Walk in the Light

January 9, 2023

January 9th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

John 2-3

““How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.”

John 3:9 NLT

Have you ever been confused by what the Bible says?

Have Jesus’ teachings left you befuddled? You’re not alone. Even Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish council, was confused at Jesus’ words.

Let me ask you one more question.

Would it be really be faith if you fully understood before you believed?

I’ve been studying the Bible my whole life (which is getting to be a fairly lengthy amount of time) and I still have questions about things I don’t quite understand. But, over 45 years ago, I decided to take a leap of faith and follow Jesus. I found that life that Jesus tells Nicodemus about.

I’m pretty sure Nicodemus found that life too since he was there to help temporarily bury Jesus’ body after the crucifixion. I plan on having a conversation with him when I get to heaven (after I speak with Jesus, of course).

Do you have questions about Jesus’ teachings that would keep you from trusting in Him?

What would it take to get beyond those questions and into faith?

If you have a strong faith, what got you beyond those questions to a place of trust in Him?
January 8, 2023

January 8th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Psalms 4-6

“Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.”

Psalms 4:4 NLT

Some versions read, “In your anger, don’t sin.” Surprisingly, the newest version of the NIV reads “Tremble and don’t sin.”

I was going to make this commentary about anger but when I dug into it, this is a good time to say a few things about Bible versions.

Let me lead off with the fact that I believe that the Bible in it’s original texts was the inspired, infallible Word of God. While those original texts no longer exist, there are far more early copies of those originals than any other writing of those eras. Therefore, today’s translations are remarkable accurate and the differences are almost entirely in presentation rather than meaning.

I see two main reasons for differences in today’s translations.

First, the source texts used. Some, use source texts found long ago but date to a later time. Some use more recently found texts that are very early.

Second, the target audience. The King James Version was translated for the well educated people of England in the 17^th century. The NLT was translated to be understood best in 21^st century North America. Some of the latest versions of several translations have been altered to not offend. The NirV is translated into simple language that beginning readers can understand.

The question then becomes, which translation do we trust most?

When I want to dig deeper into the meaning of a passage, I will read several versions of it as well as commentaries about that passage. There are several good websites that have commentaries as well as many Bible commentary books you can buy.

Before, during, and after those studies, I ask God to show me what He wants me to learn from them. Usually He does.

How do you go about studying the Bible?

Any tips you would like to offer the rest of us?
January 7, 2023

January 7th, 2023

Saturday – Open topic – New Beginnings

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

New Beginnings.

New year, new you. That’s what they say. Have you broken any resolutions yet?

Why is it, when we set about to make positive changes in our lives and blow it, we get stuck there and leave those resolutions behind. It reminds me of my favorite couple of verses in Lamentations.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

Did you hear that? Fresh every morning!

I went to college when I was young. I ran out of money and started a career instead of completing my degree. Then in my thirties I went to Bible college – until my wife started threatening to leave me because she was freaked about being a pastor’s wife. In my forties, she left me and moved to Colorado.

I was at rock bottom.

I had friends who loved and supported me, but I knew I had to leave them if I wanted an active part in my daughter’s life.

So why would you listen to this college drop out who couldn’t keep his marriage together?

Because God gave me a new start in Colorado. He has blessed me with an awesome wife and three more kids. He has given me an active role in the lives of children and youth in church. He is developing my writing life. I am blessed beyond measure.

I am not saying this to brag on me. My life is not perfect. I have plenty faults and failures I’m trying to work beyond.

But I can tell you beyond the shadow of a doubt that His mercies are new every morning.

No matter how many time’s you’ve failed, you can move forward, leaving the past behind. God can forgive you for every time you fail and bless and grow you in every faithful decision!

So, whether you’re in that place of already blowing off that New Year’s resolution or you decided not to bother since you knew you’d break it anyway, know that you can move forward with God’s mercy full of new life. Take it one day at a time and God will bless your faithfulness.

Are you struggling to keep your resolutions or reach your life goals?

Are you tempted to quit trying?

What do you think would happen if you never quit, despite momentary setbacks?

Note: For Saturdays, I will be picking verses that are appropriate to the season or current events. The readings will be very short but my commentaries may be longer (and might just appear in my blog as well).

If you have a suggestion for a passage to read on any given Saturday or are interested in writing a commentary for any day (preferably under 200 words for regular days and 400 words for Saturdays), please message or email me at least 48 hours before the day you would like to write on.
January 6, 2023

January 6th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Isaiah 1-3

“Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.”

Isaiah 2:8 NIV

Isaiah is passionate about bringing his people back to the Lord. He lays it on thick, not holding back. And no wonder when you find out that the people of Israel have been worshipping idols.

