Over the years, I’ve encountered a few Bible teachers who seem to know all the details of Jesus’ second coming—the how, the when, and the where—often with an overconfidence that makes me uncomfortable. Like the Bible teacher I listened to on the radio as a young believer. I loved his teaching and couldn’t wait for his 8 o’clock show to air.

Decades later, he led a movement that captured everyone’s attention, predicting the day of Jesus’ second coming and even guaranteeing it. Disappointment must have mushroomed when those who sold all their possessions awaited a promised appearing act that just didn’t happen.

The lesson? Be more tentative, a smidgeon iffy, penciling in personal biblical speculation and guesstimates. Don’t be cocksure about something that’s in God’s view and not in ours–“He (Jesus) said to them (the Apostles), ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority'” (Acts 1: 7).

Now, don’t get me wrong. When it comes to trusting Jesus to save us, forgive our sins, and stand with us no matter what, I can check the box that says ‘all of the above’ for those and other core beliefs of our Christian faith. But that’s not what I’m talking about.

In 1 Samuel 14, we encounter King Saul’s son Jonathan wanting to scope out the enemy Philistine army’s position and strength. He takes his assistant with him and tells him this–‘It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few’ (1 Sam. 14: 6).

‘It may be…’ Jonathan doesn’t know what God will do. He’s uncertain about the outcome. But he never wavers, knowing that God can defeat the enemy with only a few soldiers or many. ‘It may be…’

Moving on to 1 Samuel 24, David and some men discover King Saul in a cave. Fast asleep, Saul becomes a juicy target. David’s archenemy can now be eliminated. Here’s how David’s men summarize this situation–“Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you'” (1Sam. 24: 4).

An answer to prayer? God’s will, for sure? What’s David’s take on this golden opportunity? Will he do away with the Lord’s anointed, King Saul? Seize this moment? Listen–‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed’ (v.6).

Hmm. That gives me pause. We must be careful about concluding some specifics of God’s will. Of course, make plans. Look ahead. Be responsible. Don’t be lazy and forget to do your homework. Burn the midnight oil. Seize the day.

But use that Dixon Ticonderoga #2 you-know-what, knowing that God’s revealed will is found in your Bible. He tells us everything that we need to know. So be a tad tentative with specifics that He hasn’t told us about. Pencil them in. Know what you know and let the rest be in God’s hands. I’m an amateur with this as much as the next. But I’m trying. Who said, ‘very’!?

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the Bible, your guide for my life. Amen.

How can anyone choose the most extraordinary chapter in the Bible? Certainly, I can’t. But reading Romans 5, you’ll wonder if this might be it. Every time I delve a little deeper, I’m blown away by its truths. Can I be so bold as to ask you to read Romans 5 this week? Why not? You won’t be sorry.

That first verse is jaw dropping–‘Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Rom. 5: 1). It sounds like a peace treaty has been signed after a lengthy and brutal war. Well, it has.

Our war, involving multiple armaments of sin, has brought enmity and division into our relationships with God. Yet, peace comes, not from anything done by you or me, but from God Himself by the shedding of His only Son’s blood on the cross. Our part? To believe, to trust, to toss our life His way, into His hands. Too hard to do? Try it.

Verses six and eight bring us to the mountaintop–‘For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Rom. 5: 6, 8).

Our good and gracious Lord shows such love for us who were His enemies. When we could care less about Him and His ways, still He paid the ultimate price to free us from all our sin, making us His own forever, clean as a whistle. Think about that for a moment. Unbelievable? Too good to be true? Am I selling ‘Father John’s Miracle Elixer of Life’ snake oil? No. Believe Romans chapter 5. It’s true!

Now we find ourselves on the ‘friends and family’ plan with God. Check this out–‘For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation’ (Rom. 5: 10-11). Keeps getting better. God’s gifts roll out with an increasing acceleration. However, we’ve earned none of them. They’re all from His generous and loving heart.

Romans 5–an extraordinary chapter in the Bible? Certainly is, and I’ve only covered a smidgeon. Treasure it in your Bible. Blow the dust away and dig in. Spend more time in its pages, where you’ll discover that Jesus has become even closer than any best friend ever. Doesn’t get much better than that. Agreed? Enjoy!

