Tag: grace

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Is good enough good enough?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on pexels.com

Yeah, I’m still at it. Here’s another “through the bible” devotion from Job 1.

The book of Job starts like this:

“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1).

Was Job perfect? No. “None is righteous” (Romans 3:10). “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23).

So what kind of a person was Job?

What’s the difference between being “blameless” and “sinless”? Here’s one explanation. Sin is vertical, blame is horizontal. Sinful is what you are like in the presence of a holy God. Blameless is about life with others. Think portrait vs. landscape mode.

Blameless? Everyone thought of Job as a good guy. But Job still needed God’s grace as much as anyone else.

No criminal record. Perfect attendance. Excellent credit score. Employee of the month. All lab results normal. Most likely to succeed. 4.0 GPA. A horizontal righteousness, blameless and upright in the eyes of most.

Angry. Jealous. Holds a grudge. Bitter. Lips honor God; heart is far from him. Selfish. A vertical unrighteousness in the sight of the one whose opinion counts.

Some of us claim that we don’t care what others think of us. That’s a lie. Of course we care. We work hard to look good horizontally. Do we care about what God thinks of us? Probably not as much as we care what others think of us. How much effort goes into that vertical relationship?

Good enough or God’s enough? That’s a good question, isn’t it?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

I just called to say, “Hi!”

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by yang miao on Unsplash

As a parish pastor, I made a lot of phone calls that must havemade people feel guilty. As soon as I said, “Hi!” they responded with answers they thought I wanted to hear.

  • “Don’t worry, Pastor, I’m still sending in my contribution.”
  • “Don’t worry. We still pray everyday.”
  • “Don’t worry. We’ve been traveling. We’ll be there this week.”
  • “Don’t worry. We watch the livestream each week.”

I called to see how they were doing. Just the sound of my voice brought out the self-justification heavy artillery. It was a gospel call. I just called to say, “Hi!” They heard the law.

A widow in Zarephath gets a bottomless bowl of flour and jar of oil from Elijah. But as soon as her son gets sick, she fast forwards to the worst case scenario. “You have come to me to bring my wrongdoing to remembrance, and to put my son to death!” (1 Kings 17:18)

She feels guilty about something. Who knows what. It doesn’t matter. Suddenly, her worldview shifts from grace to karma. Who’s the bad guy here, Elijah or God himself? Who knows.

If you picture God as the one looking over your shoulder, ready to catch a misstep, you need to get to know God better. He’s the one looking over his shoulder, saying, “Are you coming?” He’s the one who invites us to follow him to green pastures and quiet waters. He never comes to condemn. Only to rescue us.

To illustrate this point, Elijah brings her son back to life. To illustrate this point, he brings us back to life, too. If a prophet or a pastor calls to say, “Hi!” it’s okay. You’re not in big trouble. You’re hearing the voice of someone who cares.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Making the rounds: Samuel judges Israel

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 7.

Pastoral ministry was my second career. With a math degree in hand, I programmed computers for a few years before I went to seminary.

Once parishioners got wind of my background, they assumed I’d be able to give them technical advice when their devices malfunctioned. While they wanted me to have solid theological credentials, they also wanted me to diagnose a printer that wouldn’t print, wifi that wouldn’t connect, or some malware that paralyzed a laptop.

Eventually, when someone asked, “Can I ask you about something?” I’d reply, “I hope it’s a bible question.” They would chuckle and ask me how to find a downloaded document on their computer.

I never did it, but I’m convinced that if I taught a Sunday School class on how to use your smart phone I would fill the room.

Everyone knew that the Lord spoke to Samuel and established him as a prophet. So Samuel “went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all those places,” as well as his hometown of Ramah (1 Samuel 7:16,17).

I would have gone to see Samuel when he was in my town. I love hearing from people who have spent time with the Lord. You can tell when someone spends time with God in the word and in prayer. Those folks see the world differently. They see God at work in both joy and heartbreak. Their gentle faith, contagious hope, and genuine love fill any room they’re in. Their conversation isn’t about them. It’s either about you or Him.

