Tag: Bible questions.

April 2, 2025

April 2nd, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – Judges 10-11

Highlight Verses:

“After Abimelech died, Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo, was the next person to rescue Israel. He was from the tribe of Issachar but lived in the town of Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. He judged Israel for twenty-three years. When he died, he was buried in Shamir.”
‭‭Judges‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Tola had all of 2 verses in the Bible. According to those verses, he did three things:

He rescued Israel.
He judged Israel for twenty-three years.
And he died.

But here is what is implied in verse 6.

During the entire 45 years that Tola and his successor Jair judged Israel, they kept the people of Israel from wandering into evil.

That’s no small fete.

Frankly, that could be considered a greater accomplishment than all the heroic actions of the other judges combined.

Personally, I would much rather be known for a lifetime of faithfulness that a moment of heroic triumph.

Who is your favorite Judge from the Bible so far?
Why?
April 1, 2025

April 1st, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 21

Highlight Verse:

“And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭21‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ten years ago on this day, my wife and I brought to the dinner table a sonogram of twins, telling our kids they were going to have younger siblings.

They didn’t buy it, at least not for more than a few seconds. But we all had a good laugh.

I think God loves laughter.

This verse is just one humorous moment in the Bible. Sarah’s joyous laughter is at the irony of a long barren woman having a child in her extreme old age.

The Bible is full of humorous moments:
• Balaam’s donkey
• Paul setting the Pharisees fighting against the Saducees
• Job being swallowed and vomited by a big fish.
• Jesus’ illustration of a log in your eye.
• Zacchaeus climbing a tree to see Jesus
• And many verses in Proverbs about lazy people and nagging wives.

I often picture Jesus laughing with His disciples as they hung out. While I don’t see Him as ever using inappropriate humor, I see Him as one who loves the richness of life, including laughter.

As you enjoy this April Fool’s Day, think WWMJL (What Would Make Jesus Laugh)

What story or verse in the Bible amuses you most?
In what ways can we use humor to draw people to God?
March 31, 2025

March 31st, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 14

Highlight Verse:

“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse always reminds me of the words of the late Keith Green. “If this world took six days and that home two thousand years, man, this is living in a garbage can compared to what’s going on up there.” (I Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven, copyright 1981, Keith Green)

I honestly don’t know what heaven will be like.

I know that those who have been on the edge of it through near death experiences have reported amazing experiences that made them not want to come back here.

More important is what the Bible tells us about heaven:
• It will be beautiful – Revelation 21
• There will be worship – Revelation 5
• We won’t fear there – Matthew 6:19-20
• We’ll get there immediately upon passing – Luke 23:42-43
• We’ll be in fellowship with Jesus forever – 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18
• It will be a great celebration – Revelation 19

I could go on though it still gives us a relatively vague picture of heaven.

While we may not know that much about heaven, I know it’s where I want to go.

What is your picture of heaven?
What are you not sure will be there that you hope will be there?
March 30, 2025

March 30th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 34-36

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is probably my second favorite verse in the Bible.

I first found out about it as a young camp counselor assigned to lead a small group of kids from broken families (mostly divorced parents).

Almost universally, they struggled with grief. Their lives were destabilized. They often felt guilty or betrayed or both.

They needed someone who would never leave them.

This Psalm shows them that the God who never gave up on David would never give up on them. In fact, He would come closer to them.

I found that to be true in my life.

The lowest times in my life were also the times that God carried me through. Those same times were the times of greatest spiritual growth in my life.

If God is with me, I can make it through.

Has God seen you through times when you were broken-hearted?
Have you been able to use this verse or your experience to help others through hard times?
March 29, 2025

March 29th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Philippians 4:4-13

Highlight Verse:

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever searched for “Cleanliness is next to godliness” in the Bible?

You probably already know that it isn’t there.

In fact, Jesus criticized the ceremonial cleansing rituals of the Pharisees because they had become empty religious practices that did nothing to cleanse the soul.

Does that mean that God doesn’t value cleanliness?

During the time of the Exodus, God gave His people rules for cleanliness that protected them from disease.

Other times, order and precision is praised – such as the cleansing of the neglected temple (2 Chron. 34), the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall (Neh. 3), or the parable describing building a house on a rock (Mat. 7).

I’ve begun a bit of Spring cleaning in my garage workshop (it needs it badly). The more clean and orderly it gets, the less time it takes to do projects and the better they come out.

That helps me use my time more effectively in doing what God has called me to do.

And that’s not even counting spiritual cleansing.

Is there some cleaning that you need to get started on?
How will it help you fulfill God’s calling on your life?
March 28, 2025

March 28th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 37-39

Highlight Verse:

“After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭37‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yes, I know this is a bit of history practically cut and pasted into Isaiah. Maybe I should have focused on the words of Isaiah but I couldn’t resist Hezekiah’s actions here.

Hezekiah had just been reassured by Isaiah when he got this threatening letter from his enemy.

Maybe he should have just burned it and ignored it’s message, but he was disturbed by it. He needed some reassurance.

So he brought it to the Lord and spread it out before Him.

I’ll let you read God’s reply to him.

Suffice it to say that Hezekiah set a good example for us.

When we face discouragement, we should bring it straight to God.

