Pleasing Dad

A series on the book of Hebrews:
Encouragement to endure and live faithfully
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Hebrews 13 

[When you first start to follow Christ, often it’s done with great excitement. It’s like falling in love when all you can think about is the other person, and you want to tell everyone you know. But then the day-to-day pressures of living can push out those feelings and dull your enthusiasm. In this series, we will look at how the author of Hebrews tried to counteract falling out of love with Jesus.]

  

In the fall of 1968 when I left for my freshman year of college, my Dad told me that he expected me to write a letter every week. Of course, this was long before everybody had a cell phone, let alone emails. In fact, I’m not even sure that there was a pay phone on our dorm floor.

 

I must have complied with my Dad’s request. It was all he asked me to do to please him. It was left unsaid that he also expected me to attend classes and keep up with my schoolwork. But still, it wasn’t a burdensome request for pleasing Dad.

 

Over the generations, Israel had gotten off track. They had become focused on obeying rules, rather than developing a relationship; offering sacrifices, rather than showing mercy; observing religious festivals, rather than walking humbly with God. They had lost sight of how to truly please the Lord.

 

In this chapter, the writer of Hebrews ended his letter with verses about how the Hebrews could please God. The writer exhorted them about their moral and religious behavior.  No topic was off limits.

 

He told them to keep loving one another; to keep their marriage sexually pure; to stay free from the love of money; to avoid strange teachings; to follow the example of their spiritual mentors. He reminded them that pleasing God included trusting in His promises, in who he is and in what he did for them.

 

^5b “I will never fail you.
    I will never abandon you.”       NLT

 

 ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.          NIV

 

¹² So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.                NLT

 

In the same way that my Dad told me how to please him, the writer told the Hebrews how to please God. He didn’t focus on rules or religion, but on relationships.

¹⁵ Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. ¹⁶ And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.          NLT

 

The prophet Micah, after asking what offerings would please God, came to this conclusion.

 

⁸ The Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.                 GNT

 

Copyright 2025 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

By Faith

A series on the book of Hebrews:
Heroes of faith
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Hebrews 11:1-12:3 

[When you first start to follow Christ, often it’s done with great excitement. It’s like falling in love when all you can think about is the other person, and you want to tell everyone you know. But then the day-to-day pressures of living can push out those feelings and dull your enthusiasm. In this series, we will look at how the author of Hebrews tried to counteract falling out of love with Jesus.]

  

In 2010, Michigan State had a really good football team. Their regular season record was 11-1, and they were the Big Ten Champions. As a result, the Spartans were invited to the Capital One Bowl game in Orlando on New Years Day.

 

My wife and I decided to go to the bowl game, along with my brother, his wife, their son (all big Spartan fans) and one of my sisters. 

By faith, we bought tickets for the game, tickets for our flight and reserved a hotel room. We hoped and believed that the Spartans would be victorious.

 

Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were struggling. They had been severely persecuted. As a result, they were beginning to lose hope that Jesus would return. It was so bad that they were losing their faith. 

They needed encouragement. They needed to see the big picture. They needed to see God’s faithfulness at work.

 

The author of Hebrews begins chapter 11 by defining faith in terms of hope for an unseen reward.

 

¹ To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. ² It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God's approval.            GNT

 

In this chapter, the writer mentions a number of Old Testament people who had acted “by faith” under difficult circumstances and gained God’s approval. Noah had built a boat in the middle of dry land. Abraham had left his home for a land unseen. Moses led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt.

 

And yet, we read that they never saw what they had hoped for. They never received God’s promise. They were living with delayed gratification… by faith.

 

¹³ All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.  NIV

 

With the bowl game, like these Old Testament Jews, even though we had acted by faith, we didn’t receive what we had hoped for – a Spartan victory. But we still had hope because there was always next season. The Israelites had an even better hope!

 

¹⁶ But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.                   NLT

 

Following chapter 11, the writer begins his conclusion using the word “therefore”. This means that what was to follow was the whole reason why he had written about all those Old Testament people. Here’s what he wrote.

