Walk in the Light

Thursday – Letters

January 29th, 2026

Reading – Hebrews 4

Highlight Verse:

“So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.””
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love work. I could sit and watch it for hours.

I quoted that yesterday in the midst of a very busy workday. To be fair, I was following behind our delivery guys who were doing the hard work.

Still, my work kept me hopping all day long and I got home rather tired and longing for rest.

Then I sat down to write this, and this part of today’s reading jumped out at me.

The more I thought and prayed about it, the more I was convinced that the rest in this chapter had little to do with the rest I longed for.

I wanted physical and mental rest.

This rest has more to do with peace than inactivity.

We no longer have to strive to make up for past wrongs because Jesus paid the price to cover all of them.

We no longer have to fear that our good deeds might not outweigh our sins.

Instead, we can do those good deeds in joy and faith, resting in the knowledge that our salvation is already covered by Jesus.

That is true rest.

I am not saying we should ignore physical rest. That is not just good for us but commanded by God.

But the rest that awaits us goes way beyond the physical.

And heaven holds this kind of rest for eternity.

How do you envision the rest we will have in heaven?
Are you enjoying the spiritual rest of salvation by faith today?
If not, what is stopping you from entering that rest?
Wednesday – History

January 28th, 2026

Reading – 1 Kings 20-22

Highlight Verse:

“Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the example of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭22‬:‭43‬-‭44‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s almost amusing how different the account of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, is here compared to Chronicles.

Here it’s like “Jehoshaphat was good, not the best, but good.”

And the account is overshadowed by the story of Ahab of Israel and terrible things he did.

Chronicles extols Jehoshaphat as an awesome king and goes on and on about his good works.

Why the difference?

The books of Samuel and Kings were written during the exile. As such, they emphasized why the people of Judah and Israel were exiled. They spent far more time emphasizing the shortfalls that led to the exile than on the good things done by the kings.

Chronicles was written after the exile to encourage people to a deeper faith as the Israelites found themselves entering a time of revival.

The differences do not represent errors in facts but different perspectives and emphasis.

For this reason, if you want to learn from the actions of a particular king such as Jehoshaphat,

it is best to read both accounts of his life, remembering the perspectives of each writer.

Of the kings we’ve read about so far, which one interests you the most?
Why?
Tuesday – Pentateuch

January 27th, 2026

Reading – Leviticus

“But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Apparently, God likes barbecue!

Okay, that’s not what this passage is really about, but if you are a meat eater, think about that aroma.

When my work territory used to include the town of Louisville, CO, I loved doing calls in that little downtown area in the afternoon. There is a barbecue restaurant there that smokes all its meat in big smokers behind the restaurant. On days when there is little or no wind, the few square blocks of that little downtown fill with a heavenly aroma.

Think of that aroma or some other you love, fresh bread, or cookies, a quality coffee first thing in the morning, you name it.

That pleasant feeling you get when you get carried away with that fragrance, that’s what our repentance feels like to God.

That’s how much He enjoys being able to spend time with us because we have allowed Jesus to make us clean.

What is your favorite aroma?

How do you smell today?

Have you accepted that fragrance of grace from Jesus?
Monday – Gospels

January 26th, 2026

Reading – Luke 4

Highlight Verses:

“Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you know that the devil knows the Bible?

He knows it very well; well enough to twist it to his own purposes.

Frankly, he knows it better than I do.

If that’s true, how do we protect ourselves from his twisted lies?

One thing you may have noticed at the beginning of the chapter was that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit.

If you trust Jesus for your life, you have the Holy Spirit. I believe that it is important to continue to invite the Holy Spirit to work in you and through you including through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

With the gift of discernment, you will be able to tell when Scripture is being applied correctly and when it is being twisted.

Still, there are times when even the Spirit filled, well studied believer can be fooled into believing an inappropriate twist of Scripture.

To guard against that, especially when I study for these posts, I turn to other seasoned believers.

The most convenient sources I’ve found for that are in online commentaries. My favorite is Enduring Word dot com, but there are several others and it is good to check multiple sources. There are many printed Bible commentaries available as well.

