Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

My Alien Brain
by John UpChurch, Senior Editor, BibleStudyTools.com

"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him" Colossians 1:21-22

The first migraine hit me in middle school. While wrapping up some pre-algebra problems, a fuzzy, white spot kept covering up the numbers. I'd blink and rub my eyes and try to work around it, but the spot hovered there for most of the class. Being the well-reasoned adolescent that I was, I naturally assumed what seemed logical: I was about to die of a massive stroke.

I obviously didn't die. But when the spot finally did go away, I wished it had stayed.

Stomach-curling, fist-clenching, world-bending pain plopped down into my cranium and threw some sort of headache party. After an hour or so, I couldn't take it anymore. I told the skeptical school nurse that I thought I had a "migration headache," which didn't ease her skepticism. Still, she let me go home.

Just to complete the headache humiliation, I got sick right outside the school (so that all the classes on that side of the building could watch), fell asleep as soon as I got home, and woke up with a throbbing head. Migraines don't like to go without a fight. They kick and scream into that good night.

My own head revolted against me for several years after that. If I didn't get enough sleep or got hit with too much stress, the spot would make a comeback. I did learn to lessen the pain sometimes by closing my eyes as soon as the fuzz sprang into view, but that didn't always work.

Truthfully, the migraines were the least of my problems. My un-reconciled brain, the one that had no understanding of Christ, had revolted from God. Instead of fuzzy spots as warning signs, there were evil deeds, as Paul calls them. I played on others' emotions to get my way, used girlfriends as my personal trophy case, spent hours and hours on the kinds of websites that wouldn't make it through a work Internet filter, and generally wasted my gifts. The pain that resulted from those "spots" wasn't just inwardly focused—it left quite the burning trail in its wake.

My alien brain knew nothing else then. It wanted nothing better. It was pretty much dead.

That's exactly the reason Christ's reconciling, restoring death still astounds me. This gray matter, so unresponsive to anything spiritual, came to life with God's preceding grace. He kept hitting me and kept hitting me until I finally gave up, followed His Son, and stopped being an alien.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Before Christ, nothing works the way it should. Like the migraines that plagued me, our brains revolt against their Creator, and pain inevitably comes. Take some time to look back and who you were before Jesus pumped life into your body—not to turn around or go back, but to be continually blown away by how much He changed you.

Further Reading

Hezekiah: Spiritual Renewal

Ephesians 2

[Judy Harder]

Is Your Soul Healthy?
by Sarah Phillips

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness... For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 1:3-8)

When I first became a believer, I was like the woman with the alabaster jar (Matthew 26:7). I loved much because I had been forgiven much. But as the years slipped by something happened in my life that happens to many believers: my gratefulness towards God's mercy transformed into frustration at my lingering sinful nature. I understood why I failed so greatly before knowing Christ, but it was difficult to accept my failings when I felt I should know better.

It's easy to beat yourself up, even run from God, when you fall. Out of frustration and shame, I have begged God to rid me of my sinful tendencies. Of course, God didn't instantly heal me with a lightning bolt, but answered me with a different kind of grace. The answer to my prayer came in the form of a Sunday school lesson on "holy habits," more traditionally known as virtues.

Practicing virtue is a lot like lifting weights – it's exercise that builds health in your soul. There are many virtues, but as we learned in class that day, the foundation of all virtues can be found in the four natural virtues or cardinal virtues. These were first articulated by Plato but hardly belong to Plato. They are part of what theologians call "natural law" – God's design for humanity woven into our beings since the beginning of creation. When a person cultivates these virtues in his or her life, they are cooperating with the Creator's design for the human soul.

It's important to note here that pursuing a virtuous life is not the same as trying to earn salvation. Our salvation is a gift that flows from God's grace. But in our Christian journey, it's important to do our part to improve our character so that we can grow in character and more accurately reflect Christ's goodness to the world. Now let's take a closer look at each cardinal virtue:

1. Wisdom: For wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. (Proverbs 8:11). You've probably known people with book smarts who lack common sense. Or perhaps you know someone with street smarts who lacks knowledge. A person who has cultivated the virtue of wisdom can not only discern truth but has the ability to implement their insights appropriately in any given situation. According to scripture, characteristics of wise people include those who prepare properly for hard times (Proverbs 21:20), those who humbly heed instruction and correction (Proverbs 8:9), those who hold their tongues from saying foolish things (Proverbs 10:19), and those who fear the Lord (Proverbs 14:16-35). Because wisdom allows us to discern right from wrong, this virtue sets us up to practice all other virtues.

