Walk in the Light

January 9, 2026

January 9th, 2026

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 25-27

Highlight Verse:

“All the seaport rulers will step down from their thrones and take off their royal robes and beautiful clothing. They will sit on the ground trembling with horror at your destruction.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭26‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Everyone along the coast thought Tyre was an idyllic port. They looked to it as their model. It was the best of the best.

Until it wasn’t.

Its downfall?

Pride and arrogance.

They laughed at the defeat of Israel and Judah, while thinking nothing like that could happen to them.

Until it did.

Like Tyre, I believe the USA is the best place to live in the world.

But I must not let my patriotic pride keep me and this country from being humble before God.

If we laugh at the fate of others while we ignore God, it doesn’t matter how secure we seem, God is stronger and He will reign “Here on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

So, let’s be patriotic, but let’s also remember Who created the entire world and that we are nothing without God.

Have you ever put your devotion to your country before your devotion to God?
How did that work out for you?
Where do you think the balance of pride should be in regard to devotion to God versus devotion to country?
January 8, 2026

January 8th, 2026

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Philemon

Highlight Verse:

“I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.”
‭‭Philemon‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There are times that I’ve read this and wondered, “What are you doing, Paul? Why send a slave back to his master?”

Certainly, those who ran the Underground Railway during days of slavery in the US were doing the right thing.

Today it is certainly right to do whatever possible to stop human trafficking.

So, why did Paul return a slave to his master?

I’m sure a big part of it was that he knew both Philemon and Onesimus and expected them to act more like brothers in Christ than slave and master.

Would he have sent Onesimus back if that weren’t true?

I suspect not.

While slavery was legal in the Roman Empire at that time, that didn’t make it right.

Paul openly disobeyed the law in various places by preaching. He ended up in prison and eventually executed for his obedience to God’s law rather than society’s law.

If Philemon had been a tyrannical master, I’m sure Paul would have protected Onesimus.

What do you think? Should Paul have returned Onesimus?
Should he have taken a stand against slavery? Explain.
January 7, 2026

January 7th, 2026

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Kings 12-14

Highlight Verse:

“The older counselors replied, “If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.””
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The company I work for used to be owned by a pair of brothers who knew how to take care of both their customers and their employees.

I had the privilege of taking leadership classes from them. I saw why they were so successful.

They taught how to coach your team, not boss your employees.

They would have been right at home among the older counselors of today’s reading. (They were, in fact, quite old when they sold the company and retired).

If Rehoboam had only listened to them, Israel would have stayed united and thrived.

It is in our human nature to be selfish and prideful.

Leading by example and with grace does not come naturally.

But it is always worth it.

What have the leaders in your life been like, bosses or coaches?
What is your natural leadership style? Does it need some adjustment?
January 6, 2026

January 6th, 2026

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 35-36

Highlight Verse:

“So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: “Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!” So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭36‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When was the last time you heard your church tell you to stop bringing donations?

Ever wonder why you’ve never heard it.

A quick look at the stats just confirmed it to me.

Only 10-13 percent of Evangelicals actually tithe. Half give 1 percent or less.

If all of the members of churches in even the poorest neighborhoods tithed, it would be incredible what they could do.

In the wealthier areas, they might have to tell people to stop giving for a while.

I admit that I have not always been a perfect tither. In those times when I slacked, there was no improvement in my finances. In those times when I have been more faithful to the point where it was scary,

God has always been faithful to meet my needs and then some.

You cannot out-give God.

The people of Israel discovered this. They gave above and beyond in both valuables and talents.

It wasn’t until they stopped being faithful that the blessings went away.

Giving does not come naturally. It takes another whole level of trust to get started.

But once we start, it gets easier and easier.

And the blessings come more often.

I’m not preaching prosperity theology here.

Sometimes the blessings are not monetary or even physical.

But even Harvard can tell you that giving makes you happier. (Harvard Business School study, 2023)

How has God provided for you when you have given in faith?
What would you say to someone to encourage them to give?
January 5, 2025

January 5th, 2026

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 1

Highlight Verse:

“Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In studying today’s chapter, I read something potentially eye-opening. Theophilus, a man with a Roman name, may have been an attorney in Rome (credit enduringword dot com).

Luke and Acts may have been prepared to defend the Gospel and Paul when he went before Caesar.

As such, Luke would have used extra care in preparing it.