Lord God, thank you for your Word. May I treasure it in my heart and mind. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

A few years ago, our hoped for bumper crop of tulips failed–spotty, few and far between, even though we planted tons of bulbs for an amazing display that only sparsley showed up. It was disappointing and frustrating, especially for my wife, the chief gardener in this household.

We noticed that some small birds (you can tell I’m quite the ornithologist!) keep getting into our paltry patch of tulips. Back and forth they go. All day long. We can see them as long as there’s daylight. What’s up? You guessed it. A nest is being built. Tiny twigs, placed precisely and carefully, make an amazing home for what comes in a few weeks.

When the eggs hatch, there they are–four wee ones with feathers, beaks, and all. The mother bird keeps super active carting food for her hungry tykes. Worms and all get lowered into gaping, famished beaks and gullets. Let me tell you, she’s at work providing for her own all day long and maybe at night as well.

This reminds me of some Bible verses. Psalm 57: 1–‘Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.’ Isaiah 34: 15–‘There the owl nests and lays and gathers her young in her shadow…’ And Matthew 23: 37–‘…How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings…’

Watching new life, all provided for by our Lord, right in our own backyard, we couldn’t help but praise God for His caring for us as well–in all ways and at all times. He feeds us in many ways, especially in worship while digging deeper into our Bibles.

I’ll thank the Lord Jesus this week for watching over me, providing for me, and loving me. Not just me. Will you join me? I would love to have others under His wings, in His nest, and backyard.

Lord Jesus, for all you do for me, thank you. Amen.

My Nana used to say that her doctor had read only one more book than she had. Not sure what her point was. I don’t remember her ever reading a book or owning one. Doesn’t say much for her doctor, does it? Nana was kind of an odd duck in other ways, as well. But I loved her. After all, she was the only grandparent that I knew.

Recently, I had one of those body scans that require you to be tubed in this gargantuan machine that moves back and forth, sketching out all kinds of potential problems in your body. Claustrophobia, an unwelcome guest, accompanies me inside this casket of sorts. Uncomfortable placing my arms over my head for almost an hour. Pain and suffering for what? Had this doctor read one more book than me?

Before getting into this wonder box, waiting an hour for some fancy goop to travel my innards, I was reading ‘Les Miserables’ by Victor Hugo. It was my fourth time relishing this 1400+ page, 165-year-old classic masterpiece. Next to the Bible, my favorite tome.

When led into the torture chamber by the doctor-technician, he asks me what I’m reading. He’d never heard of it. And what was it about? Clueless about ‘Les Miz’? Not only the book, the musical play, or even the movie? Could this be my Nana’s doctor of ill-reading? And, can he scrutinize and make sense of my scan results? Seems he did. So he said, and so I hoped.

How about God? Is He aware of us? Does He have even a smidgeon of an idea about what we go through down here on planet Earth? Listen to Psalm 56: 8–‘You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?’

What? Yes, His book. Think about this verse. It’s saying that anything in our lives, even our tossing and turning in bed at night with all kinds of dark fears and anxieties, is cared for by God. Even our tears He cherishes. As if kept in a bottle. And recorded in a book He writes and keeps.

That tells me that our Lord really loves us. He cares so much, more than just putting our pictures on a refrigerator magnet. He has His eyes on us. He keeps tabs on everything. He minds the store. With our Lord, there’s no ‘Going Out of Business’ sale. Nary a sign that says ‘Weather Permitting’ or ‘Closed From Noon to One’. We’re never out of His tender, loving care. Never.

This tells me that I can relax and trust Him. Will I? Will you? With everything? Leaving nothing out? Really?

Thank you, Jesus, for loving me so much. Amen.

Over the years, I’ve been called different names, some not so complimentary. As a kid, I added a few extra pounds around the old tum-tum. Hence, some neighbor boys nicknamed me ‘hunker’. I’d earned that moniker but never shined to it. A family member called me ‘punk. Thanks!