2. Justice: Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed (Isaiah 1:17). Most of us have some sense of justice from a very early age when we yell, "It's not fair!" A just or righteous person gives to others what is deserved, keeps his word, and acts fairly even when no one is looking. According to scripture, a just person favors the innocent over the wicked (Proverbs 18:5), never accepts bribes (Proverbs 17:23), aids the poor, fatherless, and widows (Proverbs 29:7, Isaiah 1:17), and experiences joy (Proverbs 21:15).

3. Courage: In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence (Proverbs 14:26). While most of us associate courage with lack of fear, courage has more to do with fear put in proper perspective. A courageous person chooses right even when a decision is frightening or comes with personal cost. Among many traits, the courageous person exalts Christ (Philippians 1:20), holds on to God's promises (Acts 27:25), and gives an effective witness for Christ (Acts 4:13). A person can not exercise any virtue for long without courage because sin often appears easier or more attractive than virtue.

4. Temperance: Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control (Proverbs 25:28). Temperance is an old-fashioned word for moderation. A temperate person exercises self-control, building a wall against unhealthy, sinful extremes. Among many qualities, scripture tells us that a temperate person does not gossip (1 Timothy 3:11), does not vent anger (Proverbs 29:11) is respectable and able to take on leadership roles (1 Timothy 3:2), and is sexually pure (1 Thessalonians 4:2-5).

So, are any of these virtues lacking in your life? I can see some areas where I am still weak. Thankfully, with God's grace and a few good decisions, we can grow in our effectiveness and productiveness for Christ.

Identify which cardinal virtue you struggle most with. Ask God for the grace to grow and make one positive change in your behavior this week that will help you develop this "holy habit."

Further Reading:

Matthew 25:23
Ref: Kreeft, Peter. "Justice, Wisdom, Courage, and Moderation: The Four Cardinal Virtues". (c) 1986 Ignatius Press.

[Judy Harder]

God is Not Judge Judy
by Kelly Givens, Editor, iBelieve.com

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." - James 3:17

Last month I found myself in a situation that needed a good dose of wisdom. I had to make a decision and felt unsure what course of action was best, so over those next few days I prayed for wisdom on what I should do.  I also looked for verses in the Bible that talk about wisdom, and was surprised by what I found.

When I think of wisdom, usually the first thing that pops in my head is King Solomon and that poor baby. You probably know the story- God had given Solomon an incredible amount of wisdom, so much so that people from all over were coming to him with their questions and disputes. In this recorded case, two prostitutes came before the king, both claiming to be the mother of the same baby boy, both insisting that the other had stolen the infant after the death of the other's child. This was obviously before DNA testing, so what could be done? Well, Solomon had a sword brought to him and decided to settle things by cutting the baby in half! Now, that doesn't seem like a very compassionate king! It sounds more like something Judge Judy would do.

Judge Judy doesn't want to hear your sob story.  Her Honor gets right to the facts, lays down her decision and moves on to the next case, end of story. I realized I was asking God to be the" Judge Judy" of my life- I would present my problem and "ask for wisdom," but what I really wanted was for God to give me a definite answer that didn't leave any lingering questions. Obviously, God is not Judge Judy, and this is not the kind of wisdom he gives. So how should we think of wisdom? Let's go back to Solomon- who really wasn't like Judge Judy at all.

While it may have seemed bizarre that Solomon was going to cut a baby in half, the king had wisely discerned that the true mother would care more about the safety of the child than her possession of him.  And so it was- the mother cried out for the boy's life to be spared, and Solomon declared her the rightful parent. In doing this, he spared both the child and the women further pain. But this is more than Solomon just being cunning or smart. There's compassion to this decision too- an essential part of wisdom.