I’m thankful for folks like that. I hope you get to know some, too!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

A second chance? Nope.

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Will Porada on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 13 and 14.

I’m not a golfer, but I got dragged into a scramble fund-raiser for our church about twenty years ago. When I arrived that morning, borrowed clubs in hand, they asked me how many mulligans I wanted to buy. “What’s a mulligan?” “It’s a do-over.” I think I they were selling a dozen for ten bucks. What the heck, it was for a good cause. Golfers will be amused to know I used them up the front nine. Our four person team finished last, not even breaking 100. It was the last time I played. I’m not a golfer.

Who doesn’t like the idea of a mulligan? A bad note, a lousy drawing, over- or under-cooked food, a false start. Whatever. Start over. Try again.

We like to think of God as someone who gives you another chance. That’s true to a certain extent. Grace is powerful. So are consequences. After siding with the unfaithful majority, the nation of Israel doesn’t get another chance.

The vote was ten to two. Ten spies said, “We can’t go up against the people of Caanan. They are too big, too strong for us.” Two, Joshua and Caleb argued, “Let’s go; we can do it!” (Numbers 13:30-31)

God is ready to ditch them all (14:12). But Moses steps in. Moses appeals to God’s abounding love and forgiveness. “Please pardon the iniquity of this people” (14:19).

The Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers” (Numbers 14:20).

They are forgiven, that is, God doesn’t obliterate them with pestilence and disown them. However, they will live with the consequences of their unbelief. They will not enter in to the land. Forty years later, their children will. But they will not.

Wait a minute. Isn’t he a God of mercy? Isn’t he abounding in steadfast love? He sure is. But he’s also your heavenly father. A father who truly loves his children disciplines them (Hebrews 12:6). How else are you going to learn?

A police officer might let you off with a warning. But a speeding ticket might be more effective in getting you to lighten on the gas.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

Suddenly you’re second fiddle

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Joel Wyncott on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 21.

A friend of mine played violin with a number of symphony orchestras. At family gatherings, they would ask her to play for them. The problem is, she played second violin. None of the music she knew was a recognizable melody, just harmony.

But you’ve got to have those parts. An orchestra is filled with strings, brass, and reeds who are playing second, third, and fourth parts. It’s all those harmonies that really bring the melody to life.

As soon as Isaac is born, Sarah wants Hagar and her son Ishmael out of the house. Now that he’s second fiddle, he’s no longer welcome. But God is faithful, and promises that Ishmael will also be the father of a great nation, too. (Genesis 21:18) After all, he is Abraham’s son.

Every high school and college graduates someone who is ranked last in their class. It might not be something to be proud of, but you still get a diploma. I’ll bet a number of them go on to be successful.

Paul considered himself as the least of the apostles, the foremost of sinners, and the least of all the saints. And yet grace was given to him, the chance to preach Christ!

So what if you’re not the GOAT. You’re still important to God.

Posted in Devotions, Grace, Through the Bible Devotions

Haven’t you learned anything?

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion on Genesis 20.

Wait a minute. Didn’t we just read a story like this just a few chapters before (Genesis 12)? Abraham is lying again, telling Abimelech that Sarah is his sister, to save his skin (Genesis 20:2). Hasn’t he learned to trust God? Hasn’t he learned anything? Apparently not.

I should look at myself in the mirror and ask, “Haven’t you learned anything?” Apparently not. You and I make the same mistakes over and over again, don’t we? We don’t sin in new and creative ways. We’ve got our favorite failures. We fall into the same temptation over and over again.

Well meaning folks have told me, “You can’t keep doing the same wrong things over and over again.” My response is, “Then why do you?” Why don’t you keep our mouths shut? Why don’t you control your tempers? Why are are you accumulating so many material possessions? Why haven’t you witnessed to your neighbor? Why are you so worried about the future? (Feel free to add more to this list.)

When the pressure’s on, when you’re afraid, when you’re jealous of someone else, or envious of their life, a lot of conviction goes right out the window. So many things that promise to make us feel safe and loved and happy overshadow the truths we learned last Sunday morning.

