Walk in the Light

May 17, 2023

May 17th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – Ruth 3-4

Highlight Verse:

““Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.””
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have so many questions!

Why did Boaz sleep in the barn? How would Naomi know he would? Why didn’t Boaz pursue Ruth earlier?

I think it’s safe to say that it was tradition for farmers to sleep at the threshing floor at harvest time since Naomi knew he would be there.

In a time when everyone in Israel did as they pleased, Boaz stands out as a man of integrity.

Because of this, he would have assumed that Ruth would be claimed by the closer kinsman redeemer. Despite Ruth’s forwardness, he maintains his integrity by waiting to claim her until he gets the okay from that other man.

The real story here is Ruth.

With Naomi’s guidance, she sees the solution to their problems and boldly steps up and seeks that solution by asking Boaz to marry her (That’s what asking him to cover her meant in that culture).

Her boldness is balanced with humility that seeks what is right, not just what is best for her.

Because of her boldness her and Naomi’s poverty is ended.

Because of her boldness, she has a great grandson named David who would rule Israel with a heart after God.

Because of her boldness, we have a Messiah descended from her.

We would do well to imitate her balance of boldness and humility.

Have you had a time when you had to be bold and humble at the same time? Tell us about it.
Do you lean to boldness or humility or are you able to balance the two?
May 16, 2023

May 16th, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 33-34

Highlight Verse:

“Shechem wasted no time in acting on this request, for he wanted Jacob’s daughter desperately. Shechem was a highly respected member of his family,”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭34‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is another one of those stories that’s too messed up not to be true.

I’ll admit, I went into this praying, “Lord, what on earth can I pull out of this?”

Then the word “desperately” popped out at me.

Have you ever been desperate enough to do something foolish?

The Lord knows I have.

We think, “if I don’t settle for this person, I’ll never get married.” Or “I need a car so I have to accept these finance terms.”

Whatever the “desperate” situation, our desperation takes away our cognition.

We don’t think things through.

We agree to foolish terms.

In Shechem’s case, it cost his life and the lives of all the men in his town.

Is there anything that you are desperate about today?
Is there something you can do to recognize that your “desperate” situation may not be as desperate as you think?
Can you trust God instead of a foolish decision to get you out of those situations?
May 15, 2023

May 15th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“And they left their nets at once and followed him.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We start a new Gospel today. Mark is one of the synoptic Gospels. That means that it draws on the same material as Matthew and Luke. Many scholars believe Mark to be the source of the material which those other two Gospels build on with other sources.

It is believed that Mark (John Mark in Acts) got his accounts of Jesus from Peter.

You will see as we go through it that Mark gets right to the point. He moves the narrative along quickly and tends to have the subjects move quickly with terms like “immediately” and “at once”.

Whether the “at once” in today’s verse is literal or just expressing the fact that they left without second thought, it is obvious that the first apostles Jesus called were fully committed to following Jesus. They left behind their livelihoods and families to learn from the Messiah.

While we are not called to ditch our families, we would do well to have a strong commitment to learning from Jesus and following the mission that he has for us.

Are you fully committed to learning everything you can from Jesus?
Are you willing to do what you need to follow the mission Jesus has for you?
May 14, 2023

May 14th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 59-61

Highlight Verse:

“From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety,”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭61‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When a young child gets separated from their mother, lost in a crowd or in a supermarket, that mother will seek her child like nothing else in the world existed. And when that child finds his or her mom, they cling to that safety.

On this Mother’s Day, this verse reminds me of the security a child finds in his or her mom.

As an adult, that security for David, the author of this Psalm, and for me is found in God.

I believe God seeks earnestly after each soul that is lost.

When that soul finds refuge in the saving Grace and new life in Jesus, he or she finds that towering rock of safety.

That safety goes well beyond anything this world can provide.

Have you experienced that sense of safety in the presence of God?
Have you thanked your mom today for providing that sense of safety to you when your were growing up?
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?

In a time when everyone in Israel did as they pleased, Boaz stands out as a man of integrity.

The real story here is Ruth.

Her boldness is balanced with humility that seeks what is right, not just what is best for her.

We would do well to imitate her balance of boldness and humility.

Have you ever been desperate enough to do something foolish?

Whatever the “desperate” situation, our desperation takes away our cognition.

While we are not called to ditch our families, we would do well to have a strong commitment to learning from Jesus and following the mission that he has for us.

On this Mother’s Day, this verse reminds me of the security a child finds in his or her mom.

I believe God seeks earnestly after each soul that is lost.

When that soul finds refuge in the saving Grace and new life in Jesus, he or she finds that towering rock of safety.

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.