebrews 1-2). Moses was great. But Jesus is better (Hebrews 3). The list goes on and on. Because of Jesus we have

  • A better hope (7:19)
  • A better covenant (7:22)
  • Better promises (8:6)
  • Better sacrifices (9:23)
  • A better possession (10:34)
  • A better country (11:16)
  • A better life (11:35)
  • A better word (12:24)

Now why would the writer spend so much time on how much better Jesus is? Probably because they, like us, aren’t willing to give up the old.

Just a few weeks into their exodus out of slavery, Israel reminisces about how good things were in Egypt. Not even half way done rebuilding the temple, those who returned from Babylon lamented how nice the old temple was. When Jesus shows up, devout Jews insist that God’s covenant with Abraham is all they need. Paul wrote that Gentiles who believed didn’t need the old covenant customs and regulations. They only needed Christ.

It’s far to easy to retreat into good intentions. “I can do this. I can do better. I will do better.” As if Jesus weren’t enough.

But he is. His perfect life is much better than my attempts to be good. His perfect sacrifice for sin is better than any good intentions I have. His power, glory, faithfulness, justice, righteousness, and love are better than I’ll find in this world’ll find anywhere else in this world.

I need to return to the book of Hebrews often, for a refresher course in all the “betters” I have in Christ.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

What does faith look like?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Kyle Loftus on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Hebrews 10 and 11.

So what does faith look like?

I guess there as many answers as there are answer-ers. For some, faith looks like going to church. For others, it’s traveling far from home on a mission trip. Memorizing bible verses? Praying before meals? Wearing a cross necklace? Being nice. Honest. dependable. Perhaps all of the above.

But perhaps more. In Hebrews 11, faith means looking forward to everything God promised, trusting him, and doing what he says. It means not looking back, but always towards what will be.

Why do that? Because he who promised is faithful (10:23). That’s why faith looks like confidence (10:19), full assurance (10:22), and no wavering (10:23). It’s absolute certainty in God’s mercy and grace that is ours in Christ.

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 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!