I came across a strange thing, looking at various translations of Acts 3:19-20. Here are a couple samples:

19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, [NASB]

19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, [ESV]

What do you think of this? “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) This verse is so familiar to us that we may not really think about it very much any more. But let’s take a minute and actually think.

The story of Esther is familiar to us. You have quite likely heard more than one talk about her, sat in more that one class exploring the book named for her. If it’s been a while, you might want to reread it, maybe in a translation other than your usual. Read it as a movie script and supply the visual in your mind’s eye. You won’t find a more dramatic story anywhere.

It ought to hit us like a slap. “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,” Jesus says. (Luke 6:26). Can this really be? The things that cause people to speak well of someone include many traits that we are exhorted, even commanded, to display. Honesty. Being true to our word. Selflessness in helping others. Patience, humility, kindness. The list goes on. Can it be true that the Lord pronounces woe on us, if people around us recognize these traits in us?

We’ve all read, and perhaps struggled with, the assurance Jesus gives us: “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10) If we struggle, it’s generally because Jesus’s seemingly ironclad guarantee doesn’t seem to match our experience. We ask and don’t seem to receive, we knock and nothing appears to open.

The rumors come ahead of the man himself: Joshua is out again, preaching again! He’s apparently going all through Galilee. And now here he is, right in Capernaum! It is a joy to welcome him—but the sun is going down and Sabbath is beginning. Joshua settles in at Simeon’s house and tells the four partners and their families what he’s been doing: visiting synagogues, proclaiming that the Kingdom is near.

Where I live, restrictions resulting from the pandemic are being lifted, much to nearly everyone’s relief. The severity of the pandemic varies from place to place, and with it the restrictions, but in many places the trend is definitely toward reopening.

John’s first letter is filled with instruction, exhortation, encouragement. It has been mined again and again for inspired and inspirational lessons—and should be! Of all the teachings we find there, there is one that seems to me to be the standout beyond all the others. He says it over and over. Here’s how he puts it in chapter 4 verse 7: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

Spring is just about done now, and we’re moving into early summer. It’s beautiful. It’s wonderful—that is, it causes me to be full of wonder!

I’ve been looking at the origins and meanings of the words sympathy, empathy and compassion. Turns out there are differences of opinion about the shades of meaning conveyed. (Is there anything that doesn’t produce controversy in our culture? But that’s another topic.) If exploring words isn’t exactly your thing, I hope you’ll stick with me anyway; there is a point to it.

We know this one by heart: “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17) The principle James states rings absolutely true. There is nothing hard to grasp about the principle. Except, what actually is the “right thing”?

I’m pretty sure we would have figured it out anyway, but the writer to the Hebrews leaves us in no doubt whatever: the tabernacle and temple detailed in the Old Testament are symbolic. In Hebrews 9:8-9 the writer says, “By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age).” The outer portion represents the current setup, the inner portion representing the presence of God Himself, which only the High Priest may enter. You might want to stop right here and reread all of chapter 9, particularly verses 23-24. And while you’re there, look at 6:19-20 and 10:19-22. Very clearly, it’s all symbolic.