When Solomon asked God for wisdom, God didn't just fill his head with the right answer to every problem that would ever come up. No- he filled him with "wisdom" as James describes it- he filled him full of consideration, peacefulness, mercy, goodness, impartiality and sincerity.  King Solomon wasn't wise because he knew the law book forwards and backwards, or because he was particularly clever or a good problem solver.  He was wise because his decisions flowed from a heart and mind focused on values that are essential to the Kingdom of God. He didn't bother punishing the one woman for stealing a baby or stoning both women for being prostitutes (which the law would have demanded). His wisdom was compassionate, merciful, and just: it was true wisdom from above.

Intersecting Faith and Life: What problems in your life are you seeking wisdom in? Approach those problems in light of James 3:17 and trust that God will equip you with the wisdom you need for the challenges you face.

Further Reading:
Psalm 37:30
James 1:5
1 Corinthians 1: 19-29

[Judy Harder]

Feeding the Fire
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Entertainment Editor

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. - 1 Chronicles 16:11

Earlier this year I went fishing with my family up in the boundary waters of Minnesota. Ironically, the first day we pushed out onto the lake in are canoes, the weather was ideal. The sun was shining, the sky was clear, and it was warm but with a nice breeze to take the edge off. Then, like something out of a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon, the weather made a sudden shift. The next morning we got up to find a cloud had descended over the lake.

It wasn't raining per say, it was more like all the moisture in the area had gotten together and decided to smother our campsite. It was cold, it was damp, and all we could really do was huddle together for warmth. Finally I couldn't stand it any longer, I was going to build a fire. We had all tried earlier that morning, but the damp wood was nearly impossible to burn. With no lighter fluid and only a couple of matches, I realized I was going to have to do this the hard way.

First I started off with small kindling, pine needles, leaves, twigs. Then I moved on to sticks and paper. It took a long time, but at last I got a decent sized flame that would burn the big logs despite the fact that they were damp. You can be sure, now that we finally had a roaring fire there was no way we were going to let it go out. I bring this up because I believe the concept of building a fire is similar to building a relationship with God.

When a friend of mine recently said he didn't want to lose "the fire" God had given his spirit, I couldn't help but remember that could morning in Minnesota. The Holy Spirit will give us the passion and endurance to live Godly lives, but like a campfire, it will eventually burn down to embers if not supplemented by our own actions. It can be hard work at times. You'll need to start with kindling like daily prayer and scripture reading, follow up with something bigger like volunteering at Church, and then maybe apply a large commitment like ministry. It won't be easy, and there will be times when it all seems useless, but in the end the Holy Spirit will burn all brighter.

Remember the words of Matthew,   

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." – Matthew 5:14-16

Intersecting Faith and Life: Look for ways to build up your faith in daily life. What actions can you take to make a difference?

Further Reading                           

1 Corinthians 12

[Judy Harder]

Who Wants a Free Gift?
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Entertainment Editor

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:16

"Who wants a free gift?" I don't know about you, but that's a statement that often gives me pause. The reason why is because almost every day I'm bombarded with offers to receive a "free gift" that isn't really free. You probably know what I'm talking about. Credit card companies offer me "free rewards" if I spend more that eighteen thousand dollars with one of their cards. Airlines say they'll give me "free miles" if I book a trip to China right now, and then there are those pesky infomercials that offer me "free" steak knives if I buy their grease cooker for only $19.99!

As a Christian living in a world where there's no such thing as a free lunch, it's sometimes hard to understand the meaning of grace, and even harder to teach it to others. So when my father was asked to teach a group of middle school students about grace, I admit I had no idea how he was going to pull it off. But my father is a pretty shrewd guy (you're welcome Dad), and as soon as he got the lesson he went out, bought a Hershey bar the size of a laptop computer and covered it in wrapping paper. On Sunday morning he walked to the front of the room, held up the present, a said "Who wants a free gift?" No one moved.

Finally, one brave kid got up and ran forward to take the present from my father's hand. It's that simple. Every day God calls to us, offering the free gift of his grace, and all we need to do is accept it. Grace doesn't require a down payment, it doesn't ask you to do something first, and it's never a bonus for something you've already accomplished. Grace is a gift, the only thing in this world that is truly free.           

Intersecting Faith and Life: Do you want to receive a free gift? Take a moment during your day to reconnect with Christ.   

