Walk in the Light

August 17, 2026

August 17th, 2026

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 9

Highlight Verse:

“So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭9‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sound familiar?

In Joshua chapter 2, two spies were lowered through the wall of Jericho to escape capture.

Just like with Paul, their pursuers saw them as a threat to their way of life.

Also like with Paul, God provided a very unexpected means of escape.

No angel appeared to miraculously sneak them out.

No guards eyes were blinded.

With both Paul and the spies, God provided a supporter who could literally pull the right strings (or ropes) to get them out of harms way.

There’s an old story of a man trapped in his house in a flood.

When the water reached the front door, a boat came by to give him a ride to safety.

“Don’t worry, God will save me!” Said the man as he sent the boat away.

When the water reached the second floor, another boat came by.

The man kept up his confidence, “I have faith that God will save me!”

Eventually, the man had to climb onto his roof.

A helicopter came by to rescue him.

He waved them off shouting, “I still have faith God will save me!”

A short time later he drowned and went to heaven. The moment he saw Jesus, he ran up and asked, “Lord, why didn’t you save me?”

Jesus replied, “I sent two boats and a helicopter, what else did you want?”

We need to keep our eyes and minds open to the many ways God works.

When we are facing troubles, sometimes God will send some grand miraculous solution.

Sometimes the solution is as simple as escaping through a hole in a wall or climbing onto a boat.

We need to recognize God’s solution and walk through it.

We also need to recognize when He calls us to be that solution.

When has God provided you a miraculous solution to your problems?
When has the solution been more mundane but no less effective?
August 16, 2026

August 16th, 2026

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 3-4

Highlight Verse:

““Why wasn’t I born dead? Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?”
‭‭Job‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is a tough chapter to read.

Actually, Job can be a tough book to read overall.

The depth of Job’s pain is obvious.

Remember that this is the Word of God.

Whether Job was a real person or not, this chapter shows us one very important thing.

Through the words of this chapter, we come to understand how well God understands the depths of human pain.

Job has a despair so deep that it blots out all the good memories of his life before disaster and makes him wish he had never been born.

If I’m honest, I cannot personally relate but I have witnessed such despair.

While I am not the most compassionate person, my heart goes out to anyone in such despair, wanting desperately to plant hope in that person’s heart.

If I can feel that level of compassion, how much more does God care for us when we feel despair.

We’ll read more about that later.

For now, I want to point out how honestly God’s Word deals with the human condition.

As we go through this book, keep your eyes open for more honest, if misguided emotion through this book and the healing that God brings to the situation.

In the meantime, may God always bring you hope, even in the midst of desperate times.

How does reading this chapter make you feel?
Can you relate to Job or is His situation foreign to you?
August 15, 2026

August 15th, 2026

August 15, 2026

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Psalm 119:105-112

Highlight Verse:

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse along with 1 John 1:7 are the inspirations for the name of this Bible study group.

Okay, the fact that I already had a gmail account by the name of rswalkinthelight played into it as well.

Growing up, I was a city boy. I was rarely out of the range of a streetlight or house lights.

At 16 I moved to the countryside of southwest Virginia. One dark night I experienced what it was like to try to walk a path with no light. You can read about it here.

It wasn’t easy.

Imagine walking the path in this photo at night with no moon and clouds covering the stars.

Not so easy.

One wrong step and you could have a twisted ankle. There are narrow steep parts that could result in worse injury.

This miles-long rocky path at high elevation with no cell service is tough enough in the daytime.

In the dark it would be close to impossible.

If you are a normal human, your life’s path has had some rocks. Probably some steep treacherous spots too.

I’m sure there have been times when you have felt like you were miles from help in a place where it is hard to catch a breath.

That’s when you need light the most.

The light of God’s Word will help guide your steps.

The light of the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to keep walking.

The light of God’s presence will give you comfort when it feels like you are all alone on a rough path with no end.

And the light of a godly perspective will help you see the beauty along the way.

May the light of God and His Word shine brightly on your life.

Have you ever felt lost and had the light of God’s Word help you find your way?
How has God’s Word guided you lately?
August 14, 2026

August 14th, 2026

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Micah 1-2

Highlight Verses:

“Look! The Lord is coming! He leaves his throne in heaven and tramples the heights of the earth. The mountains melt beneath his feet and flow into the valleys like wax in a fire, like water pouring down a hill.”
‭‭Micah‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The first thing I noticed about Micah was the

uniquely poetic language.

Make no mistake, it is God’s Word.

But I find it fascinating that God chose to work within the styles and circumstances of each prophet to bring His message to us.

The Bible has about 40 writers over 66 books with many different styles and one message – God’s love for us exhibited in many different ways in different contexts.

I should make the disclaimer that this is not a pure exposition of the direct truths of this passage.

