Walk in the Light

May 13, 2023

May 13th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Jeremiah 29:4-23

Highlight Verse:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I hate to admit it but this is one of my pet-peeve verses.

It’s a wonderful encouraging passage.

But it’s usually taken out of context.

What most people fail to mention is Jeremiah is telling the exiles to cool their heels for the next 70 years. The nation of Israel will return to Jerusalem but it won’t be for a long time so you might as well get comfortable in this strange land.

So, go ahead and put up your Jeremiah 29:11 plaques. Just keep in mind that it might just be telling you to be faithful and endure this time that is less than comfortable.

God wants your best and he holds your future in His hand, but your future is in His time, not necessarily ours.

Have you come through lengthy times of trial and experienced a time of restoration after enduring in faithfulness?
Can you trust in your present trials that God will bring you through?
May 12, 2023

May 12th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 55-57

Highlight Verse:

“Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My first thought when I see this is “Isn’t the Lord always near?”

But then there are seasons.

Here in Colorado, it is Miller moth season. In fact, one found its way into the house and is fluttering around my lamp. Most likely, by morning its fluttering will be over and its life spent.

That moth’s life seems very short to us. But, compared to the eternity that awaits, our lives are a blink of an eye.

On average, we have less than 80 years to make the call for our eternity.

Some more, some less.

One mistake many people make is assuming that eternal life begins when we die. They think they have to “live it up” and have their “fun” while they are young. Then, when they are older, they can get more serious about God.

I found out one August day in 1977 that eternal life begins when we start to live it for God.

The most joy filled times of my life have been when I am living in the center of His will.

The most miserable times were when I was living for myself.

What times in your life have been the most joyful?
Has your true eternal life begun yet? If not, what’s holding you back?
May 11, 2023

May 11th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 5-6

Highlight Verses:

“When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the previous verses, Paul warns the Corinthians not to allow someone unrepentant to associate with the church.

His heart is clear. He wants people to repent.

If we act like sin is not sin, people will neglect repentance, trading a Gospel of new life for one of tolerance that robs the supposed Christian of salvation from sin.

Paul’s heart wants people to find Jesus. Let’s not drive them away from salvation by pretending there’s no need for it.

Are you tempted to value tolerance over repentance?
Can you see how that would drive people away from God?
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?

But it’s usually taken out of context.

God wants your best and he holds your future in His hand, but your future is in His time, not necessarily ours.

But then there are seasons.

On average, we have less than 80 years to make the call for our eternity.

The most joy filled times of my life have been when I am living in the center of His will.

If we act like sin is not sin, people will neglect repentance, trading a Gospel of new life for one of tolerance that robs the supposed Christian of salvation from sin.

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.