Further Reading

Ephesians 2:8

[Judy Harder]

There's a Title for That
by John UpChurch, Senior Editor, BibleStudyTools.com

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." Colossians 1:17-18

Sometimes, we just need to be reminded of who Jesus is:

·         The Word: He pitched His tent with us and put flesh on God's promises (John 1)

·         Son of God: He's got the whole world in His hands (Matthew 16:16)

·         Son of Man: He knows our sorrows up close and personal (Matthew 17:12)

·         Son of David: He loved His people, even if they didn't recognize Him (Matthew 1:1; John 1)

·         Teacher: He tells us exactly what we need, even if it's not what we want to hear (John 3:2)

·         Prophet: He told us what would and will happen (Deuteronomy 18:15; Matthew 13:57)

·         Provider: He can make a little go a long way (Mark 6:30-44)

·         Mediator: He's right in the middle of our struggles and pleading our case (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15)

·         Suffering Servant: He got busted up for us (Isaiah 53)

·         Lamb of God: He put sin in a full-nelson and made death cry uncle (John 1:29)

·         Lion of Judah: He can take care of His enemies with just His roar (Revelation 5:5, 19:21)

·         Counselor: He's the cure for our addictions and struggles (Isaiah 9:6)

·         Prince of Peace: He signed—in blood—the peace treaty between God and us (Isaiah 9:6)

·         Immanuel: He never gets tired of being with us (Isaiah 7:14)

·         King of Kings: He's got the power (Revelation 17:14)

·         The Way: He ain't got no time for wishy-washy "all roads" arguments; He's it (John 14:6)

·         The Truth: He puts the lie in our "true for you" follies (John 14:6)

·         The Life: He resuscitates hearts that were hardened by sin (John 14:6, 20:31)

·         Good Shepherd: He patiently and lovingly tracks down His runaways (Luke 15:4; John 10:11)

·         True Vine: He nurtures us to fruitfulness (John 15:4-5; Romans 7:4)

·         Friend of Sinners: He offers grace to those stumbling around in darkness (Matthew 11:9)

·         Balm of Gilead: He binds up our wounds by the scars on His back (Jeremiah 8:22; Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)

·         Giver of the Spirit: He sent the One who makes the journey alongside us and leads us into truth (John 14)

·         Light of the World: He sends photons to those who've been blinded by the god of this age (Luke 2:32; Acts 13:47; 2 Corinthians 4:4)

·         Intercessor: He never stops praying for us (Isaiah 53:12; John 17)

·         Great High Priest: He took care of all the Temple work (Hebrews 7)

·         The Bread/Water of Life: He's our daily nutritional requirement for a spiritually balanced life (John 6; Revelation 21:6)

·         Alpha and Omega: He gets the first and last word... always (Revelation 22:13)

·         Lord of Glory: He makes angels belt out never-ending praises (Psalm 24, 103:20; James 2:1)

·         Firstborn among the Dead: He paved the path that leads to His place (Colossians 1:18)

Intersecting Faith and Life: Jesus has so many titles because He fulfills all our needs. Wherever you are in life, whatever you need, He's got it covered. As my father-in-law sometimes says, "Jesus picked up His cross and said, 'Hang on to Me. We're going through.'"

With Him, you will make it out alive.

[Judy Harder]

Theocratic Bilateral Dispensationalism
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Entertainment Editor

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 3:11

The immortal bard, Dave Barry, once wrote "The problem with writing about religion is that you run the risk of offending sincerely religious people, and then they come after you with machetes."  All humor aside, I can't help but agree with Mr. Barry, especially where Christians are concerned.  You see, we Christians have a habit of tangling our faith in things other than Jesus Christ. As a kid, I can remember my initial confusion when words like "Baptist", "Catholic", or "Calvinist" where added alongside "Christian". This didn't bother me much, they still meant Christian after all, but it surprised me how these words sometimes caused tension between believers.

Soon, other words started finding their way into the term "Christian". Words like Republican, Democrat, Moderate, occasionally Communist, Egalitarian, Complementarian, Theocrat, or Dispensationalist. Aside from being really confusing and hard to spell, these words caused more than one disagreement among Christians. The first disciples saw their fair share of division too. In fact, Paul dedicated most of 1st Corinthians to calling for unity within the Church. 

