Walk in the Light

July 4, 2023

July 4th, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 44-45

Highlight Verse:

“Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, “Out, all of you!” So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭45‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It takes a lot of work to live a lie.

As far as his brothers were concerned, Joseph the administrator of Egypt was living one whopper of a lie.

I’m not sure if it was because of spite, or fear, or just plain not wanting to deal with his brothers. The lie was eating him up. Finally, he had to confess to his brothers.

The relief was so great that he wept.

The results of the truth were undeniable. The nation of Israel, just a clan at the time, was saved from death by the actions and attitude of Joseph.

Is part of your life hiding behind a lie?
What would happen if you were completely honest?
July 3, 2023

July 3rd, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The people who had made the error were the Sadducees who didn’t believe in an afterlife.

Jesus used Scripture to prove that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been raised to eternal life. With that, He showed that we too would be raised to eternal life.

It should be noted that the language here made it clear that Jesus was speaking of physical resurrection.

While we won’t be here on this Earth and we will have different bodies from the imperfect ones we have now, it’s clear that

we will have bodies.

It won’t be an eternal life of floating around the ether in spiritual form. We will have physical form with senses and voices.

While there won’t be marriage in heaven, it is spoken of as a wedding feast so I’d say there’s a good chance there will be food.

There are more hints and descriptions of heaven that have been interpreted in a wide variety of ways.

I think we can rest assured that it will be paradise.

That’s the word Jesus himself used to describe it from the cross.

What are you looking forward to in heaven?
What do you think it is going to be like?
July 2, 2023

July 2nd, 2023
Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 80-82

Highlight Verse:

“Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭82‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the Old Testament, judges and kings were given this charge. They were to protect the poor, the orphan, and the widow.

While it is certainly the job of judges today to do this, it is also true that God has given us a direct relationship with himself. We do not need to go through priests or judges or kings. We are His children, thus we are His royalty.

With that great privilege, the responsibility now falls to us to defend the poor and helpless.

How can we do that in today’s world?
- We can find or be parents to the orphaned.
- We can be sure that those widowed are not forgotten.
- We can help provide for the poor and needy by donating to and volunteering for organizations who help them.
- We can stand up for those being treated unfairly.
Do you have stories of when others have stood up for you?
How have you been able to bless those who need it?
Where can you be helping now?
July 1, 2023

July 1st, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading Matthew 22:15-22

Highlight Verse:

““Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I just got back inside from hanging a light shining on the American flag on the front of our house. I wanted to be able to fly the flag for the entire 4 day weekend and proper flag etiquette requires any flag flown at night to be lit.

Our flag is lit.

The July 4th holiday is lit (often literally).

This is one way that I “give to Caesar.”

I enjoy celebrating the day that our forefathers took a stand for freedom from tyranny and liberty and equality.

Of course, they had a long way to go but they were heading in the right direction.

I have friends and relatives from all over the patriotic spectrum. I have dear brothers and sisters who have lived in other countries for many years and who have little pride for their native land and think primarily globally.

I have other friends and relatives who think the rest of the world outside the United States is inferior and should be ignored.

I think our hard earned freedom is something to be celebrated.

The effort to earn and maintain that freedom is to be applauded.

While democracy itself is not necessarily a Biblical value, I believe that freedom, justice, unity, and equality are. Democracy gives us our most direct pathway to fulfilling those values as a nation.

We can certainly celebrate Independence Day while being conscious of the fact that God so loved the whole world.

How do you celebrate July 4th while recognizing God’s love for all?
What are ways that you can promote God’s values over this holiday weekend?

Hint – our church does so by having a day of service to our community with organized acts of service for several groups.
June 30, 2023

June 30th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Highlight Verse:

“When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve always loved thunderstorms.

When I was a teenager in Virginia, we lived near the top of a hill. On Summer afternoons, I would sit on the porch and watch the lightning across the valley.

One afternoon when the storm got a little too fierce, I went inside and watched from a window. A lamp glowed beside me.

Until lightning struck the house.

The breaker tripped and the light bulb burned out.

Moments later, as I was still staring at the lamp, lightning struck again. It arced across the circuit breaker and across the blown lightbulb with a bluish glow.

Each time the boom was immediate and deafening.

I was thrilled by the display of God’s power.

Everyday there are an average 3 million lightning strikes around the globe.

I saw a few hundred of them on my drive home today.

And each one reminded me of the awesome power of God.

I know that you can explain lightning with physics and meteorology. But God created the physical laws that cause the lightning.

We also know that he can stop a storm with just a word.

So, as they say, “If that don’t light your fire, you got wet wood.” (You shouldn’t have left it out in that storm).

What most reminds you of God’s power?
Can you relate to Jeremiah in this verse?
June 29, 2023

June 29th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I thought about highlighting verse 2 or 3. I could have written about what a joy it is to see people that I taught in children’s church when they were little turn out to be faithful adults.

Of course, I know that their parents had much more to do with that than I did.

Still, I’d like to think that I helped and am still helping. The joy that brings is beyond compare.

