Walk in the Light

June 7, 2025

June 7th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Acts 2:42-47

Highlight Verse:

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭2‬:‭42‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is my favorite Saturday morning of the month.

A bunch of us guys from church get together for breakfast and fellowship.

Our big get-togethers aren’t exactly deep but they are places where we can encourage each other, and foster relationships that lead to accountability and growth.

That growth leads to stronger, more godly men and ultimately a Church that follows and represents Jesus more closely.

While it looks like we’re just a bunch of guys who love to eat breakfast food, the truth is

we are a bunch of guys who love Jesus and want to help others find and follow him.

While I have always emphasized the importance of next generation ministries, I believe that men’s ministries (and women’s ministries) are just as important if we want to have godly effective leadership in the Church.

If you are a man, what have you gotten out of men’s ministries?
If you are a woman, how effective has men’s ministry been for the men around you?
You can flip those questions around and answer them for women’s ministries too.
June 6, 2025

June 6th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 1-3

Highlight Verse:

““I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.””
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jeremiah was called before He was conceived.

Let that sink in.

Does that mean that God has a calling for each of us?

I think so.

I believe I have the choice of whether or not to follow that calling. But that doesn’t make the calling less valid.

Jeremiah followed his calling faithfully.

As a result, the people of Israel were given a chance to repent.

Eventually most did, largely because Jeremiah’s prophecies gave them hope for life after the exile.

I pray that when I follow my calling, people will find hope.

And faith.

And love.

What do you know about the calling God has for you?
How closely have you followed that calling?
June 5, 2025

June 5th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 13-14

Highlight Verse:

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It seems like the older I get, the rowdier the music I listen too.

I like cymbals… and drums, guitars, etc.

Maybe not gongs so much.

But I don’t think this verse is really talking about musical instruments.

I think it is talking about stuff like a video I saw recently.

A legalistic preacher was tearing apart the sermon of a Methodist pastor who was talking about reaching people where they were with the Love of God regardless of their sins.

I got the impression that the legalistic preacher posted that video not out of love for God but because of a felt need to be right and to be heard.

He was a clanging gong.

I might disagree on some points of theology with that Methodist minister too, but I agree with the notion of leading with love.

The legalistic preacher might have cared some too, wanting people to escape the grasp of sin. But the way he presented the Gospel would drive most people away from the perceived hate before they had the chance to repent.

While I would not downplay the seriousness of sin, I would always lead with love.

What is your favorite part of this chapter’s description of love?
Why?
June 4, 2025

June 4th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse had to make me think, “How did he know?”

I’m sure the author wasn’t a Philistine so he must have heard a rumor of the superstitions of those who worshipped Dagon.

He knew better.

That empty idol had no power.

But he might not have realized that the ark had no power either.

The power was not in the ark but in the God that it represented.

He brought the plagues on the towns that hosted the ark for two reasons:
• To make the Philistines realize that their idols were powerless and
• To bring the ark back to Israel keep the Israelites from backsliding further.

God may have used the ark to encourage His people, but God is not found in any object no matter how beautiful.

The ark carried reminders of God’s Commandments and His faithfulness, but God is found in the hearts of His people.

Have you ever been tempted to put your faith in things that you can see and touch rather than the God who touches hearts?
What keeps your faith strong in those times that nothing you see or touch seems to point to God?
June 3, 2025

June 3rd, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 37

Highlight Verse:

“When they had been gone for some time, Jacob said to Joseph, “Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Get ready, and I will send you to them.” “I’m ready to go,” Joseph replied.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Joseph had his faults.

If he wasn’t downright arrogant, he certainly didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.

But for all his faults, he had one characteristic that served him well throughout his life.

He was willing to serve.

When his father asked him to go to his brothers, he didn’t hesitate.

If he was wiser in the ways of the world, especially when it came to jealous siblings, maybe he would have hesitated.

But he didn’t.

That willing attitude went a long way toward putting him in a position to save his people.

But that’s getting ahead of the story. More in coming weeks.

Has your willingness to serve ever served you?
Have you seen an unwilling attitude hurt those who held that attitude?

One simple example from my life:
When Covid hit, several of us technicians were asked if we would be willing to be reassigned. I volunteered.
I like to say I spent the next 8 months in the hospital (I worked in the print room).
After several months of Covid, layoffs came since they could no longer keep paying people for not working (people weren’t using their copiers so we weren’t needed to maintain them).
None of us who were willing to work different jobs were laid off.
June 2, 2025

June 2nd, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 5

Highlight Verse:

“While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My first thought was I read this was “That was cold.”

The callousness of the messenger serves to emphasize the compassion of Jesus.

I envisioned Jesus hurting in empathy for the father fearing the loss of his cherished daughter.

I could see Jesus recoiling at the harsh news of the messenger.

And then I decided to see it as others envisioned it and watched the corresponding episode of The Chosen.

Yes I know today’s devotion is a little bit of a cop out referring you to a TV show but I genuinely think you will get more out of it for today’s story than from me.
It is Season 3 Episode 5,

How do you think Jesus reacted to Jairus, the messenger, and the interruption of the woman who touched the hem of His robe?
Can you relate to His compassion, or do you have a hard time grasping it?
June 1, 2025

June 1st, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 66-68

Highlight Verse:

“Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭66‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I was I kid, I would sing “solo” – So low no one could hear me.

