Walk in the Light

February 4, 2023

February 4th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Highlight Verses:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV

The most popular sporting event in the United States is coming up next weekend. Players for the Chiefs and the Eagles have practiced their entire lives for this game. Their levels of discipline have been off the charts to prepare themselves for the Super Bowl.

The life changing opportunities in our lives are no less important than the Super Bowl.

For those we draw to Jesus, they are far more important.

For this reason, we would do well to discipline ourselves to train for the event of helping people find and follow Jesus.

In what ways do you discipline yourself for this life of following Jesus?

What has worked well for you to improve your spiritual and physical abilities? Please share so that the rest of us may learn from what works for you.
February 3, 2023

February 3rd, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 13-15

Highlight Verse:

“Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.”

Isaiah 13:19 NIV

Do you ever go into these readings and think, “Ugh, not more death and destruction.”

Kind of makes you wonder what these prophets were up to.

Their job was to inspire people to follow God more closely through God given words, often offering a bit of God’s higher view or plan.

Here, God wanted to encourage His people to keep following and not give up since their oppressors would fall.

While these prophecies may seen tedious to read, they are part of a bigger picture that set up the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus.

Can you read this while imagining you are part of a nation oppressed by the object of the prophecy?

Would it encourage you?

How would your encouragement of others differ today? (Hopefully you’re not prophesying the doom of nations today).
February 2, 2023

February 2nd, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Romans 5

“Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

Romans 5:11 NIV

And another thing…

Paul seems to get excited in this chapter about so many of the benefits of accepting God’s gift of sacrifice for us. Phrases like “not only” and “how much more” are scattered throughout the chapter.

This gift of new life is not just reason to be glad and celebrate.

It’s reason to boast – not the “I’m better than you,” kind of boast but the “look what God has done for me,” kind of boast!

Have you boasted lately?

Can you find it in you to boast about the amazing grace and mercy of God?
February 1, 2023

February 1st, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – Joshua 13-15

Highlight Verses:

““Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.”

Joshua 14:10-11 NLT

This is Caleb speaking.

At age 85, he boldly reminds Joshua of Moses’ promise to him and chooses land that needs to be conquered yet.

If you read chapter 15, you find that he conquers that land and settles his people there.

While I may have a few more aches than when I was forty (nearly 19 years ago now), for the most part, I’m feeling pretty good physically. The question is, will I be that way at 85?

Caleb was.

I’ve known others that have kept fit into their eighties. If I make the effort, I should be able to as well.

To that end, I am making monthly goals. Last month I did a partial fast, eating one meal per day for 21 days. So far, most of those pounds are staying off and I’ve stopped some unhealthy eating habits. This month I plan on getting to bed at a decent time – a tough one for this night owl. Later, I may concentrate on exercise.

I’m far from a great example of fitness, but I’m heading the right direction one step at a time.

What does this have to do with today’s passage?

Caleb made a great example of treating the body as God’s temple.

I hope to follow that example.

Do you have plans to keep your body healthy?

What kind of difference can you make if you stay healthy later in life?

How can you start down that path today?
January 31, 2023

January 31st, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading: Genesis 7-8

Highlight Verses:

“Noah was now 601 years old. On the first day of the new year, ten and a half months after the flood began, the floodwaters had almost dried up from the earth. Noah lifted back the covering of the boat and saw that the surface of the ground was drying. Two more months went by, and at last the earth was dry!”

Genesis 8:13-14 NLT

First off, you should know that I believe this story was real. There is a significant amount of scientific and anthropological evidence for a worldwide flood – not to mention the Biblical record of it.

That said, Noah was one patient guy.

It had to have taken many years to build the ark. The Bible doesn’t specify that time.

The Bible is very specific about how long the flood lasted.

The rain and the eruption of underground water lasted forty days.

After exactly 5 months, the ark came to rest on Ararat.

After ten months, Noah uncovered the ark.

After a year and ten days, God told Noah to leave the ark.

The Bible doesn’t mention Noah’s attitude at this point but I would be very anxious to get out of the ark by then. Noah waited for God’s command.

Do you, like me, ever get impatient for God’s instructions to move?

Noah waited for the land to be ready to support him and his family and the animals. Are there things that you and I need to wait for to be ready before we act?

Feel free to share stories about that.
January 30, 2023

January 30th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

John 6

Highlight Verse:

“But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said.”

John 6:43 NLT

Was Jesus getting frustrated?

Yes, I think He was.

