Walk in the Light

September 5, 2025

September 5th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 40-41

Highlight Verse:

“So Jeremiah returned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he lived in Judah with the few who were still left in the land.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭40‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

At the end of Denver’s primary downtown commercial street, 17th Street, is the grand Union Station Building.

From 1908 until 1931, an ornate archway welcomed visitors in front of Union Station.

On their way out of town visitors received a blessing of Biblical proportions.

“Mizpah” was printed on the outbound side of the arch.

Photo: DPL-WHG

The Hebrew word, Mizpah, is a departing blessing meaning something like,

“May God keep us connected even while we are apart.”

That’s an appropriate name for the town that Jeremiah chose to settle during the exile.

While Jeremiah consistently predicted the exile, he also knew it would end, and the people of God would return.

Until that time he settled in a town that, by its very name, pronounced a blessing of unity for God’s people.

My family is scattered from coast to coast, almost literally (I have one sister 150 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and a brother 13 miles from the Pacific Ocean).

But we are still a family.

We love and support each other despite the distance and differences between us.

While we differ in the expressions of our faiths, I believe we would each accept the blessing of Mizpah.

How do you express blessings on your family and/or friends upon parting?
How do you stay connected with your family and friends?
September 4, 2025

September 4th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Ephesians 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve never been in full-time ministry but I’ve had the privilege of being involved in next generation ministry on one level or another for decades.

If you ask me what my favorite part of ministry is, it is that moment when speaking to students and I see that look in their eyes that says

they finally get it.

When that is followed by a prayer and positive response to the Gospel, it makes it all worth it.

So, when Paul says it is a privilege to share the Gospel,

he is 100 percent right.

In case you are tempted to say something like, “that’s all well and good for you,” realize that God uses whoever is willing to share.

Some of the most powerful testimonies I’ve heard were from people who just found Jesus after a rebellious life and shared their new found joy.

God once used a donkey to speak to Balaam.

There’s no limit to what He can do through you.

Have you experienced the joy of telling others about Jesus?
What ways has God used you to spread the Gospel?
How is He challenging you to share in the future?
September 3, 2025

September 3rd, 2025

NOTE: While most of the readers of this on our Facebook page are from the United States, interestingly, most who read here on the webpage are from elsewhere across the globe. While I am not familiar with the political situation where you might be reading this, the American political landscape has become increasingly divided in recent decades. My hope is that we may see beyond what divides us and find common ground in Jesus.

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 1-2

Highlight Verses:

“Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One Memorial Day when I lived in Virginia, I was in Washington DC for the weekend and happened to visit Arlington National Cemetery. There were crowds streaming toward the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier so, curious, I followed the crowd.

I found myself trapped in the amphitheater and forced to witness the Memorial Day speech of the then current President.

I did not like that President.

I was of the opposing party and I disliked much of what he did as President.

But that day, he brought respect to those who had given their lives to create and defend the United States.

I respected that.

It brought me new respect for the man.

I still wouldn’t vote for him, but he was the duly elected President of the United States and I fully respected the office.

Saul was the anointed King of Israel.

He did many things that David didn’t approve of, not the least being attempting to kill him.

But David had great respect for God’s appointment and wasn’t afraid to show it.

If we were to show respect for those who politically oppose us, we might be surprised at how much more peaceful our lives would be.

I’m not asking for people to go against their political convictions.

But we don’t have to be nasty towards our political opponents and their followers.

In fact, the more respect we show them, the more likely they are to listen to us.

In what ways can we show respect toward our political opponents without compromising our values?
How have you been able to bridge the political gap among your friends or family?
September 2, 2025

September 2nd, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Then Pharaoh called in his own wise men and sorcerers, and these Egyptian magicians did the same thing with their magic.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭7‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I read several commentaries on this verse.

The majority say that the Egyptian sorcerers used slight of hand or the Egyptian art of snake charming to make it appear that their staffs turned into serpents.

They point to the fact that the words used to describe them imply deception.

I’m not so sure.

I have no doubt that they were working in cooperation with the devil who is also known as the deceiver.

I also have no doubt that their aim was to deceive Pharaoh into not believing Moses.

I also know that the devil can pull off some convincing “miracles.”

He uses supernatural means to pull off what appears to be impossible.

There will come a day when the antichrist will display some miracles that will even fool some Christians.

My point is that “miracles” are not always of God.

Don’t get me wrong. I firmly believe that God can and does still perform miracles.

I believe in the “full Gospel” which includes the modern day works of the Holy Spirit.

But I also believe that the deceiver can use very convincing signs and wonders to lead people astray.

If the miracle does not bring glory to God and God alone, watch out.

True miracles will always point people to Jesus and His grace and mercy.

“Miracles” that glorify people or faiths other than the Gospel are false, no matter how convincing they appear.

What miracles have you witnessed?
How did you know if they were bonafide (or not)?
September 1, 2025

September 1st, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 7

Highlight Verse:

““Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Before you start judging those who appear to be “swine” remember the verse about the log in your own eye.

That said, there are those who are not in a place to hear God’s Word.

The term “pigs” or “swine” is not necessarily a derogatory term here.

Instead, it signifies the unclean. In New Testament terms, it signifies those who have not accepted Christ’s sacrifice.

To try to force the truth on those people will only backfire.

Love and prayer are the only things I can think of that can break down those barriers.

And, believe me, there are those in my family whose barriers I desperately want to see broken down.

What have you seen break through the barriers of spiritual blindness with those you love?
For whom do you want prayer for those barriers to be broken? (For me, my son and oldest daughter).
August 31, 2025

August 31st, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 105-106

Highlight Verse:

“Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough?”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭106‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I like to say the words too much and chocolate should never be said in the same sentence.

Of course, that saying breaks down when someone’s tastes differ or someone stomach aches.

