Walk in the Light

October 5, 2025

October 5th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalm 119

Highlight Verse:

“I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭45‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yes, I know it is a long reading today. I almost broke it into multiple days. Maybe I should have.

There are so many good points made in this, the longest Psalm.

The main point of the Psalm is that God’s Word is good, so I want to follow it.

It is an acrostic Psalm, so each section starts with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Each of those sections says something about God’s Word.

Why?

The reasons given in this Psalm are many.

Trusting God’s Word brings joy, purity, peace, blessings, and so on.

The one aspect that stood out to me is freedom.

I have heard people say that they ran from God because they wanted freedom.

But true freedom is found in obeying God’s Word.

We were all born as slaves to sin.

But God designed us.

He knows more about us than we know ourselves.

So, like every good maker, He gave us an owner’s manual.

It’s full of tips for making our lives run in the best possible way.

When we ignore the owner’s manual, we tend to mess up our lives physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

When we trust the manual and do what it says, our lives work much more efficiently.

In essence, when we obey God’s Word, we are freed from the major malfunctions of life.

How has living in obedience to God’s Word brought you freedom?
Where has disobeying God’s Word brought you troubles?
October 4, 2025

October 4th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 1 John 3

Highlight Verse:

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You’ve probably heard it said that we are “Jesus with skin on.”

Let’s keep this simple today and have a little conversation.

What are innovative ways that we can show the love of God to others today?
Please, let’s all participate in this.
Even if you are not a believer, what is a way that you think that followers of Jesus could be showing God’s love?

Feel free to go to the “Walk In The Light Bible Study Group” on Facebook to take part in the main conversation.
October 3, 2025

October 3rd, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 51-52

Highlight Verse:

“In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, Evil-merodach ascended to the Babylonian throne. He was kind to Jehoiachin and released him from prison on March 31 of that year.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭52‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The NLT gives this passage the heading of “Hope for Israel’s royal line.”

In reality, it was hope for the entire world.

Matthew 1:12 lists this moment in the lineage of Jesus.

Through his favor to Jehoiachin, the ironically named Evil-merodach paved the way for evil to be defeated by Jesus.

Even though most never saw it, God was at work in the midst of a horrible situation for Israel.

In many ways our situation is similar. Ungodly governments rule many countries.

Despite that, God is still at work bringing his salvation to people in ways they wouldn’t expect?

Where have you seen God at work in unexpected ways in dark situations?
How can we help in those situations?
October 2, 2025

October 2nd, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Colossians 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul did not start the church at Colosse.

Despite that, he committed to praying for them.

It didn’t matter to him that it wasn’t his words that brought the Colossians to Jesus.

Nor did he feel the need to take over the church.

Instead, he offered prayers and sound doctrine in the form of this letter.

Far too often, pride can get in the way of ministry.

We have our way of doing things and feel like we need to intervene if something is done differently.

I’ve seen churches fall apart when a Pastor retires, passes, or is removed.

A healthy church is one in which the majority of the work is done by the congregation under the guidance of a Pastor and council who encourage participation without an iron fist of control.

How healthy is your church?
What can you do to encourage healthy growth in your church?
October 1, 2025

September 30th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 9-10

Highlight verse:

“When all the kings allied with Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they surrendered to Israel and became their subjects. After that, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am in Texas this week and today’s reading reminded me of the saying “Don’t mess with Texas.”

In this case, it should be “Don’t mess with Israel.”

At least that could be said during David’s time as King.

Tens of thousands of soldiers died at the hands of David’s troops.

That may sound harsh, but how many would have died if the wars had continued?

Because of the sound defeat, Israel’s enemies and their allies were no longer willing to go to battle against Israel.

That’s a good thing.

I don’t want to get political, and I know warfare today is very different, but I think there is something to be said for being so strong that no one would want to fight you.

Let’s take that on a spiritual level and be so strong that the devil would rather run from us than face us head on.

As for me, I’m far from perfect, but I know where my strength comes from, and I trust that God’s got my back.

Do you fear the devil and his demons, or do you dare him to even try?
How have you successfully defeated the powers of darkness in the past?
How do you prepare for battle now?
September 30, 2025

September 30th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 13-14

Highlight Verse:

“When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why did God unleash the plagues on Egypt?

Sure, it can be said that it was to punish the Egyptians for enslaving the Israelites.

But this verse points to a deeper meaning. He wanted to woo His people to Him.

It was an act of love.

I’m here in Texas today because I love my oldest daughter and want the best for her.

There’s nothing (legal) I wouldn’t do bring her into a relationship with Jesus. That is a big part of why I am here.

God loved all his people over all time so much that he took radical steps to woo us.

We would do well to help God in this effort.

What else did God do woo His people?
What can we do to help?
September 29, 2025

September 28th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 11

Highlight Verse:

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Quite frankly, this verse jumped out at me because I’m tired.

I’m posting this live because it’s already after midnight. That’s Central Time and I started in Mountain time so it’s not quite as bad.

But that also means I’ve been traveling all day.

