Walk in the Light

September 25, 2025

September 25th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Philippians 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love it when the Bible gives us commands like this.

Make no mistake, it is a command.

The Bible is not telling us how to feel; it is telling us what to DO!

Sometimes that’s a tough command to follow.

Rejoicing involves proclaiming the greatness of God and the goodness of life even when it doesn’t feel good.

It is Paul and Silas singing in the nasty painful jail.

It is giving thanks to God for your next meal even when you don’t know where it’s coming from.

And it’s even sharing your bounty when God has provided well.

Paul didn’t share this command lightly. He was in a Roman prison when he wrote this letter.

His time on Earth was nearing its end.

But he chose to rejoice anyway.

I believe he knew what he was talking about when he commanded us to rejoice.

I choose to rejoice too.

Have you ever rejoiced when things seemed to be at their worst?
How did you do it? What effect did the action of rejoicing have on your life?
September 24, 2025

September 24th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David was just told that he was too violent to build the temple.

Maybe it was because of that violent reputation that Nathan delivered that message with the news that David’s family dynasty would continue.

David did not react with violence.

He reacted with humility.

He recognized that the true credit for his position went to God.

He knew God well enough to know that everything good in his life had its source in his Creator.

It’s easy to forget that.

We work hard to get where we are. We want to credit.

Like David, we need to know the true Author of our lives.

We owe our talents and skills, even the very breath we breathe to Him.

David had it right giving all the credit to God.

If we are honest, we must do the same.

Have you ever caught yourself patting your own back for your accomplishments?
How did that work out for you? (It never worked well for me).
September 23, 2025

September 23rd, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 12

Highlight Verse:

“But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I remember hearing these stories as a child and thinking how gross it must have been to have blood on your doorposts.

I look back now and realize that, even then, God was setting His plan for salvation in motion.

Just as the Israelites were spared the plague of the firstborn deaths by demonstrating their faith through the blood on their doorposts,

so we are granted eternal life when we accept the blood of Jesus.

Some would say that we must display our acceptance of that sacrifice through participating in communion.

The New Testament makes it plain that Jesus sacrifice must be accepted, but that is all.

As a result of accepting God’s new deal for us, we would certainly want to take communion, but that is not a prerequisite for salvation.

So, while this historical event foreshadows the new covenant, Jesus’ sacrifice completes it.

Have you ever felt like you had to complete the sacraments or meet other standards before you could get eternal life?
How has God’s gift of eternal life altered your view of sacraments and laws?
September 22, 2025

September 22nd, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 10

Highlight Verse:

““Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Much of my childhood was spent seeking acknowledgment from my dad.

That didn’t come often.

After my parents’ divorce, it was even more scarce.

Then I got to know my Heavenly Father and verses like this clicked into place.

Knowing that God knows who I am down to the last hair on my head brings joy to my heart.

How could I not acknowledge Him to others.

That doesn’t mean I preach to strangers.

I prefer to bring my relationship with God up naturally.

The stickers on my water bottle at work can sometimes bring up conversations. Other times, a simple “whatcha up to this weekend” conversation opens the subject of church or creation if I’m heading to the mountains.

Regardless of the method, I am not ashamed of the Gospel and not afraid to bring it up in a non-threatening loving and respectful way.

What is your favorite way to share the Gospel?
Where do you struggle the most with sharing?
September 21, 2025

September 21st, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 112-115

Highlight Verse:

“Praise the Lord! Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭113‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have a simple challenge for you today.

Read or listen to Psalms 112-115 through.

While you read, concentrate on praising God –
• For all that He has provided for you.
• For all He has forgiven you for.
• For all that He is.

Then share what you praised Him for.
September 20, 2025

September 20th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Matthew 6:19-34

Highlight Verse:

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This weekend there is a “Pirate Fest” in a nearby park.

We don’t really have the time nor inclination to attend it, but it sounds fun.

Instead, we watched “The Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Some of you might love that movie, some might hate it, some, like me, think it’s fun but strange.

I think we can all agree that Jack Sparrow… sorry, Captain Jack Sparrow has his treasure in the wrong place.

Unlike most pirates, it isn’t in gold. It is in freedom from anyone commanding him.

As believers, our treasure should be in loving God and loving others.

That is a treasure always worth pursuing with wealth that will last forever.

No one can rob us of that treasure.

Where does your treasure lie?
How do you pursue it?
September 19, 2025

September 19th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 45-47

Highlight Verse:

“Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, for I am with you,” says the Lord. “I will completely destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished.””
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭46‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jeremiah is known for making people afraid.

It’s refreshing to hear him say to not be afraid.

Here’s the question I have to ask of the Bible for this verse, “Is the punishment spoken of here covered by the sacrifice of Jesus?”

I would say yes with a caveat.

The eternal circumstances of sin are covered by Jesus’ sacrifice for those who accept it.

That doesn’t mean that believers will not have to deal with the earthly consequences of their actions.

For example, if you break the law, you have to pay the penalties. Likewise, if you don’t control your spending, you could be in trouble with your creditors.

But fear not, God will bring you through.

Along the way, you may learn a little discipline to avoid the same problems.

What have you learned through God’s discipline?
How has God helped you through those times?
September 18, 2025

September 18th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Philippians 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve recently seen several videos of Christians criticizing Christians.

They’ve mostly been fundamentalists criticizing seeker sensitive churches and Christian radio.

