Walk in the Light

May 10, 2023

May 10th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – Ruth 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field.”

Ruth 2:8 NLT

On a cold October night in 1999, I first laid eyes on my firstborn daughter. In that moment, I knew there was nothing that I wouldn’t do to protect her and there was nothing she could say of do that could diminish my love for her.

Those words hold true today for her and all my children.

The first words Boaz spoke offered that same protection and support to Ruth. By calling her “daughter” he pronounced that she was as good as family.

My experience as a new father gave me new insight into the depth of God’s love for us. If this far from perfect father could offer such love and protection to my daughters, how much more can our perfect Father God offer us?

Do you understand the depth of God’s love for you?

What are you doing to bring that understanding to others?
May 9, 2023

May 9th, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 31-32

Highlight Verse:

“Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭32‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Say ‘Uncle’”

I can’t tell you how many times that was spoken to me as a kid. I can’t recall a single time that I said it to someone else.

Maybe the saying should be, “Say a blessing.”

There has been much theological debate about this passage.

Was it Jesus that Jacob was wrestling? If he really was wrestling with God, why didn’t the all powerful God just beat him?

I think those questions miss the point. Jacob absolutely refused to quit wrestling with God until he got God’s blessing.

I believe it is in God’s nature to allow His children to wrestle with him.

Maybe not physically. But He lets us come to him with our tough questions, bad situations, and even our bad attitudes.

Of course, those attitudes are likely to get adjusted. Like Jacob’s hip, God is will adjust our attitude in ways that can be just as painful.

In the end, we walk (or limp) away with at least a blessing and sometimes a whole new identity.

What have you been wrestling with God about lately?
Are you tenaciously seeking God’s blessing and His identity for you during this time?
May 8, 2023

May 8th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 20-21

Highlight Verse:

“(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.”

John 20:9-10 NIV

They were taught by Jesus Himself. They lived with Him for three years.

And they still didn’t get it.

Immediately following this scene is where Mary encounters Jesus outside the tomb.

She stuck around.

And she encountered Jesus.

Yes, it’s true that the other disciples encountered Jesus later that day and several more times before He ascended. But they had to endure a longer time of uncertainty because they didn’t wait where Jesus was last seen.

There are times of uncertainty in our lives; times when we have no idea what Jesus would want us to do.

We would do well to stay where Jesus was last seen by us.

That could be in fellowship with people we know have close relationships with God.

It always means seeking Him in the Word.

It never means wandering away from the places where we are likely to encounter Him.

In times of uncertainty, do you tend to wander closer to God or away from God?
May 7, 2023

May 7th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 56-58

Highlight Verse:

“In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I feel like a main character in a superhero movie when I say that.

I’m not worried about those “mere mortals.”

I say that in a joking tone but, wait. It’s true.

If we have eternal life, what can anyone here on Earth do to truly harm us?

NOTHING!

I know it’s easier to say that than to live like it’s true.

I want to live a good long life here on Earth before my eternal life in heaven.

I might have a different perspective on it when I get there but, I want to be around to make a difference in as many lives as I can.

But, if it came to it, I am not afraid to die.

As Keith Green used to say, If God made the world in seven days but He’s been preparing a place for us in heaven for two thousand years, this is living in a garbage can compare to what going on up there.

Do you fear death?
Have you experienced the confidence of knowing where you will spend the rest of eternity?

Photo courtesy of You Version
May 6, 2023

May 6th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 2 Timothy 1:5

“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This would be the point at which I would tell you all about the how the faith of my mom and grandmother inspired me to follow after God.

But that would be a lie.

My mom did have faith.

But it was more in traditions and her church than in God.

Same was true for my Grandma.

My dad had faith. He firmly believed that there was no God, at least until near the end of his life.

I found faith in Jesus despite them rather than because of them.

So, why would I pick this verse?

In truth, it has inspired me to teach kids about faith.

The lack of faith leadership from the previous generations in my family has made my path to faith a wandering difficult journey.

In other words, I want to be like the grandma and mom of this verse, inspiring the next generation to have a deep, genuine faith in Jesus from early on.

Is your faith inspired by someone in the previous generation?
What are you doing to pass your faith along to the next generation?
May 5, 2023

May 5th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 52-54

Highlight Verse:

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You want to look beautiful? Here you go.

Seriously. When you’re filled with the joy of the Lord and share the Good News in a loving way, you look good!

When I was in college I attended a somewhat traditional church at first. They were good people and the Gospel was preached there, but there weren’t that many people on fire for the Lord.

I remember the first time I saw their choir perform. There was one girl who stood out among the rest. Sure it didn’t hurt that she was about my age and wasn’t bad looking. But she wasn’t the most beautiful in the group. But she was the most attractive.

Before you ask, no I didn’t date her. She left for another church not long after I got there. But what made her attractive was the fact that she was full of the joy of the Lord. Her passion for Jesus came out through her smile and her enthusiasm.