Instead, today I simply observe one of God’s truths lived out in the delivery of God’s truth to the people of Israel.

If you need proof of the validity of this point, read about it in 1 Corinthians 12-14.

The point is, God uses our individual styles and situations to bring His Word to people today.

Mind you, He is not using us to add to His Word.

But He can use our stories, our artwork, our music, our hospitality, etc., to bring the principles of His Word to the world around us.

We would do well to seek God’s guidance on the unique ways He can work through each of us.

How do you think God can best use you to bring His Word to the world?
How have you seen Him work through you in the past?
August 13, 2026

August 13th, 2026

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelation 3

Highlight Verse:

““Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is Jesus speaking through John.

I love how John starts each of the letters to the seven churches with a different description of Jesus.

And here, at the end of those letters, Jesus comes to those who will open the door and listen to him and invites them to eat as friends.

I’ve had the privilege of eating with some famous people – authors and preachers whom I admire.

I counted it a privilege to engage in conversation in hopes of gaining some wisdom from them.

I respected them but I was never in awe of them, nor would I consider most of them friends. Most of them will never remember my name.

But to sit down and eat with Jesus!!

I’m glad that heaven is for eternity because it’s going to take a while to get used to that.

But then I’ve been getting to know Jesus for exactly 49 years now (to the day).

I’ve gotten to know Him pretty well, though I know there is plenty more I’ll learn in heaven.

And He knows me better than I know myself.

So, sharing meals with Jesus will be sweet!

What is the first thing you want to ask Jesus when you get to sit down together?
Have you asked Him that already? Did you hear His voice in reply? How?
August 12, 2026

August 12th, 2026

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Chronicles 28-30

Highlight Verse:

“So when King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria arrived, he attacked Ahaz instead of helping him.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭28‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When things weren’t going his way, King Ahaz thought he had a great idea.

Since he didn’t worship God, he plundered the Temple and gave those treasures to Tiglath-Pileser to buy his allegiance.

That didn’t turn out so well.

Since Ahaz had no faith in God, he put his faith in money and in ungodly allies.

It’s easy to judge him.

But how often do we try to solve our problems on our own first instead of turning first to God in prayer.

All too often we use prayer as a fall-back position.

What would happen if we turned to God first and followed His instructions?

I know one thing for sure.

Miracles would not be nearly as rare as they are now.

Of course, I am preaching to myself as much as anyone else.

I have seen the miraculous happen even when I waited to pray until I was desperate.

But I would have saved a lot of stress if I had turned to God first.

When have you seen God pull off miracles after you prayed for help?
Did you pray first or as an afterthought?
How can we remember to pray first?

A quick story to answer the first question –

When my grandma Clarey was dying in the hospital 150 miles away, I desperately wanted to see her.

But the clutch was bad in my car.

And there was a mountain pass on the way.

My fiancé and I jumped in the car anyway.

When the clutch started slipping on the very first slight inclines, we prayed.

The clutch did not slip at all for the rest of that journey!

After getting back home, the car would barely move.

What’s your story?
August 11, 2026

August 11th, 2026

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 29-30

Highlight Verse:

““Five days later, on the fifteenth day of the same month, you must call another holy assembly of all the people, and you may do no ordinary work on that day. It is the beginning of the Festival of Shelters, a seven-day festival to the Lord.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭29‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The practices of Old Testament Israel may seem a little foreign to us nowadays, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from them.

And they liked festivals!

While we have no more need for animal sacrifice since Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice, the festivals each gave good reminders that we can still learn from today.

Passover reminds us of the sacrificial lamb that saved Israel from Egypt. That was a foreshadowing of Jesus giving the ultimate sacrifice to atone for all the sin for all who trust Him.

The Festival of Harvest reminds us to give the first of our increase to the Lord.

The Festival of Trumpets reminds us to heed the call of God and search our lives for anything that needs correction.

The Day of Atonement is a day of fasting and repenting, renewing our commitment to the Lord annually.

The Festival of Shelters reminds us of when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. It reminds us that we can rely on God for our provision regardless of the circumstances.

A common theme in these festivals is assembling as God’s family.

We may not be a genetic family but, as followers of Jesus, we are bound together in the family of God.

We do well to gather not just for weekly worship but for celebrations to remember what God has done for us.

What is your favorite holiday?
How do you honor God in the way you celebrate?
August 10, 2026

August 10th, 2026

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 8

Highlight Verse:

“But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought!”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭8‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Simon had ministry envy.

(Read the verses around today’s Highlight Verse if you haven’t already.)

He was accustomed to being called “The Great One” and having people turn to him for the miraculous.

That doesn’t mean he didn’t believe in Jesus.

But his heart was not fully there yet.

I must admit, I have been envious of those who were successful in ministry before.

Granted, I didn’t try to buy their blessing.

