Christ the King Sunday will be my last Four Pockets entry for the time being. The original goal was to try Luther’s idea of collecting Bible verses like coins that could fill my pockets for the week. It's been a great three months!
I’ve found this to be a very rewarding practice in several ways. First, it’s given me a fresh way to preview the Bible readings for the upcoming Sunday. Instead of assuming I knew what they lessons said, this approach let the texts tell me what they wanted to say. Next, several of the passages I noticed really did become centering verses for me to carry from day-to-day. Phrases like, "the one who is and who was and who is to come" just have a way with sticking in my head. Third, it showed me once again how much wisdom, truth, love, grace, and beauty the Bible always has to share with us.
For instance, in this week’s Gospel reading, Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” That's always been a poignant moment in the Passion story for me. It grew even more meaningful one Holy Week when it struck me that Jesus didn’t tell Pilate what truth is… he showed him!
Blessings on Christ's Way, and thanks for joining me in this experiment! As we hear from the Revelator this week: “Grace to you and peace.”
Daniel 7:9-14, Psalm 93, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37
Brokenness
“Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’” (John 18:38)
“The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:10)
“Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail” (Revelation 1:7)
Grace
“My kingdom is not from this world” (John 18:36)
“For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37)
Love
“Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come” (Revelation 1:4)
“To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him” (Daniel 7:14)
Encouragement
“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8)
“Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore” (Psalm 93:5)
I’ve found this to be a very rewarding practice in several ways. First, it’s given me a fresh way to preview the Bible readings for the upcoming Sunday. Instead of assuming I knew what they lessons said, this approach let the texts tell me what they wanted to say. Next, several of the passages I noticed really did become centering verses for me to carry from day-to-day. Phrases like, "the one who is and who was and who is to come" just have a way with sticking in my head. Third, it showed me once again how much wisdom, truth, love, grace, and beauty the Bible always has to share with us.
For instance, in this week’s Gospel reading, Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” That's always been a poignant moment in the Passion story for me. It grew even more meaningful one Holy Week when it struck me that Jesus didn’t tell Pilate what truth is… he showed him!
Blessings on Christ's Way, and thanks for joining me in this experiment! As we hear from the Revelator this week: “Grace to you and peace.”
Daniel 7:9-14, Psalm 93, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37
Brokenness
“Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’” (John 18:38)
“The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:10)
“Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail” (Revelation 1:7)
Grace
“My kingdom is not from this world” (John 18:36)
“For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37)
Love
“Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come” (Revelation 1:4)
“To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him” (Daniel 7:14)
Encouragement
“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8)
“Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore” (Psalm 93:5)