 

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ^2a fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.    NIV

 

Like the writer did in chapter 10, he gave them a “to do” list beginning with the two-letter phrase “let us”. He encouraged them to “throw off everything that hinders”; to “run with perseverance”; and to “fix your eyes on Jesus”.

 

This was good advice for Christians struggling in the first century. It’s also good advice for Christians struggling in the twenty-first century! 

We don’t always get what we hope for. But if we live by faith, God will be pleased with us and one day say, “Well done my good and faithful servant”.

 

Copyright 2025 Joseph B Williams

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www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Whatever it Takes

A series on the book of Hebrews:
A call to faith and perseverance
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Hebrews 10:19-39 

[When you first start to follow Christ, often it’s done with great excitement. It’s like falling in love when all you can think about is the other person, and you want to tell everyone you know. But then the day-to-day pressures of living can push out those feelings and dull your enthusiasm. In this series, we will look at how the author of Hebrews tried to counteract falling out of love with Jesus.]

  

There are lots of ways to motivate people. When I was in high school, we had an assistant football coach who was 6 foot 8 inches and probably weighed about 300 pounds. During one of our half-times, he was yelling at us as he pounded on his clipboard until it shattered in two. After that, we were motivated!

 

There were many times during the history of Israel that nothing seemed to motivate them to follow God. One such occasion was when Moses was handing over the leadership to Joshua just before Israel was to enter the Promised Land.

 

The Lord told Moses that once Israel entered Canaan, they would reject him by turning to other gods. Following this, the Lord spoke these words of judgement to Israel through Moses.

 

³⁵ I will take revenge; I will pay them back.
    In due time their feet will slip.
Their day of disaster will arrive,
    and their destiny will overtake them.’          NLT

 

Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were considering rejecting their faith. The writer quoted the above verse from Deuteronomy to motivate them. He also reminded them how faithful they had been in the past. Even in the face of terrible suffering, they had willingly followed Christ while helping other believers.

 

With such pain and persecution in their life, it’s not surprising that they had doubts. They had lost patience in the promise that Jesus would return. Their hope in him had waned. In response, the author quoted from Habakkuk to encourage them to not give up hope, but to persevere and wait patiently.

 

³ This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.         NLT

 

The writer also reminded the Hebrews about the benefits of keeping the faith.

 

¹⁹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. ²⁰ By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.            NLT’

 

The promise of being able to enter into the presence of the Living God, was to motivate them to faith in action. With that in mind, the writer gave them a “to do” list starting with “let us”.

 

^22a let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. ²³ Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. ²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.  NLT

 

My high school coach motivated us by intimidation, fear and the desire to take it out on the other team. The writer of Hebrews used many different methods to motivate the believers, including to remind them about the promises of God, his faithfulness and encouraging them to persevere in their faith.

 

What motivates you to keep following Christ? Is it the promise of his return; the threat of consequences; the encouragement of fellow believers; the faithfulness and love of God; the presence of God through prayer?

 

Whatever it is… do whatever it takes to stay motivated.

 

Copyright 2025 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

When Opportunity Knocks

A series on meeting God – Rahab
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Joshua 2 

[We all have a story about how we met God. Some are more miraculous than others, but none more amazing than the mere fact that the Living God, our Creator, reached out to bring us into relationship with him. In this series, we will be looking at how people in the Bible met God, and what that means to you today.]

  

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

—Michael Jordan

 

Opportunity knocked for Michael Jordan. His success is well documented. He won six NBA championships while earning five MVP awards. Beyond basketball, Jordan built a business empire through endorsements and savvy business decisions.

 

Opportunity also knocked for Rahab the prostitute. Men who were traveling would stay at her house. As a result, Rahab had heard many reports circulating about the nation of Israel who were camped nearby just east of the Jordan River.

 

She’d heard how the Israelite’s God had miraculously dried up the Red Sea to escape Egypt. How He had destroyed the two Amorite kings. And now the nation was camped nearby. Fear melted the hearts of the citizens of Jericho. Then, opportunity knocked, literally at Rahab’s door.