He likely had already read Matthew and Mark’s Gospels. Having done that, he traveled with Paul not just as his physician but as a fact finder seeking to bring the case for the Gospel to Caesar.

It should also be noted that Luke was both the only Gentile writer of the Bible and the most prolific writer in the New Testament (assuming Hebrews was not written by Paul). As a Gentile, he presents the stories of Jesus and Paul from a non-Jewish perspective which may be more understandable for those of us without a Jewish background.

The tone and focus of his books make it apparent that he was a believer. Paul calls him a coworker in Philemon and dear friend in Colossians.

All this is to say, pay close attention to what Luke has to say as we go through the Gospel of Luke and later Acts.

What verse stands out to you in this chapter?
Do you have any questions you would like to ask your fellow readers about this chapter?
January 4, 2026

January 4th, 2026

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 5

Highlight Verse:

“Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is very clear from this and other passages that the human experience is best with one marriage partner for life.

I love the way this chapter deals with the subject.

It tells us to stay away from those who would tempt you into sexual sin.

Don’t just avoid sinning, don’t even flirt with it. Verse 8 says to not even go near the house.

This chapter doesn’t leave it there.

It paints a picture of sexual satisfaction within marriage.

Sex is a beautiful and godly thing within the safe walls of marriage.

There are three proverbial elephants stomping around this room.

First, Solomon did not follow his own advice. He married many women.

I don’t know if this were true before he wrote this. Even if it were, it does not make the advice any less true. We know from earlier readings that Solomon reaped the consequences of not following his own advice.

Second, I am using gender neutral terms here as I believe this advice is valid for both genders. It should be noted that in that day as well as today, men seem to be more susceptible to temptation to sexual sin. While the advice is valid for both genders, it is appropriate that Solomon directed it to his son.

Finally, many of you know that I have been divorced so enjoying the wife of my youth is not possible. As my first wife left me for another man, I believe I was released from my vows. Going on 12 years ago, I remarried to a widow with three children. We have raised them together and have enjoyed each other’s faithfulness since we made our vows to each other.

We can debate divorce and remarriage in different circumstances, but I do believe that salvation, forgiveness and new life allow us to start afresh.

What have you been taught about the joy of sex within marriage? (Keep it PG please).
What pressures have you seen to be unfaithful? How do you avoid them?
January 3, 2026

January 2nd, 2026

Saturday – Letters (delayed from New Years Day)

Reading – Titus 1-3

Highlight Verses:

“Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.”
‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As I was praying for guidance on what to write about for today’s reading, the only word that came to mind was humility.

I then opened my eyes to find it right here in chapter 3. And what a context!

It is very interesting that Paul talks about submitting to the government right before not slandering and avoiding quarreling.

Quite frankly, some of the most slandered and quarreled about people are those in government.

There are such sharply divergent opinions of what to do in government that is is difficult not to quarrel.

Many resort to slandering those they oppose.

Many of you right now are thinking, “Yes, those guys from the other party are always slandering our people.” But let’s be honest, it happens on both sides.

And it is in direct opposition to this command.

I’m not saying that you should just let the other side just bully you into submission.

But what would happen if we treated people on all political spectrums with love and respect. We can listen to them and care about them while standing for what we believe is right.

If we show enough respect with strength, we might actually begin to affect their opinions about what is really right for government.

What are ways that you can show respect for someone with opposite opinions?
How do you deal with it when the opposition turns slanderous?

One way I have seen in the past was when people were demonstrating in front of Chick-Fil-A. The employees brought out drinks and snacks to the long lines of people who opposed the boycott as well as to the protestors speaking out against them.
January 2, 2025

January 2nd, 2026

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 22-24

Highlight Verse:

“Now this message came to me from the Lord:”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I usually look for the tougher or more unique verses in a day’s reading. Today I thought, “I’ll look for something encouraging.”

If you read all the way through today’s reading, you know there’s nothing encouraging in it.

There’s some, shall we say, unique imagery in it but, hopefully nothing we can directly relate to.

Then I got to wonder what it must have been like for Ezekiel. He came at a time when God was cleansing Israel of the evil that had become so prevalent there.

He was so faithful to God that he delivered each message even when they were painful or humiliating.

Why?

It worked.

Yes, his prophecies came true and Israel was practically destroyed.

But the remnant was repentant and returned to the land.