Then we might get a taste of the words of Big Tent Revival when they sang “Take the biggest thing that’s got you down, stand it up right next to God. Anyone can see who’s bigger now, It don’t take no astronaut.” (Jesus is Your Friend – copyright 1995, Big Tent Revival)

What discouraging situations have you brought to God?
How did He answer your cries for help?
March 27, 2025

March 27th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Romans 13

Highlight Verse:

“For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I finally figured out how to not get any traffic tickets – obey the traffic laws.

But seriously, I always wondered how Paul could write this as a follower of someone who was crucified for rebelling against authority.

But then I remember that Jesus was God, the ultimate authority.

Beyond that, Jesus submitted to earthly authorities where they aligned with God’s will. That included submitting to carrying the cross and being crucified.

Paul also submitted to authority to the point of imprisonment and death. He never stopped preaching, but he submitted to the earthly consequences for obeying God.

They did not ignore earthly authority. They respected it. They obeyed God. But when earthly authorities punished them for obeying God, they submitted.

Have you ever had to choose to obey God in defiance of earthly authority?
What happened and why?
March 26, 2025

March 26th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – Judges 9

Highlight Verse:

“In this way, God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers.”
‭‭Judges‬ ‭9‬:‭56‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Abimelech gets a whole chapter in Judges but notice that he is never called a judge.

He connives his way into leading the town of Shechem, but he does that by killing his brothers.

In the end, he saves no Israelites but kills many.

Eventually he gets what he deserves when a woman drops a mill stone on his head.

Now he is known not for his greatness but for his evil – for the rest of all history.

I know that we should work to bring God glory rather than ourselves. But if we follow God’s call, our legacy will continue to draw people to God.

Even our memory will be part of our ministry.

What do you want to be remembered for?
What are you doing to achieve that goal?
March 25, 2025

March 25th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 19-20

Highlight Verse:

“When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭19‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s easy to judge Lot here.

The danger was eminent, yet he still hesitated.

I would like to believe that he hesitated out of love for his daughters who would be losing their fiancés.

But those would be the same daughters that he was willing to give to the mob the night before.

So, I don’t know his reasoning, but I know Lot was unsure enough to hesitate.

There have been times in my life when I was unsure about something that I thought God was calling me to do.

When He called me to Bible college, I wasn’t sure. But our house sold in less than two weeks for what we hoped to get for it. If that wasn’t enough, we found a perfect rental not far from the Bible college.

He practically dragged me there.

While things arose in my life and family that prevented me from completing my degree there,

what I learned at Bible college in the time I was there was priceless. Without it, ministry would be much more difficult.

Has God ever “dragged” you out of a dangerous situation or into a good one?
Did you hesitate? How did he convince you to go along with Him?
March 24, 2025

March 24th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 13

Highlight Verse:

“Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.”
‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus knew when He was going to die.

Of course, He also knew He was going to be resurrected but that time before His ascension would also be limited.

He timed His actions accordingly. He made the most of every opportunity to heal people, teach the Gospel, and especially train His disciples.

That brings me to the question, if I knew when I was going to die, how would I live differently?

Certainly, as the day approached, I would value each minute.

The simple truth is, I will die. It could be 30 years from now or it could be next week.

I won’t get any of those minutes back to do over.

I want to make the most of each one by making a difference in the lives of those around me.

That’s why I try to be an involved father for each of my kids. It is why I’ve stayed involved in student ministry. It’s why I write novels. It’s even why I write this.

I miss many opportunities, and I have a tough time figuring out how to prioritize them each day. But I trudge on trying to do my best.

We each have been given the same number of minutes each day. We each have opportunities and gifts given to us.

How will you make the most of the opportunities given to you?
Is there anything you need to change to make more of those opportunities?

Tag: Bible questions.

He rescued Israel.He judged Israel for twenty-three years.And he died.

During the entire 45 years that Tola and his successor Jair judged Israel, they kept the people of Israel from wandering into evil.

Personally, I would much rather be known for a lifetime of faithfulness that a moment of heroic triumph.

I think God loves laughter.

As you enjoy this April Fool’s Day, think WWMJL (What Would Make Jesus Laugh)

I honestly don’t know what heaven will be like.

While we may not know that much about heaven, I know it’s where I want to go.

This is probably my second favorite verse in the Bible.

This Psalm shows them that the God who never gave up on David would never give up on them. In fact, He would come closer to them.

If God is with me, I can make it through.

Have you ever searched for “Cleanliness is next to godliness” in the Bible?

Does that mean that God doesn’t value cleanliness?

That helps me use my time more effectively in doing what God has called me to do.

So he brought it to the Lord and spread it out before Him.

Suffice it to say that Hezekiah set a good example for us.

When we face discouragement, we should bring it straight to God.

But then I remember that Jesus was God, the ultimate authority.

They did not ignore earthly authority. They respected it. They obeyed God. But when earthly authorities punished them for obeying God, they submitted.

Abimelech gets a whole chapter in Judges but notice that he is never called a judge.

Now he is known not for his greatness but for his evil – for the rest of all history.

Even our memory will be part of our ministry.

He practically dragged me there.

what I learned at Bible college in the time I was there was priceless. Without it, ministry would be much more difficult.

Jesus knew when He was going to die.

That brings me to the question, if I knew when I was going to die, how would I live differently?

I want to make the most of each one by making a difference in the lives of those around me.

He rescued Israel.
He judged Israel for twenty-three years.
And he died.