I am now blessed to go to a church that is on fire for Jesus and am married to a godly woman whose natural beauty is enhanced by the deep joy within her.

It’s my hope that people see that joy in me and hear the Good News that I talk about and want more of Jesus.

In what ways are you a messenger who brings Good News?
Do you have that deep joy that springs forth to spread the Good News?
May 4, 2023

May 4th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We got yet another graduation notice in the mail today. All the kids are growing up so fast.

But graduation isn’t all it takes to grow up.

Paul basically says here, “I’ve taught you all the elementary stuff but you’re still not ready to move on.” He goes on to describe the jealousy and pride that is keeping the church at Corinth divided.

The people are looking at what sets them apart from each other rather than what unites them.

A baby can’t walk, much less work. Someone stuck in pride and jealousy will likewise find it hard to walk the life that God has for them.

Even as I have been walking with the Lord for decades, I still get caught up in pride that impedes my progress toward accomplishing the goals set before me.

I need to not be afraid to become one of those fools from verse 18 of chapter 3.

What is holding you back from living your spiritual life to the fullest?
Do you have a problem with being perceived as a fool?
May 3, 2023

May 3rd, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – Judges 20-21

Highlight Verse:

“In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.”
‭‭Judges‬ ‭21‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The final verse of Judges pretty much sums up that time in Israel’s history.

Some of the judges provided a moral compass, leading Israel back to worshipping God. Other’s were just plain whacked.

Keep reading. There are better days ahead for Israel’s story.

In the meantime, let me just say that the crazy, messed up stories in Judges serve to lend credence to the authenticity of the Bible.

In other words, if the Bible were a religious book written with the purpose of fooling people into following a religion, they never would have put such honestly crazy stories in it.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

The Bible is full of truth. If you stick around, you’ll find life changing truth.

Have you wondered if the Bible was true?
If so, what parts of the Bible are harder for you to believe?
Let’s talk about it.
May 2, 2023

May 2nd, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 29-30

Highlight Verse:

“When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭30‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s face it. Today’s reading is messed up.

First, Jacob meets Rachel and basically says, “Hi. I’m your cousin. Let’s get married.”

Then Rachel’s dad delivers Leah instead of Rachel. And Joseph doesn’t notice until morning?

Then Joseph ends up with two wives. Jealousy ensues which brings us to today’s verse.

Rachel’s jealousy leads her to make poor decisions. Mainly, she tells him to have a baby with her slave (I know it says servant but someone who can be forced to have a child with your boss’s husband is a slave).

The jealousy in that family runs rampant leading to Leah forcing her slave to have a child by Jacob and culminating in the jealous grown brothers of Joseph selling him into slavery.

Like I said, messed up reading today.

But, it warns us of the dangers of jealousy.

Have you been known to make poor decisions when you struggle with jealousy?
How can you keep a level head when people around you get all the breaks?
May 1, 2023

May 1st, 2023

Before we get into today’s study, you should know that the reading list for May and June is now posted at WITLBible.com/reading-list/

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 19

Highlight Verse:

“Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.””
‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One begins to sympathize with Pilate for being put in the position of having to condemn an innocent man by the pressure of the people.

Then you realize that he just had Jesus brutally flogged with a lead tipped whip.

Pilate was a cruel man.

The Roman system of justice was cruel.

Granted, some of the previous justice systems in the world would result in instant death for someone who had the bad fortune of being accused of a crime.

The Romans did have a type of trial. But those found guilty suffered the most painful, torturous death imaginable!

Naked.

In public.

On a cross where they were suspended from the most painful places while they slowly bled to death and were kept on the edge of suffocation.

Often for hours.

Why would God bring His son into the world in that time and place? Couldn’t He have come at a time when the death penalty was more humane?

To that I would have to say, God knew exactly what He was doing.

The depth of Christ’s pain and humiliation demonstrated in no uncertain terms the depth of His love for us.

Let that sink in.

Do you know how deep and extravagant God’s love for you is?
How will you begin to return that love today?

Maybe the saying should be, “Say a blessing.”

I believe it is in God’s nature to allow His children to wrestle with him.

And they still didn’t get it.

We would do well to stay where Jesus was last seen by us.

If we have eternal life, what can anyone here on Earth do to truly harm us?

But, if it came to it, I am not afraid to die.

So, why would I pick this verse?

You want to look beautiful? Here you go.

It’s my hope that people see that joy in me and hear the Good News that I talk about and want more of Jesus.

But graduation isn’t all it takes to grow up.

I need to not be afraid to become one of those fools from verse 18 of chapter 3.

The final verse of Judges pretty much sums up that time in Israel’s history.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

The Bible is full of truth. If you stick around, you’ll find life changing truth.

Let’s face it. Today’s reading is messed up.

But, it warns us of the dangers of jealousy.

Pilate was a cruel man.

To that I would have to say, God knew exactly what He was doing.

Let that sink in.