In a church going through a ferocious civil war, a new staff member called me, the senior pastor, a ‘primadonna’ at an elder’s meeting that ended poorly, to say the least. Thanks again! Earned? I’m not sure. But he thought so.

To his credit, years later, this former colleague phoned me to apologize and ask for forgiveness. He has endured much the same treatment and realizes the severity of his betrayal. A tad reluctantly, I did forgive him, noting his courage and humility in contacting me.

One name I’ve never been called is ‘fool’. At least not to my face. That I know of. Reading Psalms 53, we encounter that term. The ‘fool’. In what sense? Financially? Acquiring debt that can never be paid back? Living an immoral, reckless lifestyle? All such would be foolish, but there’s a different slant here. The fool disregards God, shuns Him and His ways, thinking that he can squeak into some decent afterlife, if there even is one, by being a ‘good’ person. All by his own steam.

Psalm 53: 1–“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” The fool denies God’s existence. Probably posits some kind of natural evolution that produces all that there is by chance and fate. More karma than Christ. More bizarre explanations than the truth of the Bible. Foolish to discount the Lord and think that man is the focus of everything when God is life’s hinge.

Nothing remains outside His hands. The fool thinks so, but the fact is that they’re wrong. No outsmarting God or His Word. No avoiding His claims on all of life. Foolish to think otherwise.

I’m glad the word ‘fool’ doesn’t apply to me, at least not in the Psalm 53 way. For I believe in Jesus and depend upon Him, trying as best I can (often not very well) to live for Him and follow His ways. But don’t look to me as an example to live by. You shouldn’t and hopefully don’t.

You know where to focus. Right. On God. The Father, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Quite the heavenly dream team! Partnership forever. It would be foolish to look anywhere else, wouldn’t it?

Lord Jesus, you are my all in all forever. Amen.

Why does God require so much of me? As if He’s always there with His hand out. Wanting this or that. Any ‘fun’ things get nixed. If I don’t want to do something, I’m afraid that’s exactly what He wants me to do. Know what I mean, or have you rightfully concluded that I’m as wacky as can be?

What does God want? Let’s see what Psalm 50: 14-15 has to say–‘Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.’ Such helpful simplicity is often overlooked, at least by me.

Stop trying to placate an angry God, appease Him, pay Him off with some tithe tidbits, or perform hair-brained religious rituals, garner as many brownie points as possible, and tip the scales in your favor. Sounds familiar? Be honest. I’m trying to be.

Basically, these words from the Psalms unveil hope for God’s people. Not some new commandment or Sears’ catalogue of endless rules. No. But giving thanks is the main course on today’s menu. Saying ‘thank you’ to our Lord God. Showing appreciation for all He’s done for us. Especially for putting up with me (and you?!).

And that business about ‘vows’ in Psalm 50 has to do with following through with what we know is right, with what pleases the Lord. From a grateful and willing heart that recognizes what Jesus has done and still does for us. Being men and women of our word. Say it, do it. If you don’t mean it, don’t open your trap. Eager to bless our Lord Jesus, to bring joy to His heart. Not a have-to, but a want-to. You know, don’t you?

Forget trying to bargain with God. That’s a colossal waste of His and your time. Be upfront and transparent. Leave room to confess failures, disappointments, and sin. I have a supersized storeroom crammed full with lots of this stuff I’d rather not talk about, except with my Lord, especially with Him. Remember that He loves to forgive and forget. Oh, to be like Him!

Bring any troubles you’re saddled with directly to Jesus, pronto. He promises to help–‘…I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me’ (Ps. 50: 15). How and when? I’ve no idea. That’s God’s business, which, to be honest, is none of mine. Thank God He’s in charge.

My part is to go with that flow. To trust that my Lord will honor His Word. When He does (and even before for a change), let gratitude and thanks flow from our hearts and mouths to His ears and heart. Why is it so hard to say ‘thank you’ to God? I don’t know why. Maybe you do. Regardless, let’s start doing more of just that this week. You think? Thanksgiving every day, all year long? Such a sacrifice?

Thank you, Jesus, for welcoming me into your family forever. Amen.