But my situation kept me from finishing Bible college and my ministry stayed on a lay person level.

But that’s okay.

I can look back and honestly say that God has used me in ways I didn’t expect.

He didn’t call me to be the pastor of a big successful church.

He called me to reach people from wherever He plants me.

He has a call for each one of us.

It may not look as flashy as someone else’s call, but we can trust in the fact that God has chosen the best place to use each of us.

There is no need for envy.

Have you ever been envious of how someone else was being used by God?
How has God used you in your unique situations?
August 9, 2026

August 9th, 2026

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!””
‭‭Job‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yesterday I mentioned the question, “Why doesn’t God intervene when bad things happen?”

Clearly, Job is an example of a good person to whom bad things happened.

Really bad things.

And God gave Satan the go ahead to do those things.

Why?

As it is likely that Job was just a literary character, like someone in one of Jesus’s parables, I will look at that question in more general terms.

First, if we were all forced to love and obey God and did not have the ability to rebel, we would be like robots.

Robots cannot love; they can only follow their programming.

That programming might mimic love, but if we do not have the option to disobey, we cannot choose to love.

That means that disobedience (sin) must be an option for love to exist.

And if disobedience exists, so does pain, and loss, and crime, and war.

At the first sin in the Garden of Eden, corruption and mortality entered the world.

Mankind had been protected from death but now the effects of our imperfect world can affect us.

Crime, earthquakes, fires, famine, and storms can harm anyone.

That said, there have been instances where some have been miraculously spared.

I cannot say why since I do not have God’s omniscient perspective.

I will always pray in faith for the miraculous.

When the answer is “no,” I will try to accept it and remember that this life is but a tiny fraction of the eternity that awaits us.

That is a perspective that is difficult to keep when the pain of loss is overwhelming.

When our loved ones go through those times, we do well to just be present to comfort.

When we go through those times, we can only cling to faith and cry out for God to send His comfort.

As I mentioned yesterday, He will.

Do you have a perspective to share on this topic? Please do.
Do you have any other difficult questions that you would like to explore here? Let me know.
August 8, 2026

August 8th, 2026

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Psalm 34

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

One of the drawbacks to getting older is outliving friends.

We lost another this week.

Julian Pierce was a good friend in high school.

When I saw him a few years ago, we hung out for hours with a couple other friends after a class reunion. It was like no time had passed.

He was still a super nice guy who was easy to get along with.

I am saddened at the loss of yet another friend.

My heart goes out to those who were closest to him.

Loss is always hard.

Julian knew that from the loss of his wife some years ago.

We have all experienced loss on one level or another.

It is easy to blame our losses on God.

Why didn’t He intervene?

That is a question that I could go into detail about but for now let me bring what today’s highlight verse tells us.

When we suffer from loss, He is right there with compassion.

If we allow Him, He will comfort us like no other could.

Sometimes He even uses us or others to bring that comfort.

If you are broken-hearted, please allow the Holy Spirit to bring healing and comfort.

When have you felt the Lord’s comfort?
When have you seen God use you or others to bring His comfort?

Sound familiar?

We need to keep our eyes and minds open to the many ways God works.

We also need to recognize when He calls us to be that solution.

This is a tough chapter to read.

Through the words of this chapter, we come to understand how well God understands the depths of human pain.

In the meantime, may God always bring you hope, even in the midst of desperate times.

It wasn’t easy.

If you are a normal human, your life’s path has had some rocks. Probably some steep treacherous spots too.

That’s when you need light the most.

May the light of God and His Word shine brightly on your life.

uniquely poetic language.

The point is, God uses our individual styles and situations to bring His Word to people today.

We would do well to seek God’s guidance on the unique ways He can work through each of us.

And here, at the end of those letters, Jesus comes to those who will open the door and listen to him and invites them to eat as friends.

I’m glad that heaven is for eternity because it’s going to take a while to get used to that.

And He knows me better than I know myself.

So, sharing meals with Jesus will be sweet!

Since Ahaz had no faith in God, he put his faith in money and in ungodly allies.

All too often we use prayer as a fall-back position.

But I would have saved a lot of stress if I had turned to God first.

The practices of Old Testament Israel may seem a little foreign to us nowadays, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from them.

A common theme in these festivals is assembling as God’s family.

We do well to gather not just for weekly worship but for celebrations to remember what God has done for us.

Simon had ministry envy.

I must admit, I have been envious of those who were successful in ministry before.

He has a call for each one of us.

Yesterday I mentioned the question, “Why doesn’t God intervene when bad things happen?”

When the answer is “no,” I will try to accept it and remember that this life is but a tiny fraction of the eternity that awaits us.

One of the drawbacks to getting older is outliving friends.

Loss is always hard.

If you are broken-hearted, please allow the Holy Spirit to bring healing and comfort.