I’m helping my oldest daughter and her husband move to Texas from Colorado. It’s a long slow drive with a big moving van and we’ve only made it a third of the way across Texas (after crossing Colorado and a corner of New Mexico).

But I know I’m doing the right thing, and I know I will get good sleep tonight as I rest in the care of Jesus.

Tomorrow will bring fresh adventures as I help them get a fresh start.

No matter how busy or exhausting your lives get, remember to rest in the arms of Jesus and

He will not fail to renew your strength.

When have you needed rest the most?
What has been the best rest that you have received?
September 28, 2025

September 28th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 116-118

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭116‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Anyone who thinks that God is an impersonal force – read this verse (and others like it).

An impersonal force cannot care.

God does. Deeply!

The one time in the Bible we see Jesus weep is when His friend Lazarus died.

True, He raised Lazarus from the dead moments later, but the situation moved Him emotionally.

The death of a believer is also temporary. But God is moved every time someone passes from this life.

I believe that applies to unbelievers doubly. When someone who has not accepted Jesus’ sacrifice passes from this life, he or she has missed the opportunity to enter heaven.

God created everyone and knows each person well.

It saddens Him when one of His creations chooses not to accept His invitation to a relationship.

It is with tears that God allows people to reject Him and eternal life in His Home.

It brings God pleasure when we help bring people to a place where they can accept the Holy Spirit’s invitation to a relationship with God.

If you were miraculously given the ability to comfort God when someone died, what would you say?
When you lose someone you love, what would you want people to say to you?
September 27, 2025

September 27th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Proverbs 3

Highlight Verse:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was recently driving in my work van with the adaptive cruise control on.

I love how it adjusts my speed to the traffic ahead of me and still keeps me from going too fast when traffic opens up.

I’m impressed with the practical science that has advanced to the point that it will maintain the distance I set even in stop and go traffic.

But I always cancel it before traffic gets very slow.

Why?

I believe in the science and technology that went into making that system work.

But deep down, I don’t trust it.

In one of those moments of tapping the brake to take it out of cruise, truth hit me.

It’s so easy to believe that truth – that God is in control, and He has good plans for my life.

But how many times have I tapped the brake and taken control.

I’ve done it so often I couldn’t even tell you.

Like tapping out of cruise control, it’s natural to want control when God takes you into risky places.

We crave safety.

But the rewards lie at the end of the risky road.

I still don’t advocate letting our fancy new cars take total control.

But I want to keep my eyes open for times when Jesus wants to take the wheel.

When I get past my fear, I might just enjoy the ride.

When have you hit the brakes on God’s risky plans for your life?
What rewards have you seen from giving Him control even in the risky parts of your life?
September 26, 2025

September 26th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 48-50

Highlight Verse:

““In those coming days,” says the Lord, “the people of Israel will return home together with the people of Judah. They will come weeping and seeking the Lord their God.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭50‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My daughter’s high school just had their “Homecoming” game and dance.

I put the homecoming in quotes because the previous week was a home game, so it wasn’t technically a “homecoming.”

When I lived in the south, they wouldn’t have dreamed of labeling a game “homecoming” if it was just a random game. It was a die-hard tradition of fall to celebrate the first home football game after the first away game or series of games.

Another tradition in the south was homecoming weekends at church.

They invited everyone who had every attended an older church to a weekend of celebration.

The hope (at least in the more passionate churches) was that the weekend would turn into a revival drawing back people who had walked away from Jesus.

You could say that tradition goes all the way back to today’s verse, when the people of Israel returned to God.

It took 70 years for the people of Israel to return to God. But they came back.

It wasn’t too late for them.

It isn’t too late for you and me.

We can turn a homecoming into a revival.

Do you feel at home with Jesus?
What does coming home to Jesus look like to you?
Are you ready for a revival?

The main point of the Psalm is that God’s Word is good, so I want to follow it.

But true freedom is found in obeying God’s Word.

In essence, when we obey God’s Word, we are freed from the major malfunctions of life.

Let’s keep this simple today and have a little conversation.

In reality, it was hope for the entire world.

Despite that, God is still at work bringing his salvation to people in ways they wouldn’t expect?

Paul did not start the church at Colosse.

Far too often, pride can get in the way of ministry.

In this case, it should be “Don’t mess with Israel.”

Let’s take that on a spiritual level and be so strong that the devil would rather run from us than face us head on.

As for me, I’m far from perfect, but I know where my strength comes from, and I trust that God’s got my back.

Why did God unleash the plagues on Egypt?

It was an act of love.

We would do well to help God in this effort.

Quite frankly, this verse jumped out at me because I’m tired.

But I know I’m doing the right thing, and I know I will get good sleep tonight as I rest in the care of Jesus.

He will not fail to renew your strength.

An impersonal force cannot care.

God does. Deeply!

God created everyone and knows each person well.

It brings God pleasure when we help bring people to a place where they can accept the Holy Spirit’s invitation to a relationship with God.

But deep down, I don’t trust it.

But how many times have I tapped the brake and taken control.

But the rewards lie at the end of the risky road.

Another tradition in the south was homecoming weekends at church.

It wasn’t too late for them.

We can turn a homecoming into a revival.