My poor Aunt Bertha couldn’t give up an addiction that possibly led to her demise. Drugs? No. Heavy drinker? No. Chain smoker? No. High roller gambler? No. Then what? Pickles! Pickles? Yes, those sodium-filled munchy and crunchy delectables.

She saw her doctor for high blood pressure. He identified that her sodium level was off the charts. She owned up to its cause: pickles! Big, juicy, salty yummies. And lots of them. Day in and day out, without fail.

After too many visits for the same issue, with no improvement noted, her doctor concluded that she wouldn’t knock the habit. She said she’d stopped buying pickles but admitted paying a neighbor to purchase and deliver them to her, like a smuggler with stolen property. Failing to heed the medico’s advice, her doctor fired her. ‘Get a different one. I have others who actually benefit from my expertise and follow my directions! You’re fired!’

It makes me wonder if Jesus might get fed up with me, my lackadaisical attitude toward obeying Him, my frivolous actions when seriousness is required (can you imagine?!), thumbing my nose at Him (not actually but in effect), so that He thinks it’s time to toss me aside. Give me the old heave-ho. I’ve given Him ample reasons to do just that. I’m fired?

Will He? Now, let me make it clear that if I’m trying to get away with being heaven-bound while living like the devil, confessing on Sunday morning while being like Satan the rest of the week, then I really have lots to worry about, being in a nasty, spiritually toxic pickle, indeed.

Thankfully, that’s not me. I love Jesus. I want to be more like Him, obedient to the core, knowing that some rotten apples still need to be removed from my barrel—and always will in this life.

So, will He boot me out of His family? Read 1 Thessalonians 4: 14-15,17–‘For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with them those who have fallen asleep…For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord…(we) will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.’ And from Jesus directly–‘…whoever comes to me I will never cast out’ (John 6: 37).

Hear that? God gives us His word. That when we’re in Christ, there’s no getting fired. Period. But make sure you’re one of His own and staying close by His side. Don’t fool yourself. Be the genuine article. The real McCoy in God’s family. Then you’ll find yourself safe as safe can ever be and all fired up for Jesus!

Dear Jesus, for being my Savior and Lord, I thank you. Amen.

Still sticks in my mind that God is out to get me, but not in a good way. By lowering the boom. Tossing salt on my wounds. When things go swimmingly tickety-boo, then watch out. One false move and out you go, Fischer. However, I don’t find any of this in my Bible. Quite the contrary.

Read Exodus 34, especially the first nine verses. It blows me away when I think how different God is from some of my skewed and twisted thoughts about Him.

Somewhere I read that C. S. Lewis wrote that the biggest danger we face as Christians is not believing in God but coming to believe dreadful things about Him. Was Lewis looking straight at me when he penned such wisdom? Is it time to consider our private thoughts about God and Jesus? How we really feel about our God?

Is He such a cosmic meany? Bitter old codger? Impatient and ready to pounce all over us? Moses and ancient Israel could have felt that way. They gave the Lord just cause (as I have). Earlier in Exodus 32, you can gander at God’s people worshipping not the Lord but golden calves, crafted by their own hands, at the first sign that Moses has left the scene, off on some burning mountain for who knows what. Time to sin! And did they ever.

Moses, who gets wind of their traitorous treachery, blows his top, shattering those stone tablets containing God’s Ten Commandments into innumerable shards. Now turn to Exodus 34 where you’ll discover what God says to Moses, who might be a tad nervous after all those ungodly shenanigans of his fellow rabble-rousers. Who wouldn’t? Is the boom about to be lowered? Curtains alas?

Not at all. This is what God says about Himself in Exodus 34: 5-7–“The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him (Moses) there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…'”

Can you imagine? Not only does the Lord give us His own personal name, Yahweh, but He tells us all about His wondrous self: that He’s merciful, full of grace and kindness, not perpetually hot-tempered but patient, giving second chances many times over, superabundant in love, faithful, and forgiving. Wow!

These character traits are to be cherished by God’s people, not taken for granted or leaned upon with no intent to repent by those who snub their noses at Him, turning their backs on God once and for all, wishing Him a final good riddance—well, that’s certainly not you or me, is it?