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.  My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas "; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. – 1 Corinthians 10 – 17

I can just imagine Paul madly shaking some ancient Christian and yelling "DON'T YOU GET IT! IT DOESN'T MATTER! CHRIST IS ALL THAT MATTERS!" and he's right. As Christians, it is important that we be on our guard against false teachings, but it is equally important that we do not let ourselves become divided. God never meant for his children to become separated, and when we allow issues like denominations or political leanings to cause strife between us, the message of the Cross becomes obscured.       

We were meant to be one body, one family, unified, as brothers and sisters. In his infinite grace, Christ called us to be Christians.   

Intersecting Faith and Life: Are you letting political or personal issue keep you from loving fellow Christians? Read 1 Corinthians and reflect on Paul's words.

Further Reading

Psalm 133 

[Judy Harder]

Wisdom from Above
by Debbie Holloway, Family Editor, Crosswalk.com

Recently I participated in a small group discussion of Christ-like humility. Our discussion leader had pulled up several Scripture passages for us to reflect upon, and one of them has been racing around in my brain ever since:

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy (James 3:17).

Christ (such as in Mark 1:35) always sought wisdom from above before speaking and acting. Thus, as Christians (Christ-followers) we should be constantly seeking this godly wisdom and applying it to our lives and relationships. But that verse is a big verse. What does it look like to have this wisdom from above?

1.     It is first of all pure. Our motives for doing anything should reflect a desire to live like Christ and be in right relationship with God. If our earthly "wisdom" tells us to approach a situation with impure motives such as greed, selfishness, or pride – that is not wisdom from above.

2.     It is peaceable. Sometimes we get preoccupied with the imagery of Spiritual Armor and treat everyone we meet like an enemy solider. We must remember that Ephesians 6:10 says this battle is "not against flesh and blood." Our Lord is a Prince of Peace, and we have a duty to act as citizens of peace.

3.     It is gentle. Proverbs 15:1. If we speak gently, others are more likely to accept and understand God's work and wisdom. But gentleness is not just about tone of voice. Remember the gentleness and patience with which Jesus dealt with children, sinners, and his apostles. Gentleness is a way of life.

4.     It is reasonable. Another translation of this reads "willing to yield to others" – and both are absolutely crucial elements of wisdom. It may seem impossible to live a pure lifestyle while being reasonable and willing to yield, but the Bible says we must. We were given an astounding level of intellect and reason – let us use it! We mustn't buy in to the lie that "reason is the enemy of faith." It is necessary to yield to God daily with every decision we make. But it is also possible (and necessary, and wise) to yield to others. Whether it's a matter of selfless giving or resisting the urge to have angry, theological debates, we are called to yield.

5.     It is full of mercy. That parent who abused their authority? That government leader who makes you cringe? That blogger who sounds heretical? Wisdom from above tells us to look on them with mercy. After all, has not God shown us the greatest mercy of all?

6.     It is full of good fruits. I'm sure many of us can list Galatians 5:22 of the Lord's Spirit. When we use godly wisdom to discern what we should do, we will consider the fruits of our choices. Do we strive to make choices that result in the fruits of the Spirit manifested in our lives?

7.     It is unwavering. Perhaps it might be strange to think that wisdom from above can be both "willing to yield" and "unwavering." But don't think of them as opposites. Perhaps think of it like a marriage or a friendship. Each person in the relationship must listen to reason and be willing to yield to the other. But the relationship itself must be unwavering. We must be bold enough to live unwaveringly as followers of Christ and good stewards of the earth, no matter the opposition.

8.     It is without hypocrisy. If something seems like wisdom to you but causes you to be double-minded or deceitful, it cannot be wisdom from above. What we believe must match what we say. What we say must match how we behave. Otherwise, we misrepresent Jesus and the lifestyle we claim to live.

Intersecting Faith and Life: The next time you're faced with a decision, take a moment to match up your actions with "wisdom from above."