“How many times should I forgive?” (Matthew 18:21,22). Jesus said the number is a lot higher than you think. Good thing. My sins are a lot more than I like to admit.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Chris Hardy on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 13.

The cookie was huge, six inches across. Mom told her son, “Break it in half and share it with your brother.” He very carefully bent the cookie in two, to share exactly 50%. Then he held out the two pieces to let his brother choose one, but he held the slightly larger half closer to himself, in hopes that one would be his.

When there’s conflict between their herdsmen, Abram tells his nephew Lot, “This town ain’t big enough for the two of us!”

In an unexpected act of generosity, Abram lets Lot choose which part of the land he wants. Lot chooses the well-watered area of the Jordan which looks like “the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10). Sounds like paradise. Abram gets the plain vanilla-sounding “land of Canaan.”

But appearance isn’t everything. Lot gets to live in the lovely city of Sodom, where the residents are exceedingly wicked. It’s kind of like having a beautiful home in a wonderful community where you hate all your neighbors. Abram on the other hand gets an expanse of land that will be his and his innumerable descendants forever.

Who do you think got the better deal?

It takes some maturity to realize there’s not just one pie. We’re not relegated to a smaller piece of life just because someone else got more. The “pie” or God’s blessing is much bigger than anything we can ask or imagine. Our slice may not look like someone else’s, but it’s custom made for us by the one who truly knows the desires of our hearts.

Thank you for reading this “through the bible” devotion.

Posted in Devotions, Grace, Through the Bible Devotions

I don’t think the flood solved the problem

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Chris Gallagher on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 6-9.

As I read about the flood in Genesis 6-9, it occurred to me that the flood didn’t solve the problem. Before the flood, God saw that “Every intent of the thoughts of their hearts were only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). After? God said, “The intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21). Doesn’t sound like much changed at all.

That’s the way life is, isn’t it? Clothing gets dirty and has to be laundered over and over again. You have to dust the furniture, clean the bathroom, wash the dishes, and bathe the kids again and again. Everything keeps getting messy, including hearts.

So why wipe out life with a flood? Why save a few people who are just going to get into trouble again?

You have to admit that forty days and night of rain is a powerful message of God’s judgment. By the same token, an ark big enough to ride out the storm and preserve life is a dramatic illustration of God’s grace. The flood is a picture of law and gospel, justice and mercy, and power and love.

Along with David, we pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). God promises, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). What a difference it makes when Christ dwells in our hearts by faith (Eph. 3:17)!

I’m going to get in trouble again. So are you. Just don’t forget about that big boat of grace.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

Nice outfit

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 3.

When someone comments, “Hey, nice outfit,” I wonder if it’s a compliment or they’re making fun. Maybe they really like what I’m wearing. Or maybe the plaid shirt with the striped pants wasn’t the best choice.

After the deception, disobedience, shame, and consequences of Genesis 3, God does something really nice for Adam and his wife. He makes garments of skin for them.

So God isn’t angry with them. I don’t hear anger in his voice when he finds them hiding in the bushes. He simply speaks, explaining the consequences of their actions. And then he clothes them (Genesis 3:21).

It’s a good thing he does. I doubt their makeshift fig leaf coverings were very effective. Probably wouldn’t last long, either.

We try hard to cover up our failures and mistakes. We hide behind excuses, blame, and ignorance. None of those are effective. They don’t last long, either.

The good news is that God covers our sin, too. He comes in the flesh (skin) as a Savior who covers up our shame and guilt with his own righteousness. Or as Paul will later put it, “all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Gal. 3:27 NASB).

So I guess you can say that those garments of skin in Genesis 3:21 are a hint of what’s to come: Jesus.

This is the kind of stuff I think makes the Old Testament so much fun to read. I love finding the footprints of Jesus in those pages long before he walked on the earth.

As I take another trip through the bible, I’m going to write devotionally along the way and share what I find. This year I’m reading the 2020 edition of the New American Standard Bible. If you’re blessed by any of this, feel free to share it with a friend!