The verse I picked puts that into perspective. You may have heard the saying before –

“God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”

He has given me the privilege to work with children and youth and the reward has far outweighed the cost.

My qualification came from my willingness to learn, to work, and to serve.

Would you like to see some of that great reward in your life but don’t think you’re qualified?
Do you believe God can qualify you?

Believe it!
June 28, 2023

June 28th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“But Saul replied, “No one will be executed today, for today the Lord has rescued Israel!””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If I were Samuel, I’d been feeling pretty good about this time.

The man he anointed as King had stepped up and led Israel to rescue Jabesh.

Not only that but King Saul kept the attention on God and not himself.

Most of you know the path Saul veers onto in the years after this story. He starts off strong but goes astray. Way astray!

I’ve seen that happen with other people as well. I’ve personally known people who started strong, led people to Christ with infectious joy.

Then pride, or doubt, or selfishness crept in. Bit by bit, they backed away from leadership, from ministry, some even from God altogether.

Saul struggled with doubt from day one, but it wasn’t until pride took over that he really began to slide.

I can relate. I struggle with pride, over-confidence, sometimes even arrogance.

I need to remain diligent to keep those kinds of things from taking over my life and destroying my ministry.

Have you had the chance to step out into your calling through taking action?
If you take a serious look at your life, do you struggle with pride, doubt, or selfishness?
June 27, 2023

June 27th, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 42-43

Highlight Verse:

“Then Joseph hurried from the room because he was overcome with emotion for his brother. He went into his private room, where he broke down and wept.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭43‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have a bunch of stories bouncing around in my head. Occasionally my characters cry.
Sometimes uncontrollably.

But I never imagined a story like Joseph’s.

Perhaps I lack imagination.

Or maybe it’s because, as I’ve said before, the truth is stranger than fiction.

Joseph’s crazy story has been used to make many points in teachings and sermons over the years.

I’ll spare you the lesson this time.

Instead, I’d like to know – what have you learned from Joseph’s story?
Has his story affected the way you live your life?
June 26, 2023

June 26th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 10

Highlight Verses:

“When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love Bartimaeus’ attitude.

There was no way he was going to let people get between him and Jesus.

It’s worth noting that this was one of Jesus’s quickest healings. He didn’t make Bartimaeus do anything beyond what he had already done. He just told Bart that his faith had healed him and, instantly, he could see.

After he was healed, he immediately followed Jesus.

When we are facing a hardship, whether physical problems, impossible financial situations, or desperate emotional situations, it seems easy to call desperately to Jesus.

Sometimes He answers our cries immediately. Sometimes we don’t hear a response.

I dare say we often don’t hear a response because we don’t want to hear the type of response He gives us.

Jesus saw Bartimaeus’ heart and knew he would drop everything to follow.

May we have that level of desperation for Jesus.

Have you had times in your life when you were desperate for Jesus?
Did you call out to Him for help?
We’re you willing to follow Him whatever his response?
June 25, 2023

June 25th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 78-79

Highlight Verse:

“We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭78‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I grew up in the age of Sunday schools with folding metal chairs and flannelgraphs.

When I was old enough, I went to a youth group that was focused more on keeping kids out of trouble than raising them up for ministry.

But then there was camp.

Confirmation camp when I was 13 opened my eyes to a whole new species of people. These people had a genuine love for God and each other. They were not afraid to live out loud for Jesus.

A few years later, I went back there for C.I.L.T. (Campers In Leadership Training) which taught me that

anyone could be in ministry.

I’ve been in ministry of one sort or another ever since.

I’ve focused on nextgen (children and youth) ministry since something like 85% of Christians today came to faith before the age of 18.

Keep in mind that Samuel was called by God at a very young age.

So was David.

And Mary.

And Timothy.

Notice a pattern here?

Tomorrow’s leaders are in our nextgen ministries today.

It is critical that we reach them with a faith that is honest and alive.

Have you considered getting involved in nextgen ministry?
What gifts and talents do you have that can be used to reach the next generation?

It takes a lot of work to live a lie.

The relief was so great that he wept.

we will have bodies.

I think we can rest assured that it will be paradise.

With that great privilege, the responsibility now falls to us to defend the poor and helpless.

How can we do that in today’s world?

I enjoy celebrating the day that our forefathers took a stand for freedom from tyranny and liberty and equality.

I think our hard earned freedom is something to be celebrated.

We can certainly celebrate Independence Day while being conscious of the fact that God so loved the whole world.

I’ve always loved thunderstorms.

And each one reminded me of the awesome power of God.

“God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”

Believe it!

If I were Samuel, I’d been feeling pretty good about this time.

Saul struggled with doubt from day one, but it wasn’t until pride took over that he really began to slide.

I need to remain diligent to keep those kinds of things from taking over my life and destroying my ministry.

But I never imagined a story like Joseph’s.

I’ll spare you the lesson this time.

I love Bartimaeus’ attitude.

May we have that level of desperation for Jesus.

anyone could be in ministry.

It is critical that we reach them with a faith that is honest and alive.