So let’s start getting our minds around the truth for a change. Say ‘no’ to all that negative clap-trap we’ve conjured up. Walk away. Counter weird thoughts with what God has to say. Listen to Him for a change.

Spend time this week meditating on those verses found in Exodus 34. They should clear up some issues holding us back from finding more rest and comfort in our Christian lives. I’m looking in the mirror now. I think I see you with me. Is that you?

Lord Jesus, we love you and thank you for being such an amazing God. Amen.

As I look back on my ordination to the Gospel ministry, I sense troubles ahead not just for me but for my church families. Okay, I was young. Not thirteen; though, I was twenty-six, having successfully navigated eight years of higher education beyond high school: college, Bible school, and seminary, each a tad more challenging, culminating with Princeton.

My Moody Bible Institute undergraduate sheepskin says this about me–‘…Approved Christian character and commendable zeal in practical Christian work.’ My Princeton Master of Divinity shingle, which is entirely in Latin, says that I’m of noble habit and Christian faith having studied theology well, or words to that effect. I’m quite the catch for any church, wouldn’t you agree?

Alas, not quite. I wish I could go back and redo what I did half-heartedly but now with expected confidence and trust in you-know-who. No, not in me. I tried that, and it was a big boo-boo.

Where a wrong turn was taken can be found somewhat in Acts 20: 28. Interested?–‘Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood’ (Acts 20: 28). One simple verse that if heeded puts us right back on the road where the Lord wants us. Living for Him. Devoted to others. Even for ourselves.

‘Pay careful attention to yourself’. Don’t be flighty about your relationship with Jesus. Take nothing spiritual for granted. No wishy-washy casualness about reading our Bibles. Nothing about ‘weather permitting’ or if I have some spare time with nothing good on TV.

Get serious about what He thinks of us, more than what others do. Maturely prioritize God in our lives. Why has it taken me so long to wake up and smell God’s roses? To see what was always in front of my eyes?

It’s God Himself who calls us to serve Him. Such a privilege should not be taken lightly. Get with it. Do for God. Be in His service. Walk in Jesus’ footsteps. Talk often with my Lord. Such an Einstein near the end of my life! Better late than, well, you know.

The hard part is to stop moaning about what can’t be changed, looking over my shoulder way in the past, which can only drag me down. I know Jesus has forgiven me. I’ve asked Him many times. So now, believe Him, already. Feel His cleansing goodness. And stand up, keeping busy for Him, for others! Then, there will be no regrets from now on! Or at least a lot less.

Thank you, Jesus, for second and third chances. Amen.

What? I’ve got to be kidding. Am I loony bins? Lost the last marble I had? Asking you to read about endless land inheritances found in the Old Testament book of Joshua? I glance over these chapters, speed-reading them, trying to note anything that will help me. However, not much sticks to my craw. Little inspiration was found in these chapters. Or was there?

Well, they’re found in my Bible, God’s inspired and holy Word, which is without error, from Genesis to Revelation, including this portion of Joshua. Might want to listen up, Fischer!

Now it’s true that some Bible sections, as this one surely is, have less meat to chew on than others. But they’re included for God’s reasons even when I don’t understand them. It’s good of God to share. Shame on me for being so obtuse and lamebrain not to get through my thick skull what He has to say. Duh!

Back to God’s message here in Joshua. His point? Think about it for a moment. You must have some ideas. Here’s mine. All these chapters talk about God’s people being given a place to live. A place called home. Their own territory for their own people. His people are cherished, ever close to God’s heart. Never forgotten nor abandoned.

I get the point here in Joshua. We matter to God. He loves us more than we could ever imagine. Probably, it’s in heaven when we’ll have our eyes fully opened, seeing Jesus gazing down on us with such devotion and tenderness. There will be no more tears except for joy. It’s a home we’ll never leave and never grow tired of. New adventures every moment yet never out of Jesus’ sight. We’ll always be with the Master.

Even the most obscure parts of the Bible have lessons to show us if we’d only look. Take a gander this week. Why not?

Lord Jesus, help me to understand more about you from my Bible. Amen.