Walk in the Light

Tag: wisdom

June 21, 2025

June 21st, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 1 Corinthians 3:4-15

Highlight Verse:

“It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

At the Write to Publish Christian writer’s conference last week, I had the privilege of hearing from Tim Challies, a popular writer, speaker, and blogger.

One thing I took away from his messages was to give away what you have.

He posts helpful resources on his website, often including links to “competitive” blogs.

Once a week he shares free resources with his readers.

I don’t have free resources to give but I recognize that I am just one of many resources to help encourage people in their journey with Christ. I encourage you to check as many resources as will be helpful for you to follow Jesus.

Toward that end, check out www.Challies.com for some good content.

Are there resources that have blessed you? Feel free to share them here.
June 20, 2025

June 20th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 7-9

Highlight Verse:

“But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You want some real bragging rights?

Get to know God!

Of course, the closer you are to God, the more likely you will know that the only thing you truly have to brag about is the fact that your sins have been wiped away.

Paul quoted this verse when he told the Corinthians about the things he had done, but the only thing worthy of boasting about was God. (2 Corinthians 10).

As for me (and most men), the art of the “one up” is second nature.

There’s always something that sounds more impressive that we can talk about.

But what’s more impressive than the love of God?

So, the next time I’m tempted to one up someone, I’ll try to remember to bring it back to Jesus.

Is one-upmanship part of your normal mode of operation?
How would you turn that into a situation to boast about God?
June 19, 2025

June 19th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So… if we are faithful, we stink.

Or smell good, depending on who smells us.

I try to be a people pleaser.

It works really well at work. Most of my customers love me.

Even in ministry, I am well liked and respected by many.

But some people don’t like what I have to say.

Of course, the people pleaser in me would prefer to try to make those people like me.

But sometimes we just have to tell the truth.

And the truth can be tough to hear.

I am not called to criticize people. Despite what some say, I don’t think anyone is.

I also think arguing is a terrible way to try to win people to the Lord.

But I am called to speak the truth in love.

If I fail to do that because I’m afraid of what people think of me, then I fail God and I fail those people.

To some, those words will have the stench of death. But if the truth goes unspoken, there will be no hope of that stink changing to sweet perfume.

Have you ever made some one angry by speaking the truth in Love?
How do you know you are speaking in love and not judgement?
June 18, 2025

June 18th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭9‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sound familiar?

If you’ve read Judges, it should.

Gideon said almost the same thing; except he was from the tribe of Manasseh.

Was it false humility?

I think it was more like fear.

For Gideon it was likely fear of failure.

But here in this chapter, I get the feeling Saul had a fear of responsibility and the inconveniences that came with it.

Saul had a pretty comfy life.

His father was wealthy.

He was well known and had friends all over Israel.

But if He was king, he couldn’t just do what he wanted when he wanted.

We know from history that he took on that responsibility and took it seriously.

Still, he always carried a selfish attitude.

He carried out his kingship caring more about his position and prestige than the well-being of His people.

He did protect Israel from the Philistines with the help of David.

But then He got jealous and drove away that man of God.

Eventually, God corrected Saul’s errors by bringing David into power.

There are times in our lives when God calls us to do more than we think we can do.

When we fully trust God in those times, there’s no limit to what He can do through us.

What do you think it would have been like if Saul had been as faithful as David?
In what areas is God calling you to be strong and courageous?
June 15, 2025

June 15th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 72-74

Highlight Verse:

“Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭72‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

On this Father’s Day, I thought we could take a look at one of the most famous father/son relationships in the Bible; that of David and Solomon.

This Psalm is credited to Solomon though I almost wonder if it was started by David and finished by Solomon.

Regardless of the authorship of this verse, it was certainly true of both.

David had already survived the betrayal of an unrighteous son and saw in Solomon the qualities needed to rule Israel.He nurtured those qualities and set things up for Solomon to take the throne.

That doesn’t mean David hated his other children. He was crushed when Absalom died. I’m sure he wanted the best for each of them.

