Robert Grisham Posts

Today’s reading is from Hebrews 1-5.

There’s a lot that we don’t know about Hebrews. We don’t know who wrote it and we don’t know when it was written. What we do know is that it’s written to Jewish Christians. And it seems that the writer’s chief objective is to show how Jesus connects, and fulfills, the story of God that has been passed down for centuries.

He starts with Jesus, and throughout the letter he will connect Jesus with all of the aspects of their story. He reminds them that God’s original intent was that humanity would work alongside him to redeem and restore all that was lost and broken. He says that God “put them (men and women) in charge of his entire handcrafted world.” And just to make sure he’s clear…”when God put them in charge of everything, nothing was excluded (Hebrews 2:8).

What a calling! We’ve looked previously at what happened when we rejected our calling and turned instead to idols. Now we were the ones who needed rescuing because we were lost and broken. And that’s when he weaves Jesus into the story. He came to rescue. He came to help.

By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself – all the pain, all the testing – and would be able to help where help was needed.
Hebrews 2:14-18 (The Message)

Even after all that Jesus did for us, it is easy for us to miss what God is doing. It’s easy for us to listen to other voices instead of God’s. It’s easy for us to believe the lie that following another path will lead to happiness and fulfillment. So he says…

So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as God’s still calling it Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul.
Hebrews 3:12-14 (The Message)

The reader is reminded of Israel’s 40 years wandering in the wilderness. It shouldn’t have taken them 40 years to get from Egypt to the Promised Land. It shouldn’t have taken 40 years to change their identity from slave to new nation. So why did it? It was simply because they thought they knew better than God. They listened to other voices. They chose different paths. And God allowed it. It was less about punishment and more about freedom and autonomy. That’s how good parenting works.

The Israelites never entered their rest because they fought God the entire way. But God is faithful and full of mercy. The offer of rest continues today, as “today” continues to be renewed. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7).

Because of this, we should boldly move towards Jesus…

Now that we know what we have – Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God – let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all – all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (The Message).

The Catholic Church marks June 29 as the deaths of both Peter and Paul. The reason I know this is that our family visited Vatican City on June 30, 2018, and we learned that this was one of the busiest days of the year because everything was closed the day before to commemorate their lives and deaths.

On July 19, in the year AD 64, a fire broke out in Rome, and it raged for nine days. 71% of the city was destroyed in that time. Emperor Nero was initially blamed. He needed a scapegoat, so he chose the Christians in Rome. Over the next few years, Christians would be persecuted. They would be killed in horrible ways, often for the entertainment of Nero. Some were sewn in the skins of animals and left for wild dogs. Others were coated in wax and lit up in his gardens as human torches. This persecution would last until AD 68, when Nero was banished from Rome and committed suicide.

It was during this time that both Peter and Paul were killed, though probably not on the same day. Because Paul was a Roman citizen, his mode of execution was beheading, a humane way to go compared to how many died under Nero’s reign. Peter was not a Jew, so he was sentenced to death via crucifixion. Church tradition says that because he didn’t feel worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord, he chose to be crucified upside down.

Today’s reading is from 2 Peter

Like Paul in his second letter to Timothy, Peter knows that his time left on earth is short. He knows that this will be the last letter he writes. Like his first letter, this one isn’t written to a specific person or an individual church. It’s written to all believers.

One of my favorite passages comes from this letter. I believe it’s Peter summing up all that he knows, and all that he hopes for his brothers and sisters.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 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, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, 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. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
2 Peter 2:1-9

Today’s reading is from 1 Peter.

We haven’t heard much from Peter in awhile. Luke doesn’t mention him after the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), but he has apparently spent most of his time in Jerusalem. At some point he journeyed to Rome. The two letters that he writes are to a large audience. These churches are facing persecution, and he wants to encourage them.

Peter begins, like James, with talk about suffering. He says that they can rejoice in the suffering that they are going through. He relates it to gold that goes through the refiner’s process. When we suffer we are going through a refining process, and we come out on the other side better.

Peter wants them to continue to grow closer to Christ. He says, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:1-3).

He then reminds them of who God called them to be…

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10

Towards the end of the letter he issues a challenge…

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:7-11

Today’s reading is on James and Jude.

These were two of Jesus’ brothers. Neither believed that their older brother was the Messiah until after his death, resurrection and ascension. But both committed their lives to his mission after their realization. James led the church in Jerusalem for many years.

I love James’ letter for his practicality. It’s very different from Paul’s letters. In the first chapter alone he covers topics such as how we can look at trials as a gift because they lead to maturity, our need for wisdom and how to get it, the need for humility, the need to not simply listen to God but to do what he says, and the need to care for those who need it, especially orphans and widows.

One of the first times I ever heard someone read from Eugene Peterson’s Message was reading a passage from James. It’s one that I’ve often come back to…

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.
James 4:7-10 (The Message)

Today’s reading comes from 2 Timothy. This is the last of Paul’s letters. He is once again in Rome, and once again in prison, and he knows that his time on earth is short. It’s a tough time for Paul. Many of his friends have deserted him. The churches that he started are all facing challenges from within and without. And many Christians, especially in Rome, are facing terrible persecution (more on this in a few days).

Because of all of this, as well as for his love for Timothy, this letter is very personal. He knows that Timothy is fighting hard, and he doesn’t want him to give up. He reminds him of Christ’s work in Timothy’s life, and he challenged him to continue doing the work.