Usually, when I see the concept of idol worship applied to today, we talk about the things we desire or what we idolize.

What struck me today was the people were not just worshipping their idols, they trusted them.

They thought they could get what they wanted or needed by worshipping these sculptures of silver and gold.

While most of us don’t worship statues, we tend to put our trust in things that have little value in the light of eternity. That retirement account won’t pay the bills in heaven. That house is a gift from the one who provides for you. It is not the provider.

God is!

God provides us with many things. They are blessings to be used to bless us and others. Don’t trust in them, trust in the One who provided them.

Does it make you anxious to think about not having certain things in your life?

Have you ever experienced having to put all your trust in God because you had nothing left?

How did that work out for you?
January 5, 2023

January 5th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Romans 1

“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I long to go to Rome. My motives are not as awesome as Paul’s, though. I just want to see the historical buildings and art.

Maybe I’m not as mission minded as Paul.

Or maybe my heart is focused closer to home. I hope to make my children strong, to be a spiritual leader for my wife and family, to lead the boys of my youth small group. I hope to inspire you all as well.

Back in the 80’s there was a cooking show called Yan Can Cook. Martin Yan would start each show with “If Yan can cook, so can you!”

At the risk of infringing on Martin Yan’s copyright, if Richard can minister, so can you!

I believe that every believer can be a minister. You may not be called to pastor a church, but you can lead and inspire people in your sphere of influence. I also believe that God can expand your sphere of influence.

Where do you feel called to minister?
What will it take to make that happen?
January 4, 2023

January 4th, 2023

History Books

Joshua 1-3

Highlight Verse(s) –

“Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.”

Joshua 3:15-16 NIV

The first thing my strange little mind noticed was the fact that, even though it was a great distance to where the water backed up, The author of Joshua knew where it was. I believe that just points to the detail to which the author researched this account of history.

But that’s not the main point of this passage. Right up front, it is stated that the Jordan is flooding. It’s completely uncrossable. Yet the priests carrying the ark had enough faith to follow through on the Lord’s instructions to Joshua.

They stepped into the raging river.

And it stopped.

What raging rivers do you have before you today?

What do you believe the Lord’s instructions are for you in regards to that river?

Do you have enough faith to step into it while it is still flooding?
January 3, 2023

January 3rd, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Genesis 1

Highlight verse –

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.”

Genesis 1:31 NIV

First off, in case you don’t know, the Pentateuch is the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Torah or Hebrew Bible.

And it starts off good – literally. It struck me today how many times He uses the word “good” to describe his creation. That is until the sixth day when He created mankind. Then it was “very good”.

We are made in God’s image. Yes, you’ll soon read about the fall, but that’s not how it started and that’s not where it has to stay.

I truly believe that God created all things good. I don’t think we are accidents. We, along with all of Creation are works of art.

While I don’t look at the Bible as a science textbook, it is remarkable how much unbiased science (science that doesn’t presume there is no God) has lined up with the Creation story in Genesis.

And it was very good.

Do you think that God literally created everything with his words?

What do you think He meant when God said “it was good?”
January 2, 2023

January 2nd, 2023

Monday – Gospels

John 1

Highlight verse –

“Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?””

John 1:38 NIV

These were the first words of Jesus in the Gospel of John.

The response of John’s disciples was interesting to say the least. I don’t think those would have been my first words. But, I think they speak volumes about those first disciples.

It seems to me that Andrew and probably his brother Simon (it’s not perfectly clear on that) were willing to commit wholeheartedly to Jesus. I believe they asked where he was staying not just out of curiosity but because they wanted to live with him and learn full-time from him as a rabbi’s student would be likely to do in that day.

My question then is, am I willing to give that kind of commitment to Jesus? Like the disciples, am I willing to learn from him full-time and follow wherever He leads me?

I would submit that, if I am, then, like with the disciples, He can use me to change the world?

Would you like to change the world you live in?

Are you willing to learn from Jesus full-time?
January 1, 2023

January 1st, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Psalms 1-3

Highlight Verse –

“I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.”

Psalms 3:6 NIV

King David amazes me. He is literally running for his life, yet he takes a break to write this Psalm. And he includes a verse like this.

I want that kind of confidence. Even though his world is falling apart and his kingdom is coming crashing down around him, David still trusts that God will protect him.

What’s even more amazing in my mind is that David knows that he brought this disaster upon himself. It was prophesied to him after he had Uriah the Hittite killed. David repented of that but this disaster still resulted.

So, even though he is in the middle of a disaster that resulted from his own actions and the betrayal of one of his own sons, David still trusts God completely.

How did David get to this point of complete trust?

How can we stay in that place of faith in the middle of our crises?
Hello World!

December 20th, 2022

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New Beginnings.