There have been multiple times when those commentaries have helped make the meanings of some passages more clear to me. A time or two, they have corrected my inaccurate understandings.

How do you check your understanding of Scripture?
What twists of Scripture have you believed in the past and since had to correct that belief?
Sunday – Poetry

January 25th, 2026

Reading – Proverbs 8

Highlight Verses:

“I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭8‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I heard long ago that the chance of the world evolving as it is without any creative input is about the same as a tornado blowing through a junk yard and assembling a perfectly formed 747 airliner.

This week I found out where that quote came from – and I was shocked.

It was a line spoken by Ian Malcolm in the Michael Crichton book The Lost World (sequel to Jurassic Park).

I was shocked because that book series embraced the concept of evolution and that character was an atheist.

Even Crichton recognized through the rantings of his atheist character that this world could not have come about without creative input.

He had a different explanation that made no sense to me.

What does make sense to me is what we learned in today’s reading, that wisdom was created before the rest of creation.

The Creator employed that wisdom to craft a world that is amazing in its diversity and functionality.

The complexity of the Earth’s ecosystem is beyond human comprehension. Scientific studies have barely scratched the surface of how each species of plant and animal depends on all the others.

If God’s wisdom was enough to design the universe, with all its intricacies, it is enough to guide us through our lives in this world.

What is the most amazing part of creation to you?
Is there anything that would make you doubt that the world was created by God?

(Reminder: this is a safe place where we can disagree respectfully. You do not have to agree with me to comment, and we can have a polite conversation to understand each other even if we disagree).
Saturday – Open Topic

January 24th, 2026

Reading – Isaiah 58

Highlight Verses:

““No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

We just completed a 3 day fast at our church. I know another denomination that calls its members to a 21 day fast at the beginning of each year.

You might ask, “Why?”

I’ve always heard that fasting helps you to regain your focus on God. Removing distractions, whether they be food, social media, TV, or whatever distracts you can lead you to a closer relationship with God.

In the Bible, we also see fasting used to make our prayers more effective, especially in times of great need.

These are both great reasons to fast. But way back in Isaiah’s time, he suggested another reason (or reasons).

According to Isaiah, people of that time were fasting to show off. They fasted to make them look more pious.

All the while, they kept up with their cruel, ungodly attitudes and habits.

I love Isaiah’s suggestion that fasting should be used to share your resources and compassion with others.

Try it.

Try taking what you save from not buying food or skipping that Starbucks stop and invest that money into sponsoring a child or supporting a homeless shelter.

That will not only make a difference in a needy person’s life, but it might just change your life too.

What are some good charities to support to follow this Scripture?
What can you fast from that will save money that you can then give?
January 23, 2026

January 23rd, 2026

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 31-33

Highlight Verse:

““Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭33‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse begs the question, “Are we called to be watchmen for our people.”

The simple answer is “yes.”

But that doesn’t mean we should be exactly like Ezekiel.

We are not all called to be prophets.

But we are all called to speak the truth of the Gospel to the ends of the earth (see Matthew 28).

In that context, I believe we are responsible to speak up when we have the opportunity.

How we speak up depends on the situation and, especially, the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit may prompt you to speak the Gospel through your acts of charity.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit may ask you to speak direct uncomfortable words.

Always, He will have you act in love.

It is our responsibility to speak and/or act when the opportunity arises.

How has God used you to speak truth to people?
How have people responded?
January 22, 2026

January 22nd, 2026

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Hebrew 3

Highlight Verse:

“Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.””
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s easy to think of this verse in the context of people who totally turn their backs to God.

Think again.

In the New Testament context, this is aimed squarely at believers.

It’s not “if” you hear His voice but “when.”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hardened my heart when I heard His voice over the years.

Too many times!

He’ll nudge me to feed that hungry person, or introduce myself to that new person, or help that struggling person, or (this is painfully true) not eat that extra helping.

And I reason away that it wasn’t really God’s nudge, or maybe that it’s not really that important, or that verse doesn’t really apply to me.

A whole generation in Israel hardened their hearts and missed out on the Promised Land.