 

It was two Israelite men who had been sent as spies. As she let them enter her home, she saw an opportunity. She hid them on her roof, and then risking everything, lied to the king’s men. She gave the spies valuable intel that would help Israel to defeat Jericho. Then she helped them escape.

 

But before she sent them away, she asked them not to harm her or her family.

 

^12a “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you.             NIV

 

Rahab had already given them the intel they needed so they easily could have said no and left. Instead, they made a vow for Rahab and her family to be spared, to be shown mercy, to be redeemed.

 

Rahab confessed to the spies that “the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below”. Rahab the prostitute; the Canaanite; the heathen; had acted on her faith in the Israelite God. And because of her faith, history was changed.

 

God used her not only to help Joshua to victory in his initial campaign as the new leader. But also, to continue His plan of redemption. She became the great-great-grandmother of King David, making her a direct ancestor of Jesus.

 

Faith results in a changed life. Rahab didn’t let her past define her future. And because of that she was praised for her faith in the “Hall of Faith”. And for her deeds she was compared with Abraham’s faith.

 

³¹ By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.        NIV    Hebrews 11

 

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?                   NIV    James 2

 

Copyright 2025 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

Sight Unseen

A series on meeting God – Abraham
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Genesis 12:1-9; Genesis 15:1-21 

[We all have a story about how we met God. Some are more miraculous than others, but none more amazing than the mere fact that the Living God, our Creator, reached out to bring us into relationship with him. In this series, we will be looking at how people in the Bible met God, and what that means to you today.]

  

As a junior in high school, I planned to go into geological engineering. When I told Mr. Clark, our guidance counselor, he immediately said, “You need to go to Michigan Tech in Houghton”.

 

I didn’t know anything about Tech. Things like their average annual snowfall was 250 inches; or that there were 10 guys for every girl; or that it was about a nine-hour drive to the middle of nowhere. All I knew was that Mr. Clark recommended it; so, I went to Tech… sight unseen. Abram did the same thing!

 

Abram was born in Ur of the Chaldeans in Mesopotamia. He lived there with his father, Terah - who worshiped the moon god, his wife Sarai - who was barren and his nephew Lot – whose father had died.

 

While in Mesopotamia, the Lord appeared to Abram telling him to leave his home and his people, and to go to the land that the Lord would show him. Based solely on the word of the Lord, Abram uprooted his life to go there… sight unseen.

 

Abram took with him Terah, Sarai and Lot. However, on the way they settled in Harran, a city also known for worshipping the moon god. Although we don’t know why they settled there, you could speculate that it had to do with Terah. Because when he died Abram once again set out for the land the Lord would show him.

 

Despite Sarai being barren, the Lord made this startling promise to Abram.

 

² “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.       NIV              Genesis 12

 

At the age of seventy-five, Abram arrived in Canaan with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot, along with all their possessions and people that they had acquired in Harran. But they weren’t alone. The Canaanites lived there.

 

Even though Abram was old, Sarai was still barren, and the Canaanites were there, the Lord again appeared to Abram and promised that he would give Abram’s descendants the land. Therefore, he built an altar to the Lord.

 

However, over the following decade, Abram experienced many adversities, not the least of which was that he still had no children. Afraid and discouraged, the Lord appeared to Abram again. This time, Abram complained about being childless.

 

⁵ Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

⁶ And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.  NLT   Genesis 15

 

Based on God’s word and promise, Abram went to the ends of the earth… sight unseen. The Lord had made a covenant with Abram that he would fulfill his promise. The Lord also made a new covenant with you and me. A covenant to forgive our sins and restore us to him.

 

²⁰ After supper Jesus took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.  NLT   Luke 22

 

Copyright 2025 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

Fat Man’s Misery

A Series on Living in the Wilderness
Rich young ruler
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Mark 10:17-31 

[In this series we’ll be looking at people who lived in the wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is faithful, that He loves you and is always with you.]

 

In one of the tours at Mammoth Cave National Park, there’s a passageway that is officially named “Fat Man’s Misery”. 

