Old Testament reading: Psalm 66-67
“I’ve seen fire, and I’ve seen rain” (James Taylor, “Fire and Rain”). “We went through fire and through water, but You have brought us out to rich fulfillment” (Psalm 66:12). My Bible contains a margin note next to rich, giving an alternate rendering of “abundance.” So it is every time we pass through God’s proving grounds. Two verses earlier, David said, “For You, God, have tested us; you have refined us as silver is refined” (v 10). Precious metals like silver and gold are purified by placing them under intense heat. When the metal becomes liquid, the impurities (dross) come to the top and are removed, leaving behind a purer and more precious product. So also it is with the Christian. The intense heat of life’s difficulties serves to remove those things that hinder our holiness. Job said it like this, “When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Let us have the faith and fortitude to see “the end intended by the Lord” (James 5:11).
New Testament reading: John 8-9
“I AM.” This is the name of God as given to Moses when he asked God for the name of the One who was sending him to Egypt (Ex 3:14). It is my belief that the translators missed the I AM that appears in John 8:24. Every primary translation adds “he” after “I am” in verses 24 and 28, including the KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB, Holman (HCSB). This is done to help clarify the meaning, but I believe rendering it “I AM” is more accurate. In referring to Himself as “I AM,” Jesus was claiming to be Deity, but the Pharisees missed it the first two times in verses 24 and 28 The Holman Christian Standard Bible notes the Pharisees’ error in the margin on verse 24, even though they also added “He” in their translation. However, the third time was a charm. In verse 58 Jesus makes it abundantly clear what He intends by “I AM” to the great displeasure to the Jews, who take up stones to kill him. Jesus is not “just” the Son of God; He is God (John 1:1; Hebrews 1:8).
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