Yesterday I looked back at one of the earliest posts on this site. It describes a habit I formed back then and still practice now when I read the Bible. I added some current thoughts, extended the section that invites reflection, and spruced up the design a bit. I offer it again to anyone who may find it helpful.
Grace and peace to you…
dw
Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Peterson, Eugene H.. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language . The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
May my plans defer to his plans, my ways to his ways, my words to his words, my life to his life, who is Life itself, who is the Word itself, who is the Way, who has plans for me, for you, for the world. Amen.
If love is not in the truth we tell,
are we telling the whole truth?dw
I read this from the apostle Paul today – he is coaching Timothy on how to be a good pastor.
The whole point of what we’re urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into dead ends of gossip. They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven’t the remotest idea of what they’re holding forth with such imposing eloquence.
Peterson, Eugene H.. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language . The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Grace and peace to you…
dw
Copyright © 2020, becomingflame.com
We are too much like Pilate. We are always asking, “What is truth?” and then crucifying the truth that stands before our eyes.
— Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island, Sincerity
I’m reading through Proverbs and using, for the first time, Eugene Peterson’s translation called The Message. Bible reading has been a regular part of my life for many years. And, yes, it often becomes stale – I stop paying attention. When I notice that happening, I’ll often try a new translation: thus, I’m reading The Message now.
Scripture is part of the ‘truth that stands before our eyes.’ Paying attention to it helps open our eyes to truth still hidden from us, or that we are hiding from ourselves. The book of Proverbs is particularly challenging in that regard – read it and it will make you squirm.
This passage from Chapter 8 fits well with Thomas Merton’s challenge to us. Lady Wisdom tells us we will recognize the truth if we have “truth-ready minds”.
Don’t miss a word of this—I’m telling you how to live well, I’m telling you how to live at your best. My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth— I can’t stand the taste of evil! You’ll only hear true and right words from my mouth; not one syllable will be twisted or skewed. You’ll recognize this as true—you with open minds; truth-ready minds will see it at once.
Peterson, Eugene H.. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language . The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Father in heaven, may our minds and hearts be open to the truth you ‘stand before our eyes’ every hour of every day. Where would we be without your constant, faithful, truthful presence in our world?
dw
Copyright © 2020, becomingflame.com
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
The Gospel of John, 18:38
Is truth a light in the dark
or is it the dark itself?Is it pain
or a drug-mask that covers pain?If it’s a lone voice
on a noisy street corner
is it worth hearing,
stopping for?If we jeer at it
does that make it less true?What if most of us jeer?
Jesus said:
For this purpose I was born
and for this purpose I have come into the world –
to bear witness to the truth.This he said facing crucifixion.
Truth was a big deal to Jesus.What is truth,
to you,
to me,
to all of us?
dw
Copyright © 2020, becomingflame.com
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