Further Reading

Ephesians 6:10

Galatians 5:22

Psalms 111:10

[Judy Harder]

Mixed Metaphors
by John UpChurch, Senior Editor, BibleStudyTools.com

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7

If you grew up in America, you probably heard somewhere along the line that sentences should never end with prepositions, infinitives should never be split, passive voice is taboo, and metaphors should never be mixed. We have those rules, for the most part, to preserve clarity as writers learn the craft. But sometimes grammar rules need to be broken, just as Paul does here by cramming metaphors right up against each other—and for good reason.

So walk in Him: It all begins with a walk. Jesus put splinters in His back to stumble up a hill, and He expects no less of us (Matthew 16:24). We sometimes struggle over the rocky ground, and obstacles define the journey as much as the path itself (Psalm 37:24). But God laid out the lines (Psalm 16:11), emblazoned the roadway with clear markers (Psalm 119:35), and provided a Helper to go alongside us (John 16:13). To get to the goal, we have to shake off the things that wrap around our legs and hold us back (Hebrews 12:1).

Rooted [in Him]: All the while, we're connected to the True Vine (John 15:1). He sends the sustenance we need to not only survive, but thrive in a barren world (John 10:10). God wants us to be fruitful—to the point that He actually prepared fruit beforehand for us (Ephesians 2:10). Sometimes He has to prune us a bit but that's only so we'll break forth in more fruit later (John 15:2).

Built up in Him and established in faith: But we need structure to make all this happen, a steady trellis. Christians—walking, fruitful Christians—rely on a sure foundation (Isaiah 33:6), a rock-solid Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20), and the living walls of fellow believers (1 Peter 2:5). Apart, we're just a piece of drywall, but, together, we're an impressive, if imperfect, house (Hebrews 3:6).

So, in one sentence, Paul makes us out to be walkers on a journey, plants with deep roots, and a living building. He would never have passed a modern writing course, but he gets the point across just the same: We move and grow and have our being in Christ (see Acts 17:28).

Intersecting Faith & Life: Word pictures in the Bible are imperfect physical descriptions of spiritual realities. Sometimes, you just need a bunch of them to get to the deeper truth—many broad strokes of the brush to nail down what's meant (see what I did there?). When you come to them, stop and try to imagine the picture being painted. You'll be amazed how much God can teach us through mixed metaphors.

For Further Reading

How to Walk with God

Colossians 2

[Judy Harder]

The Failure of History
John UpChurch, Senior Editor of BibleStudyTools.com

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)

To their credit, my two little girls sat patiently as the Cherokee peace chief explained his slit ears, metal breastplate, and high-heeled shoes. On the table in front of him sat a rifle, swan feathers, a clay mug, and other shards of the past. This is exactly what I love to do on a Saturday morning.

You see, I love the way history feels because I'm something of a nostalgia junky. The narratives that draw together people, locations, and wars latch onto me. The connections that run through mountains, rivers, and small towns dig under my skin. The history of grace absorbs me.

I have to be careful, though. Otherwise, I'd spend too much time living back there and not paying attention to grace here and now.

There's something in history that we often overlook. Sure, learning about the past supposedly keeps people from repeating mistakes (though I've yet to see that be the case). And we need to see where we've come from, to understand the ebbs and cycles in the story of civilization. But it's more than that.

History—much more than just a learning tool—is the story of human failure. If that sounds morbid, it is. The big picture of our history is how humans have failed to love, failed to live up to God's standards. There are tiny currents that push back against the raging waters of failure (and those are some great stories to focus on), but the overall direction has been clear.

What we learn, if we care to glance back, is that humanity has no chance—that is, no chance apart from grace. Our history lays bare the need for a raw, relentless love. We've stumbled and scrambled, fought and exiled. And yet no amount of human effort has ever satisfied the searching, the wanderlust. We've pushed on, pressed on, killed on. And never reached our goal.

But always there is God. The history we have points to the sparks He created in the darkness, the fires He kindled in the tragedies. Always there is God, appearing where you least expect. Always there is God, breaking through.

I love history because God's there in the midst of our failures. He never lets go; He never disappears.

Intersecting Faith & Life: One reason I always challenge others to keep a journal or a blog is because it gives us all a place to record our own histories. It's a place where we can see the pursuing love of God as He picks us up from our failures and loves us anyway. It's a place to learn from past mistakes. Take a moment today to capture your own story and keep at it. You'll always be amazed at the grace that shimmers through.

Further Reading

Romans 5