So many people have the idea that God is a force. They try to tap into that force’s power or at least try to get into the flow of that power.

Even in this situation, people were trying to manipulate Jesus to show His power in the form of a miracle.

God is not a force to be manipulated.

God is a person.

Three person’s in one to be exact – Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

That mean’s He has a personality. He has emotions. He is real!

And here these people are talking to Jesus, God the Son and trying to coax a miracle out of Him.

How often do we do that?

We may say something like, “God, if you’re real, do this,” when He taught us to pray “Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

I’m not saying we shouldn’t bring our requests to God. I am saying that we should bring them to God and trust that He will do the right thing.

God wants the best for us.

We need to trust in that.

Do you have a hard time believing that God really wants the best for you?

What might change if you approached Him with complete trust?
January 29, 2023

January 29th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Psalms 13-16

Highlight Verses:

“Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.”

Psalms 15:1-3 NLT

When I started reading this Psalm, I thought it was interesting that it came right after a Psalm declaring that everyone was evil. You gotta be blameless and do what is right to enter the sanctuary.

Then David starts to define what is right.

Tell the truth!

Everything that comes after that in this Psalm reflects different forms of honesty.

Of course, dishonesty is not the only sin out there. But honesty is at the core of righteousness. If you are honest with yourself and others, you will seek to correct other bad behavior so that you can remain honest.

If you are honest with yourself, can you claim to be one hundred percent honest?

If you are committed to a life of complete honesty, would you continue to try to get away with sin?
January 28, 2023

January 28th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

“O Lord, I am your servant; yes, I am your servant, born into your household; you have freed me from my chains.”

Psalms 116:16 NLT

How can you be a servant and free at the same time?

If you read the entire Psalm, you will find that the author spends most of his time describing how God listens and cares for him.

The natural response to someone who has done much for one is to do much in return.

How much more true is that for God? He has provided our very lives and every bit of grace and mercy throughout out our lives.

To Him who has given us everything, it is good to give everything we have to offer including our heart of grateful service.

We know that our salvation does not come from the acts of service we perform. But our gratitude for His grace and mercy should inspire us to freely do those same acts of service.

Do you do things for God out of obligation, guilt, or gratitude?

Do you realize the freedom that you have in salvation?
January 27, 2023

January 27th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Isaiah 10-12

Highlight Verse:

“In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.”

Isaiah 10:20 NIV

The times in my life when all has been stripped away have been the times that I relied on God the most. There have been times when I was down to the stuff I could fit in my car. One time when the minivan with all my stuff catastrophically failed. Other times when I didn’t know how the bills would be paid.

I had nothing but God.

And God has always been faithful.

On the flip side of this, I believe we should always be on the lookout for when we can be God’s hands and feet to those who have nothing left.

In those times when I relied on God,

He used people to meet my needs.

It was God’s people who provided me with furniture when I got here.

It was a man of God who enabled me to move here in the first place.

In desperate times, people have provided me with food, money, shelter, and most importantly, hope! Their faithfulness has kept me following the one whom they follow.

Do you rely on God in both the good and bad times?

Are you attentive to when He calls on you to provide for others in their hard times?
January 26, 2023

January 26th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Romans 4

Highlight Verse:

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.””

Romans 4:18 NIV

I can relate to Abraham. Actually, I had it easy compared to him and others.

Our best friends had two children but then tragically lost their third in a late term miscarriage. About a year later, they came to us saying that they were thinking of trying again but were praying we would have a child first.

Okay, great. After ten years with no luck, we’d given up hope. But they hadn’t.

Our Felicia turns 24 this year. Their Gabriel is just a month and a half younger.

Abraham and Sarah had to wait decades longer than us. He had been promised that he would be a father of nations. There were many times that he had given up hope of that dream.

But he hadn’t given up faith in God. And that faith preceded Him becoming father to many nations.

Are you in a season of waiting?

Are you tempted to give up hope?

God will fulfill all His promises to you in His best timing.

The life changing opportunities in our lives are no less important than the Super Bowl.

Do you ever go into these readings and think, “Ugh, not more death and destruction.”

And another thing…

Caleb made a great example of treating the body as God’s temple.

That said, Noah was one patient guy.

God is a person.

How often do we do that?

God wants the best for us.

We need to trust in that.

Tell the truth!

How can you be a servant and free at the same time?

The natural response to someone who has done much for one is to do much in return.

I had nothing but God.

And God has always been faithful.

He used people to meet my needs.