But he also saw that Solomon was uniquely qualified to rule and nurtured that ability in him.

I have four kiddos.

Each one is unique.

I try to encourage each of them to follow the unique path that each has according to their callings, talents, and desires.

That is taking them in four different directions.

But, hopefully, each of those four directions is the right one for each of them.

How did your parents help give you direction in life?
What do you do to help guide your kids (if you have kids)?
June 14, 2025

June 14th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Hebrews 12:1-4

Highlight Verse:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This week I was talking with an acquisition editor for a company that puts out devotional books. He said they were looking for devotions for men.

Like the car nut that I am, I suggested a classic car-based devotional.

He didn’t think it would fly.

That couldn’t stop me from trying my hand at one.

Don’t worry, I won’t do this for the next 30 Saturdays. But let me know if you like it:

1962-1967 Shelby Cobra (later MKIII 427 replica shown)

In the early 1960’s, British company AC Cars teamed up with Ford to produce a lightweight sports car with V8 power. The result was a very fast car that could handle the corners of European Racing.

Racing team owner Carroll Shelby brought them to the US, beefed the chassis up and fit them with a huge 427 cubic inch engine for racing. Unfortunately, he could not build enough to officially race, but they would have been a formidable force on the track.

Today, original Shelby Cobras sell for over a million dollars. Even replicas like the one shown can go for $100.000.

As believers, God has already fitted us with the incredible power of the Holy Spirit.

Often, we carry around the heavy baggage of sin, distractions, and discouragement. It’s like we have the Cobra engine in the huge Ford Galaxy.

That extra weight greatly hinders what the Holy Spirit can do through us.

The result is a comfortable but ineffective life.

If we were to strip away the weight of sin, distraction, and discouragement, just imagine what the Lord could do with us.

Then, we could truly run the race to win.

What weighs down your life?
What are you doing to shed that extra weight?
June 13, 2025

June 13th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 4-6

Highlight Verse:

““Shout to Judah, and broadcast to Jerusalem! Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land: ‘Run for your lives! Flee to the fortified cities!’”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬

Our college newspaper was called “The Jeremiad” because they always printed bad news.

And that’s what Jeremiah was best known for.

How would you like it if God asked you to got tell a country that they were about to be invaded because of their sin. Not the most fun job assignment.

I am at a writer’s conference this week.

Sometimes writers feel like Jeremiah, called by God to bring news that some might not be excited to hear.

It’s easy for writers to get discouraged when we run into roadblocks to publication. When the calling is clear, we work past that discouragement and persevere until the right door opens.

I write this not to solicit sympathy (though I wouldn’t mind some prayer that the right doors be opened for my Wil Clarey series).

I am confident in God’s calling for my writing and know the right doors will open at the right time.

But God’s calling comes in many shapes and in many ways.

If you have heard God’s call on your life, know that if God is in it, nothing can stop it. Don’t give up when it gets tough.

Keep doing what you need to fulfill your end of God’s calling and wait for God to open the right doors, even if you are called is to tell a whole nation to repent.

What has God called you to?
What do you need to do to prepare for it?
June 5, 2025

June 5th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 13-14

Highlight Verse:

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It seems like the older I get, the rowdier the music I listen too.

I like cymbals… and drums, guitars, etc.

Maybe not gongs so much.

But I don’t think this verse is really talking about musical instruments.

I think it is talking about stuff like a video I saw recently.

A legalistic preacher was tearing apart the sermon of a Methodist pastor who was talking about reaching people where they were with the Love of God regardless of their sins.

I got the impression that the legalistic preacher posted that video not out of love for God but because of a felt need to be right and to be heard.

He was a clanging gong.

I might disagree on some points of theology with that Methodist minister too, but I agree with the notion of leading with love.

The legalistic preacher might have cared some too, wanting people to escape the grasp of sin. But the way he presented the Gospel would drive most people away from the perceived hate before they had the chance to repent.

While I would not downplay the seriousness of sin, I would always lead with love.

