Contemplative Bible Reading

Mark 6:19-20 (New Living Translation)

19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, 20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.

This is the (hi)story of Herod’s relationship with John the Baptist. Herod was disturbed when he talked with John, but that implies that he did talk with John. The rest of the sentence tells us that he liked to listen to John.

There must have been something special about John. He was bringing news that disturbed many people. I can feel that burning sensation in me when I think of people who come to me with news that I don’t want to hear. Herod must have had that sensation. Nevertheless, John had the ability to bring that disturbing news in a way that people wanted to hear it and hear it again and again.

Was it John, or the message John brought? The answer, of course, is some of both. The message was the good news about Jesus of Nazareth being the long-promised Messiah. That is the most important message in the history of mankind. John, the message bearer, was sent by God. I think God gave John the ability to bring a disturbing message in a way that caused people to want to hear more of it.

God, grant us the gift of John, the gift that causes people to want to hear us speak of the good news of Jesus.

Jude verse 23 (New Living Translation)

Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Interesting balancing act here. Then again, life is made interesting by these occasions when we walk along the top of a barbed wire fence.

Jude encourages us to show mercy, but with caution. Our mercy—often accepting of the situation of others—must be balanced with a hatred of the sins that bring the need for mercy.

For a recent example, I should show mercy to the Muslim immigrant to the US, but I must hate the sin of murder that comes with some who claim to be Muslim. I should show mercy to the prostitute, but I must hate sexual sins.

Here is another caution:

hate the sin in a way that does not even slightly hint that I hate the sinner.

That is a tough one, and for that I ask God for much help.

Acts 7:20-21 (New Living Translation)

20 “At that time Moses was born—a beautiful child in God’s eyes. His parents cared for him at home for three months. 21 When they had to abandon him, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and raised him as her own son.

These verses are from Stephen giving his defense for preaching the news about Jesus. In the speech, Stephen reminds the listeners of the story of Moses.

Notice the miracle of Moses in verse 21: Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and raised him as her own son.

Are you kidding? She pulled a baby out of the river and raised him in the royal family. Try to imagine that happening today. Someone would give $1 million to a charity to raise the child or something. Take the child into your family and raise him as your own? Again, are you kidding?

What happened was a miracle, and that miracle preceded the signs that Moses would perform for God in the plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea and so on. Note, there are so many miracle, we have to write “and so on.”

I believe there are miracles in front of us everyday. All we have to do is open our eyes and see them—acknowledge the miraculous power of God.

James 4:7 (New Living Translation)

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The devil is a large, powerful enemy. This verse, however, tells me that the devil will flee from me. Hmmm, I must be pretty powerful, too.

What do I have to do so the devil flees? What great feat must I accomplish?Resist the devil. Note, it doesn’t say “slay the devil” or something grand. It is merely “resist.” Is this a mistake or a misprint or typo or something. Surely, I have to do more that just try?God, help me to resist the devil. Help me to humble myself and turn to you.

James 3:2 (New Living Translation)

Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

Notice the power and promise of this verse. If I can control my tongue, I can control myself in every other way. Contemplate on that one for a minute or a day or so.

I learn a new, powerful prayer: God grant me the wherewithal to control my tongue.

James 2:3-4 (New Living Translation)

3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4 doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

This is the passage from James concerning favoritism or pre-judging persons based on outward appearance.

Take a walk through or a Wal-Mart SuperCenter. One of the reasons I hate to do that is I find myself making quick judgements about people. I remember this passage in James. What is wrong with me?

Notice the last statements in verse 4. The source of these not-so-innocent and not-so-little judgements are evil motives.

Isn’t that a bit harsh? I mean, just little judgements at the store. I don’t act on these little, quick judgements. I just…

I can justify my sins any way I want. Those are just excuses. Evil Motives are behind them. God, please help rid my life of these.

Romans 1:14-15 (New Living Translation)

14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.

Paul writes about his efforts to preach the Good News, the Gospel that Jesus is the savior of the world. Paul writes similar words in some of his other letters, but the emphasis is the same.

Jesus Christ is for everyone in the world, all mankind.

That doesn’t make an instant affect on most of us today, but we need to consider the time at which it was written. The time had regional, tribal, national religions and gods. There were Egyptian gods, Roman gods, Greek gods, and so on. Paul reminds us that Jesus Christ is not a family, tribal, or national religion. Jesus Christ is the savior of all mankind.

To Americans, I have a warning. It is easy for non-Americans to see Christianity as an American religion. It is easy for Americans to portray Christianity as American. Let’s be careful.

1 Chronicles 27:23-24 (New Living Translation)

23 When David took his census, he did not count those who were younger than twenty years of age, because the Lord had promised to make the Israelites as numerous as the stars in heaven. 24 Joab son of Zeruiah began the census but never finished it because the anger of God fell on Israel. The total number was never recorded in King David’s official records.

King David wanted to count the people of God. There are many administrative chores a King can accomplish with such a count. The count, however, was never finished as God—you know, Him, the Creator—became angry.

In the middle of this (hi)story, we find the phrase “as numerous as the stars in heaven.” How many stars are their in heaven? I don’t think we yet have the technology to count.

Here is a view of the “as numerous as the stars in heaven.” God told David, “Don’t worry about the numbers. I am with you. I am more than sufficient.”

David, well, he another one of his bad moments (just like I have my bad moments). David wanted to make sure that David could handle the challenges of being King. From time to time, God snaps his finger at us and reminds us that He is more than sufficient.

God, help me in my unbelief. Help me in my bad moments. I’m not King of Israel, but I have some responsibilities and there are many times when I want to count all the resources to be sure that I can do it myself, without you.

1 Chronicles 18:14-17 (New Living Translation)

14 So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people. 15 Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian. 16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the court secretary. 17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. And David’s sons served as the king’s chief assistants.

David becomes King. Great things are in store. Here is the King’s cabinet or counselors or something. Note all the “son of” in the list. Not in particular the roles assumed by the sons of David.

Fast forward a generation and David is fleeing Jerusalem in the middle of a coup that will fail. Many people suffer and die.

Fast forward several thousand years. We know better today, right? I mean, look how good things are now and…uh er, well.

Perhaps we have yet to solve this succession problem.

2 Kings 23:15 (New Living Translation)

The king also tore down the altar at Bethel—the pagan shrine that Jeroboam son of Nebat had made when he caused Israel to sin. He burned down the shrine and ground it to dust, and he burned the Asherah pole.

This verse describes what the King of Judah was doing. This King went so far in reforms that he tore down an altar that the first king of Israel had erected many generations before.

In many respects, people of that day were what today we call “superstitious” (except that few people today use that word as it is judgmental and “bad”). If these people saw a place where people went to pay homage to god, well, when in Israel do what the Israelites do, or something like that.

The King’s theory was simple: remove the places of worship to gods and people wouldn’t worship gods. I believe that was well meaning, but perhaps not the best way to spend your time. Perhaps a better remedy to worshiping these gods was to replace it with something good: worshiping the one true God the Creator.

I guess that falls under the theme of “replace something bad with something good” instead of “destroy the bad thing.” Both approaches have their merits. Experience, at least in this case, shows that people merely rebuild the bad things.