There are many blessings that we miss out on when we harden our hearts to the voice of God.

We’ve all done it.

We can all listen and act on what we hear starting today.

Of all the things God tells you to do, what is the hardest for you?
What blessings do you think you’ve missed out on because of not listening to God?
What blessings do you think await when you follow His guidance with a soft, listening heart?
January 21, 2026

January 20th, 2026

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Kings 17-19

Highlight Verse:

“When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Elijah is amazing!

The things he did in these chapters took such incredible faith that I can only imagine having.

He just faced down Ahab and 450 prophets of Baal and prevailed.

And the moment Jezebel threatens him, he runs away.

I mean really away, all the way to Sinai.

Did he lose touch with God?

No. God met him there in a big way.

And what are God’s first words to Elijah?

“What are you doing here?”

Ouch!

Even the amazing Elijah had to get back on track.

He spoke plainly to him and laid out his path.

That would be cool. But let’s be honest. I’ve never heard that clearly from God.

But there has been a time or two of when God had to get my attention and said, “What are you doing here?”

The message was usually spoken through a bad situation or through a trusted friend. Sometimes He just made a Bible verse jump out at me.

But God directed me back on the right path every time

(okay, it may have been more than twice).

Have you ever heard God ask you, “What are you doing here?”
How did he get your attention?
How did you respond?
January 20, 2026

January 20th, 2026

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 39-40

Highlight Verses:

“So the people of Israel followed all of the Lord’s instructions to Moses. Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭39‬:‭42‬-‭43‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The people of Israel obeyed and they were blessed.

Last night in Student Ministry, we talked about obedience.

I specifically asked the high school guys who were not brought up in church what they thought of when they heard the word obedience (the church guys all related it to obeying God’s commands because they love Him and trust Him).

The non-religious response was “dog training.”

I thought that was an awesome response. And it illustrates how many think of obedience to God.

Some get in their heads that obeying God is like a dog obeying a master to make it easier to control them. It’s no wonder that people would wander from faith if they think like that.

But God is a Father.

With a Father’s love, He has given us commandments and scriptural guidelines to help us get the most out of this life.

We obey because we trust that He knows what’s best for us.

We love God. But respect and trust are why we obey His commands.

And when we do, we are blessed.

What one command have you not trusted God enough that you don’t obey it consistently? There could be more but pick one.
What would help you to trust God in that act of obedience?

I love work. I could sit and watch it for hours.

This rest has more to do with peace than inactivity.

That is true rest.

Why the difference?

The differences do not represent errors in facts but different perspectives and emphasis.

it is best to read both accounts of his life, remembering the perspectives of each writer.

Apparently, God likes barbecue!

Think of that aroma or some other you love, fresh bread, or cookies, a quality coffee first thing in the morning, you name it.

That’s how much He enjoys being able to spend time with us because we have allowed Jesus to make us clean.

Did you know that the devil knows the Bible?

With the gift of discernment, you will be able to tell when Scripture is being applied correctly and when it is being twisted.

To guard against that, especially when I study for these posts, I turn to other seasoned believers.

The Creator employed that wisdom to craft a world that is amazing in its diversity and functionality.

If God’s wisdom was enough to design the universe, with all its intricacies, it is enough to guide us through our lives in this world.

You might ask, “Why?”

These are both great reasons to fast. But way back in Isaiah’s time, he suggested another reason (or reasons).

That will not only make a difference in a needy person’s life, but it might just change your life too.

This verse begs the question, “Are we called to be watchmen for our people.”

But we are all called to speak the truth of the Gospel to the ends of the earth (see Matthew 28).

It is our responsibility to speak and/or act when the opportunity arises.

In the New Testament context, this is aimed squarely at believers.

A whole generation in Israel hardened their hearts and missed out on the Promised Land.

We can all listen and act on what we hear starting today.

Elijah is amazing!

And the moment Jezebel threatens him, he runs away.

“What are you doing here?”

But God directed me back on the right path every time

The non-religious response was “dog training.”

With a Father’s love, He has given us commandments and scriptural guidelines to help us get the most out of this life.

We love God. But respect and trust are why we obey His commands.