But over the years I’ve heard seeker sensitive churches criticize fundamentalists, Pentecostals criticize seeker sensitive churches, mainline churches criticizing Pentecostals, Evangelicals criticizing mainline churches, and so on.

Who is right and who is wrong?

All of us.

We are human.

Humans make mistakes.

We get selfish, we get self righteous, we take political and doctrinal sides, and we get critical.

And we let that get in the way of the Gospel.

What would happen if we concentrated on the Great Commission of bringing the Gospel to the whole world.

Yes, we can discuss our differences, but let’s do that while we work together.

Unless someone is preaching against the Gospel of salvation by the grace of Jesus alone, we should work together.

Paul did it – and the world changed.

Billy Graham did it – and the Gospel flourished.

We can do it – and watch revival sweep across the world.

What is your favorite way to spread the Gospel?
What stands in the way of sharing the Gospel for you?
September 17, 2025

September 17th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Every now and then, I run into something in the Bible that is not only new to me but that I don’t have any clue about.

Today’s incident of that doesn’t have any bearing on my theology, but I’m curious what was behind it.

Why did David name that place “Baal-perazin?

Baal literally means possessor or “Master.)

David usually uses “El” or “YHWH” to describe God.

Why this change?

I honestly don’t know.

Commentaries are oddly vague about it.

I do have a couple of theories:
• Since this was former Philistine territory, David sticks with a local name.
• Because it was named as a result of battle, David downplayed God’s role.
• David was distracted by war and lost a little respect for God.

I could run with any of these and make a theological lesson from them.

In my opinion, that would be wrong.

There isn’t enough Biblical evidence to fully support any of these ideas.

Even if there was, I would be pulling them out of context.

While I admit I have occasionally pulled verses out of context, I try to only do that if the Bible as a whole supports the lesson. (If I mess up and try to bring lessons that are not supported by Scripture, please point it out to me).

So, what is today’s lesson?

It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.”

In fact, it’s better to say that than to lead people to wrong conclusions.

What is your take on the whole “Baal-Perazim” naming?
What are other scriptures that you haven’t figured out?
September 16, 2025

September 16th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 10-11

Highlight Verse:

“(Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.)”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This puzzled me.

Why would the Egyptian people and Pharaoh’s officials look favorably on Moses and the people of Israel?

I would have expected them to blame Moses and Israel for the plagues.

This verse tells me they knew better.

The plagues were a result of God’s wrath against Pharaoh’s stubbornness.

The people of Egypt saw how the Israelites had favor with God and wanted to be on their good side.

I believed that’s why they gave so generously.

So why do so many people today see Christians in a negative light?

The Israelites continued to work despite Pharaoh’s cruelty and were blessed by God for their efforts.

Besides that, they had a solid faith that didn’t change with the passing of each Pharaoh.

The Egyptian belief system revolved around appeasing many gods including the self-proclaimed God Pharaoh.

Today we hold on to a solid faith in the one true God.

We have joy that comes from that faith.

But we have a history of criticizing the shortfalls of those still bound by sin.

Instead of reaching out with the love of God, we rant on social media and or stay to ourselves, not even knowing our neighbors.

I believe it is also true that our society has given the evil one the unprecedented right to indoctrinate people against Christianity.

So, what can we do about it?

I believe we are at the beginning of a great world-wide revival.

If we continue the trend of pressing into God and reaching out to others with His love, we may yet see a turn around on the scale of Exodus.

If we stay within our little Christian clubs while we let the world influence us into complacency or reactionary anger,

that flame will fizzle out.

I for one, intend to reach out in love with the Author of all Love.

How can you press in to make your faith more solid?
What has God called you to do to reach out to others with His Love?

Make no mistake, it is a command.

The Bible is not telling us how to feel; it is telling us what to DO!

I choose to rejoice too.

David was just told that he was too violent to build the temple.

He reacted with humility.

He knew God well enough to know that everything good in his life had its source in his Creator.

If we are honest, we must do the same.

I remember hearing these stories as a child and thinking how gross it must have been to have blood on your doorposts.

so we are granted eternal life when we accept the blood of Jesus.

So, while this historical event foreshadows the new covenant, Jesus’ sacrifice completes it.

Then I got to know my Heavenly Father and verses like this clicked into place.

How could I not acknowledge Him to others.

Regardless of the method, I am not ashamed of the Gospel and not afraid to bring it up in a non-threatening loving and respectful way.

I think we can all agree that Jack Sparrow… sorry, Captain Jack Sparrow has his treasure in the wrong place.

As believers, our treasure should be in loving God and loving others.

No one can rob us of that treasure.

It’s refreshing to hear him say to not be afraid.

That doesn’t mean that believers will not have to deal with the earthly consequences of their actions.

Along the way, you may learn a little discipline to avoid the same problems.

I’ve recently seen several videos of Christians criticizing Christians.

Who is right and who is wrong?

All of us.

Yes, we can discuss our differences, but let’s do that while we work together.

We can do it – and watch revival sweep across the world.

Every now and then, I run into something in the Bible that is not only new to me but that I don’t have any clue about.

I honestly don’t know.

It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.”

Why would the Egyptian people and Pharaoh’s officials look favorably on Moses and the people of Israel?

If we continue the trend of pressing into God and reaching out to others with His love, we may yet see a turn around on the scale of Exodus.

that flame will fizzle out.