But there truly is no such thing as praising God too much.

No matter how much you try, if you are honest, you cannot run out of things to thank or praise God for.

So let’s do that.

If you are reading this on the day it posts, it is Sunday.

Start your praise in church.

But don’t stop there. Spend the afternoon dwelling on his gifts. If you are busy, you can keep an attitude of thanks and praise as you go about your activities.

Tonight, as you go to bed, dwell on what He gave you today. Remember all He has done for you and all He will do for you.

And give Him endless praise.

What is the one thing you are most thankful for today?
How have you praised God for it?
August 30, 2025

August 30th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Colossians 3:22-25, Deuteronomy 24:14-15

Highlight Verse:

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As we enter Labor Day weekend, the holiday in America that we celebrate working people,

I thought I would see what the Bible says about labor.

From the beginnings of Israel as a nation, God has urged employers to take care of their workers.

Deuteronomy 24:15 tells employers to pay laborers daily because they depend on their pay.

In fact, if employers had always taken good care of their workers, we probably wouldn’t have this holiday.

Labor Day was founded at the behest of labor unions which would likely not exist if workers were always treated fairly.

So, what does God tell the workers.

God tells us to work as if we are working for God.

In other words, we need to put forth our best efforts, whether our bosses notice or not.

When have you gone out of you way to do an excellent job for your employer?
In what ways has your employer gone out of the way too treat you well?
August 29, 2025

August 29th, 2025
Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 37-39

Highlight Verse:

““But I am afraid to surrender,” the king said, “for the Babylonians may hand me over to the Judeans who have defected to them. And who knows what they will do to me!””
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭38‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The person who inspires the strongest emotional response from me in today’s reading is… Zedekiah.

I didn’t say positive emotions.

It seems like everything he did was out of fear.
- He put Jeremiah in prison because he is afraid of his advisors.
- He rescued Jeremiah because he was afraid of Jeremiah’s friends.
- He called for Jeremiah’s advice because he was afraid of God.
- He ignored the advice because he was afraid of the King of Babylon and his countrymen.
And he paid the price in a most gruesome way.

At least he got one thing right. He consulted God through Jeremiah.

But he was too afraid to obey what God said through Jeremiah.

To be sure, walking the path God has for us is not for the faint hearted.

Like Zedekiah, we need to consult God. Today we have the Bible to consult and wise people to advise us.

Unlike Zedekiah, we need to act on what God says.

Zedekiah could have spared himself so much pain and suffering if only he had been bold enough to act on what God said.

We could not only save ourselves pain and suffering but we could spread the joy of God’s love if we just do what He says.

Have you ever suffered for not following God’s Word?
How has God blessed you when you have followed His Word?
August 28, 2025

August 28th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Ephesians 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you know that you bring God pleasure?

I’ve written before about how I understood God’s love when my first child was born.

To sum it up, there is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect my children and there is nothing my children could do that would make me love them less.

There is one shortfall in that comparison to God’s love.

He chose us!

He made a great sacrifice, literally, to adopt us.

Our middle daughter was adopted by my wife and her late first husband.

They experienced great joy when they brought her home and a second wave of joy when the adoption was finalized.

Of course, we love all our children equally.

God loves the billions of His children equally.

But you and I have the power to bring pleasure to the God who created the universe.

All we have to do is accept adoption into God’s family.

I believe that continues beyond the day of adoption.

Every time with do what He has called us to do, we bring Him pleasure.

What has God called you to do while you are here on Earth?
What do you think of the fact that you give God pleasure?
August 27, 2025

August 27th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 29-31

Highlight Verse:

“David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭30‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I cannot imagine anything worse than coming home to find that my wife and children had been kidnapped.

It didn’t help that the reason David and his men were away from home was to aid their historical enemies.

I may have felt the same way as David’s men in that circumstance.

But David found his strength in the Lord.

Instead of getting mad at God or despondent about losing his family, David found strength in God.

He consulted God and with God’s blessing and strength, he rescued all that been taken from them.

I’d like to say that whenever something bad has happened in my life, I’ve turned straight to God for strength and direction.

I’ve not always acted that wisely.

But when I did, restoration, blessing, and growth followed.

What is your first reaction when something bad happens in your life?
What do you do to keep your focus on God?

“May God keep us connected even while we are apart.”

Until that time he settled in a town that, by its very name, pronounced a blessing of unity for God’s people.

We love and support each other despite the distance and differences between us.

they finally get it.

he is 100 percent right.

There’s no limit to what He can do through you.

I did not like that President.

It brought me new respect for the man.

If we were to show respect for those who politically oppose us, we might be surprised at how much more peaceful our lives would be.

I’m not so sure.

My point is that “miracles” are not always of God.

If the miracle does not bring glory to God and God alone, watch out.

True miracles will always point people to Jesus and His grace and mercy.

The term “pigs” or “swine” is not necessarily a derogatory term here.

To try to force the truth on those people will only backfire.

Love and prayer are the only things I can think of that can break down those barriers.

But there truly is no such thing as praising God too much.

Tonight, as you go to bed, dwell on what He gave you today. Remember all He has done for you and all He will do for you.

And give Him endless praise.

I thought I would see what the Bible says about labor.

Deuteronomy 24:15 tells employers to pay laborers daily because they depend on their pay.

In other words, we need to put forth our best efforts, whether our bosses notice or not.

It seems like everything he did was out of fear.

And he paid the price in a most gruesome way.

Unlike Zedekiah, we need to act on what God says.

Did you know that you bring God pleasure?

He chose us!

All we have to do is accept adoption into God’s family.

Every time with do what He has called us to do, we bring Him pleasure.

But David found his strength in the Lord.

I’ve not always acted that wisely.

But when I did, restoration, blessing, and growth followed.