What is your favorite part of this chapter’s description of love?
Why?
May 30, 2025

May 30th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 64-66

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭65‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I caught a cold last weekend. Until today, I’ve just been powering through it.

Honestly, I only took today off because my workload was less, and it wouldn’t hurt anything to rest.

I’ve been taking meds and finally started taking supplements and the symptoms are improving slowly.

But reading this verse, I realized that I have barely mentioned this cold to God in my prayers.

My “power through it” mode didn’t leave much room for God’s help.

Maybe that’s kind of like what Israel was going through, though magnified in the extreme.

They got caught up in the region’s culture that valued military strength and local religious traditions.

They powered through, relying on their own strength rather than seeking the help and guidance of their Heavenly Father.

That didn’t go so well for them – at least until they turned back to God.

While my problems are minuscule compared to Israel when this verse was written, I can still learn from it.

As of today, I am expressly asking in God to carry me through this illness and to bring me back to strength quickly.

Don’t worry, I believe God would want me to continue to rest and take the right meds, But I will ask for help consistently in my prayers and be open to His guidance and support through it.

How quickly do you think of asking God for help in your day to day problems?
What does it take for Him to get your attention?
May 29, 2025

May 29th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 11-12

Highlight Verses:

“Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’m not sure why this is such controversial chapter.

Perhaps it is because we tend to focus on only parts of the chapter.

Dispensationalists tend to focus on these first two verses and a verse in the next chapter. They say the gifts are no longer needed and only lead people astray.

Pentecostals tend to focus on the gifts themselves. In my experience (as a long time Pentecostal) people can sometimes confuse emotions with spiritual gifts. That is an excellent reason to get to know the Bible well, because God will never contradict the Bible with a spiritual gift.

If you look at the whole chapter, the main point is how all the parts of the body of Christ work together. The gifts of the Spirit are the different functions of those parts that work together to make for a whole and healthy body.

We are still the functioning body of Christ so, yes, the gifts of the Spirit are still valid for today.

We do well to practice them as parts of the body of Christ.

Have you had difficulty making yourself available to the Holy Spirit to practice the gifts of the Spirit?
Have you ever found yourself so focused on the gifts of the Spirit that you lost sight of their place in the Body of Christ?

Tag: wisdom

One thing I took away from his messages was to give away what you have.

Toward that end, check out www.Challies.com for some good content.

You want some real bragging rights?

As for me (and most men), the art of the “one up” is second nature.

But what’s more impressive than the love of God?

So… if we are faithful, we stink.

But some people don’t like what I have to say.

And the truth can be tough to hear.

Was it false humility?

He carried out his kingship caring more about his position and prestige than the well-being of His people.

When we fully trust God in those times, there’s no limit to what He can do through us.

On this Father’s Day, I thought we could take a look at one of the most famous father/son relationships in the Bible; that of David and Solomon.

But he also saw that Solomon was uniquely qualified to rule and nurtured that ability in him.

I try to encourage each of them to follow the unique path that each has according to their callings, talents, and desires.

As believers, God has already fitted us with the incredible power of the Holy Spirit.

The result is a comfortable but ineffective life.

Then, we could truly run the race to win.

How would you like it if God asked you to got tell a country that they were about to be invaded because of their sin. Not the most fun job assignment.

If you have heard God’s call on your life, know that if God is in it, nothing can stop it. Don’t give up when it gets tough.

Keep doing what you need to fulfill your end of God’s calling and wait for God to open the right doors, even if you are called is to tell a whole nation to repent.

But I don’t think this verse is really talking about musical instruments.

He was a clanging gong.

While I would not downplay the seriousness of sin, I would always lead with love.

But reading this verse, I realized that I have barely mentioned this cold to God in my prayers.

My “power through it” mode didn’t leave much room for God’s help.

That didn’t go so well for them – at least until they turned back to God.

Perhaps it is because we tend to focus on only parts of the chapter.

We do well to practice them as parts of the body of Christ.