It’s called this because at one point you have to bend over and turn sideways in order to get through it. For some, it might appear impossible to navigate.

 

Towards the end of Jesus’ ministry, he was heading to Jerusalem. Crowds of people were following him, so he was teaching and healing as he went along. Normally, when people approached Jesus, they wanted something from him. There was some pain in their life. But not so much with the rich young ruler.

 

He ran up to Jesus, fell on his knees and asked, “Good teacher. What must I do to inherit eternal life”? On the one hand it appeared that he was eager and sincere. However, he didn’t understand who Jesus really was. Nor did he understand that faith was essential for eternal life.

 

Like the Pharisees, he believed that eternal life was something that he could earn. 

After all, he was a rich young ruler and had everything that the world had to offer - wealth, the confidence of youth and power. He was a person of means and status. Someone who had become self-sufficient.

 

As Jesus did with others, he interacted with the young man at his level of spiritual understanding. It needed to be something that he could relate to and comprehend. Therefore, Jesus answered him by quoting some of the commandments.

 

When the man told Jesus that he had followed the law since he was a boy, Jesus lovingly responded that he needed to sell everything he had, give it to the poor and follow him. In other words, make Jesus the most important thing in his life.

 

But he couldn’t do it. The man’s face fell, and he walked away in despair. As it turned out, his riches were more important to him than eternal life.

 

Seeing a teachable moment, Jesus turned to his disciples and told them how hard it was for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.

 

²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”           NIV

 

Like those on the tour at Mammoth Cave when they encounter “Fat Man’s Misery”, the disciples thought this was impossible. They couldn’t believe what Jesus had told them and wondered out loud if anyone could be saved.

 

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”                  NIV

 

Follow by faith, not rules or riches.

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

A Cloud of Dust

A Series on Living in the Wilderness
The sinful woman
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 7:36-50 

[In this series we’ll be looking at people who lived in the wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is faithful, that He loves you and is always with you.]

  

One of the most popular characters in the cartoon strip Peanuts is Pig-Pen. A cloud of dust surrounds him everywhere he goes and he’s always dirty. Referred to as a “human dustbowl”, he could turn a white snowman into a dirty snowman.

 

Pig-Pen accepted the fact that he was dirty. Even when he tried, he couldn’t stay clean. Once, after bathing and dressing in clean clothes, he stepped outside and instantaneously became dirty. He then declared to Charlie Brown, "You know what I am? I'm a dust magnet!" 

 

In the story today, there are three main characters. A Pharisee who, following synagogue, invited the rising star rabbi for a banquet at his home. Jesus, who is the up and coming rabbi. And an uninvited guest… the sinful woman.

 

In this culture, women were expected to be married. And if you were married, it was expected that you wore a head covering to show not only that you weren’t available, but also that you were virtuous. If you didn’t wear a head covering, you were subject to speculation, gossip and likely considered promiscuous.

 

In the case of the sinful woman, who didn’t wear a head covering, she already had a well-known reputation for being immoral. When she knelt at Jesus’ feet, weeping and then drying his feet with her hair and anointing them with expensive perfume, the Pharisee judged them both.

 

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”           NLT

 

Like Pig-Pen, she was an outcast whose dirty reputation both preceded and followed her. Both of them lived in a wilderness of dust.

 

But the sinful woman had heard Jesus speak. She had heard his words of love and healing. His words of forgiveness and cleansing. His words of defiance against the religious establishment.

 

Because of this, she found the courage to break social norms. To not only walk into a banquet that she wasn’t invited to, nor wanted, but also to kneel at Jesus’ feet with unbridled emotion and touch him.

 

She looked in the mirror and saw her dust and wanted to change. She probably had wanted to change before, but now she believed it was possible because of the rabbi. By faith, she acted on her newfound hope in Jesus. The result was life changing.

 

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”  ^50b “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” NLT

 

Notice that Jesus never referred to her as the sinful woman. With his words of freedom, you can visualize the cloud of dust falling to her feet and disappearing. He has taken her out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land.

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com