The nation rebuilt even under oppressive rule of empires that occupied the lands.

The nation survived so that Jesus could be born, fulfill prophecies and bring salvation to the world.

I’ll admit that I don’t understand God’s tactics. But I know the result.

Why do you think these prophecies were so harsh?
Have you ever had to deliver a message from God that seemed harsh? What was the result?
January 1, 2026

January 1st, 2026

New Year’s Day!
(Normal Thursday study from the New Testament Letters will be posted on Saturday)

Reading – 2 Corinthians 5:15-21

Highlight Verse:

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s start the new year with the Good News in a nutshell.

• God is holy.
• We are not.
• Our sin is incompatible with God’s holiness.
• God loves us so much that He enacted a desperate plan to make a way to bridge that gap.
• He sent His Son Jesus, wholly God, wholly man, wholly righteous, to take the penalty for our sin.
• Jesus paid that penalty on the cross once and for all.
• We need only accept that payment and trust Jesus.
• Salvation from the penalty of sin is through that grace of God alone and not from any good works we do.
• The good works we do are out of gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice and in trust that He knows the best way for us to live.
• Salvation gives us eternal life in fellowship with God starting now and never ending.

That’s the story of new life.

I found that life at a Lutheran Youth camp in August of 1977 when I first took that step of trusting Jesus. I live that life even now and for eternity.

If you know that life, share your story in the comments (especially on Facebook @Walk in the Light Bible Study Group).

If you don’t know that life, now is a perfect time to start it. Trust Jesus. State that trust to Him in prayer. And join us in new life starting in this new year.
December 31, 2025

December 31st, 2025

New Years Eve

Image credit Chat GPT – crazy how it made the “old man” look like me.

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Kings 9-11

Highlight Verse:

“In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s the last day of the year.

Tomorrow, many will start new resolutions to improve their lives in some way.

There’s nothing wrong with that, until the resolution gets broken around the third day.

Been there. Done that.

What would happen if you started keeping that resolution now, before the New Year starts?

Many people treat New Year’s Eve as another Mardi Gras where you break those resolutions left and right.

That’s not a great way to prepare to keep a resolution.

Solomon could tell your now that overindulging is a lousy way to stay close to God.

His wealth allowed him to get pretty much any woman he wanted. And he wanted a lot of them. In fact, the Bible tells us he had a thousand women.

And they led him astray in his old age.

The wisest man in the world lost the most important part of his wisdom – a close relationship with God.

Let’s get some momentum going into the new year by finishing this year strong.

What resolutions or goals are you setting for the new year?
What are you doing now to prepare for them?

Until it wasn’t.

Until it did.

So, let’s be patriotic, but let’s also remember Who created the entire world and that we are nothing without God.

There are times that I’ve read this and wondered, “What are you doing, Paul? Why send a slave back to his master?”

If Philemon had been a tyrannical master, I’m sure Paul would have protected Onesimus.

They taught how to coach your team, not boss your employees.

But it is always worth it.

Only 10-13 percent of Evangelicals actually tithe. Half give 1 percent or less.

God has always been faithful to meet my needs and then some.

But even Harvard can tell you that giving makes you happier. (Harvard Business School study, 2023)

Luke and Acts may have been prepared to defend the Gospel and Paul when he went before Caesar.

All this is to say, pay close attention to what Luke has to say as we go through the Gospel of Luke and later Acts.

It is very clear from this and other passages that the human experience is best with one marriage partner for life.

Don’t just avoid sinning, don’t even flirt with it. Verse 8 says to not even go near the house.

Sex is a beautiful and godly thing within the safe walls of marriage.

It is very interesting that Paul talks about submitting to the government right before not slandering and avoiding quarreling.

I’m not saying that you should just let the other side just bully you into submission.

If we show enough respect with strength, we might actually begin to affect their opinions about what is really right for government.

I usually look for the tougher or more unique verses in a day’s reading. Today I thought, “I’ll look for something encouraging.”

He was so faithful to God that he delivered each message even when they were painful or humiliating.

I’ll admit that I don’t understand God’s tactics. But I know the result.

Let’s start the new year with the Good News in a nutshell.

That’s the story of new life.

Been there. Done that.

What would happen if you started keeping that resolution now, before the New Year starts?

Let’s get some momentum going into the new year by finishing this year strong.