When I was a teen, I heard one worship leader say, “If God gave you a great voice, sing out loud in thanks for it. If He gave you a terrible voice, sing even louder and get even.”

From that moment I’ve sung out loud and unashamed.

I had the privilege not long after that, of attending a little country church in the hills of southwest Virginia.

We had no regular choir, but the song leader would put the call out each week for people to come sit in the choir section.

I always moved to that section.

I am sure that we sounded awesome.

Half of us were off key and too loud but we had undeniable joy.

I had come to church late enough times to know that the sound carried beyond those rafters to resound throughout Spring Valley.

The joy that went out in those rousing renditions of “Power in the Blood” and “Victory in Jesus” could make the dead rise.

When you sing in true praise and worship, proclaiming the greatness of God to the World, people take notice.

Many are those who have thought, “I wish I could be a part of that.”

You can.

And you can bring that joy to others.

What’s your favorite praise or worship song?
What has your experience in praise and worship been like?
May 31, 2025

May 31st, 2025
Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – John 7:37-39

Highlight Verse:

“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!”
‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭37‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It was the last day of the festival.
- Some people were getting tired and homesick – ready to hit the road for home.
- Some were enjoying the festivities, hanging out with their party people.
- And then there those whose desire to worship God was coming to a peak.
They thirsted for a close relationship with their Heavenly Father.

Jesus called out to them.

He was the only one who could quench that deep thirst.

He still is.

The more we seek Him, the more He will satisfy that thirst.

Have you gone through times when you weren’t very thirsty for Jesus?
What brought on that thirst again?
What can we do to become more thirsty now?

(BTW, today’s verse choice is courtesy of the random selection of my daughter Grace).
May 30, 2025

May 30th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 64-66

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭65‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I caught a cold last weekend. Until today, I’ve just been powering through it.

Honestly, I only took today off because my workload was less, and it wouldn’t hurt anything to rest.

I’ve been taking meds and finally started taking supplements and the symptoms are improving slowly.

But reading this verse, I realized that I have barely mentioned this cold to God in my prayers.

My “power through it” mode didn’t leave much room for God’s help.

Maybe that’s kind of like what Israel was going through, though magnified in the extreme.

They got caught up in the region’s culture that valued military strength and local religious traditions.

They powered through, relying on their own strength rather than seeking the help and guidance of their Heavenly Father.

That didn’t go so well for them – at least until they turned back to God.

While my problems are minuscule compared to Israel when this verse was written, I can still learn from it.

As of today, I am expressly asking in God to carry me through this illness and to bring me back to strength quickly.

Don’t worry, I believe God would want me to continue to rest and take the right meds, But I will ask for help consistently in my prayers and be open to His guidance and support through it.

How quickly do you think of asking God for help in your day to day problems?
What does it take for Him to get your attention?
May 29, 2025

May 29th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 11-12

Highlight Verses:

“Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’m not sure why this is such controversial chapter.

Perhaps it is because we tend to focus on only parts of the chapter.

Dispensationalists tend to focus on these first two verses and a verse in the next chapter. They say the gifts are no longer needed and only lead people astray.

Pentecostals tend to focus on the gifts themselves. In my experience (as a long time Pentecostal) people can sometimes confuse emotions with spiritual gifts. That is an excellent reason to get to know the Bible well, because God will never contradict the Bible with a spiritual gift.

If you look at the whole chapter, the main point is how all the parts of the body of Christ work together. The gifts of the Spirit are the different functions of those parts that work together to make for a whole and healthy body.

We are still the functioning body of Christ so, yes, the gifts of the Spirit are still valid for today.

We do well to practice them as parts of the body of Christ.

Have you had difficulty making yourself available to the Holy Spirit to practice the gifts of the Spirit?
Have you ever found yourself so focused on the gifts of the Spirit that you lost sight of their place in the Body of Christ?

This is my favorite Saturday morning of the month.

we are a bunch of guys who love Jesus and want to help others find and follow him.

Jeremiah was called before He was conceived.

As a result, the people of Israel were given a chance to repent.

I pray that when I follow my calling, people will find hope.

And faith.

And love.

But I don’t think this verse is really talking about musical instruments.

He was a clanging gong.

While I would not downplay the seriousness of sin, I would always lead with love.

He knew better.

The power was not in the ark but in the God that it represented.

He was willing to serve.

That willing attitude went a long way toward putting him in a position to save his people.

My first thought was I read this was “That was cold.”

I envisioned Jesus hurting in empathy for the father fearing the loss of his cherished daughter.

And then I decided to see it as others envisioned it and watched the corresponding episode of The Chosen.

From that moment I’ve sung out loud and unashamed.

The joy that went out in those rousing renditions of “Power in the Blood” and “Victory in Jesus” could make the dead rise.

And you can bring that joy to others.

They thirsted for a close relationship with their Heavenly Father.

He still is.

The more we seek Him, the more He will satisfy that thirst.

But reading this verse, I realized that I have barely mentioned this cold to God in my prayers.

My “power through it” mode didn’t leave much room for God’s help.

That didn’t go so well for them – at least until they turned back to God.

Perhaps it is because we tend to focus on only parts of the chapter.

We do well to practice them as parts of the body of Christ.