Much of that work was defending the gospel. I find it interesting that in both letters to Timothy and in the letter to Titus, Paul talks so much about the need for sound doctrine. The reason is that doctrine was under attack. There was so much false teaching. He says to Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

He also tells him, “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:2-3).

Towards the end of the letter Paul asks Timothy to come and see him. And then he writes these last beautiful and courageous words:

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:6-8.

Today’s reading is from Titus.

After Paul was released from house arrest in Rome, many believe that he traveled to Spain, something that he had been wanting to do for some time (Romans 15:24). From there he went to Crete with Titus, and later left him there to lead the church.

Titus, like Timothy, was a young man who was mentored by Paul. And like Timothy in Ephehsus, Titus was dealing with problems in the church in Crete. Paul heard about what was going on and decided to write Titus. The problem was once again false teachers.

In the letter Paul reminds Titus that the reason he told him to appoint elders was so they could “encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:9). They would now help Titus challenge false teachings.

But above all, Paul wanted to remind Titus of the message of Jesus, which would be the biggest challenge against false teaching…

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7

It’s been two months since I began this practice of daily reflections through the New Testament. We normally read the Bible one verse/passage/book at a time, but one of the greatest benefits of this practice has been reading through the lens of the entire story.

It’s impossible for us to understand every bit of the context of what was going on since we’re separated by 2000 years, but this practice has helped to bridge a lot of the gaps.

Today’s reading comes from 1 Timothy. I enjoyed reading this letter again, but I was reminded of the frustrations that I have with it. This one letter, written to Paul’s son in the faith, has been used to subjugate women throughout the past 2000 years. It has been used to perpetuate patriarchy throughout culture and within the church itself.

Here’s the passage that I’m referring to…

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
1 Timothy 2:9-15

This passage seems pretty black and white, and the majority of churches throughout the centuries have treated it as such. In my opinion, the problem is that it goes against Paul’s practices, which we’ve been looking at for the past month. We’ve seen several women play major roles in Paul’s ministry. Lydia helped Paul start the church in Philippi. Phoebe is a deacon whom Paul asks to journey to Rome to deliver, and most likely read, his letter to the Roman church. If she read it, she was most likely then fielding questions on what many call the greatest ever work of theology. And then there’s Priscilla. She and her husband Aquila formed a powerhouse team, but team is exactly what they were. They helped Paul start churches in Corinth, Ephesus and Rome. And they mentored Apollos, who would become a strong teacher in the church.

None of these women were held to these rules that he presents in 1 Timothy. They didn’t learn in quietness and full submission. They led. They taught. They had authority!

So what in the world in going on here? Well, here is one of those instances where context is key!

First, some background on Timothy…Paul most likely met Timothy on his first missionary journey. Paul then invited him to join he and Silas in his second missionary journey. Timothy remained one of Paul’s most trusted partners. Paul sent Timothy to help several churches, and he co-authored several letters with Paul: 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians, . At some point Paul sent him to lead the church in Ephesus.

We know some things about Ephesus.  The city housed a temple to Artemis (Diana was her Roman name), which was one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.  It was a female-only cult, and it was women who were the priestesses who ran the show.  When the message of Jesus came to Ephesus, some of these women were converted, and because this was their context, people assumed that they would lead in the same way in the church. Paul feels the need to push back on this.

Second, we need to understand Paul’s purpose for writing this letter. Paul was writing it for the same reason he wrote the majority of his other letters. There was a problem, and he was being asked to help. Verse 3 of the first chapter says that certain people were teaching false doctrines. Everything in this letter needs to be read with that context in mind. This includes the things he says about women.

Lots of books have been written on this topic. I’ve just scratched the surface with these thoughts. If you want to read a short article, I recommend this one by NT Wright.

I don’t completely dismiss what Paul says in this letter regarding the role of women, but because it doesn’t reflect his previous practices, and because I believe what he was saying was specific to what was going on in Ephesus, I don’t believe it should have any bearings on how we do things today.

Paul must be delighted to finally write a letter to the church in Philippi. From the moment he met so many of them during his second missionary journey, they have been so dear to him. Some of them apparently have great wealth, but it’s more than just that. They are thoughtful. They understand that Paul has given up so much in order to spread the message of Jesus. They have heard all that he has gone through, and they understand that they have the means to help him.

The church in Philippi has now sent funds to Paul four times. This is one of the reasons they are so dear to Paul. But it’s not the main reason. The main reason is that he feels like a proud parent. When he met them, they had never heard the name Jesus. But they believed what Paul said, and they trusted Jesus. And this message infiltrated their hearts and lives in powerful ways.

It’s been a little over a decade since this church was planted. Paul says that every time they cross his mind, his only response is thanksgiving to God for what he has done in their lives. And it then turns to prayer.

So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9-11

Paul then shares how Christ’s humility should impact theirs. He says…

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death – and the worst kind of death at that – a crucifixion.
Philippians 2:5-8

He goes on to exclaim the importance that it was because of his humility and obedience that Christ is seated at the right hand of God and is the ultimate recipient of all creation’s worship.

He wants these friends to see Christ as their example. And he too wants to be an example to them. Paul is writing this letter while under house arrest in Rome. He’s not broken any laws. He’s done what God has called him to do. And it’s good work. Yet he’s experiencing suffering as a result. But he wants them to know that he praises God nonetheless. He sees God’s hand in the midst of his suffering.