Walk in the Light

March 19, 2025

March 19th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – Judges 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Then all three groups blew their horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, and they all shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!””
‭‭Judges‬ ‭7‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The shofar, the ancient type of horn made from a ram’s horn was sounded as a call to battle, a coordinated signal call in battle, and a call to worship, humility, and repentance.

Here it was used in a rather unique battle.

At the same time, it was used for worship, bringing praise to God, whom they trusted.

And for humility, recognizing that the battle would be won by God’s power, not their own strength.

That was doubly true in today’s reading where they faced an impossible situation and God brought them through.

The shofar is still used today. It is a call to worship and repentance.

So, whether you have experienced the piercing tone of a shofar or not, remember the meaning behind the horn and trust God completely.

Have you ever faced an impossible situation and came through it?
How has God ever blessed you for trusting Him?
March 18, 2025

March 18th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 17-18

Highlight Verse:

“But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭17‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God confirmed his covenant by enabling 90-year-old Sarah to bear a child.

That’s … unique.

God sometimes confirms His promises in unique ways.

God promised me that he would bless my life with ministry opportunities if I would be faithful as a dad by moving to Colorado to stay near my young daughter when her mom moved here.

My first night on the road, I thought it was all blowing up in my face when my van’s engine blew up (technically blew down – through the bottom of the crankcase).

That night, I gave my whole situation over to God since I had no way to resolve it on my own.

God confirmed His promise to me with an available, affordable mechanic, a used engine, people willing to help me financially, and a much needed 4-day rest while I waited for it to be done.

I truly believe the opportunities to minister to others have been far greater than they would have been back east away from my daughter.

Beyond that, God blessed me with a new family and countless joys here in Colorado.

I believe He has amazing blessings for you as well.

Have you ever seen God confirm His promises to you?
What has He promised?
How has He confirmed His promises?
March 17, 2025

March 17th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 12

Highlight Verse:

“Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I read this, I had to wonder, how would Lazarus have reacted if he knew he was a target.

Maybe he wouldn’t have worried about it. After all, he’d been dead before, and that turned out alright.

Maybe he would be angry and try to fight back against the priests.

Or maybe he would be afraid, but I suspect he wouldn’t be nearly as afraid as the priests were of him.

The priests were afraid of the one true source of life (Jesus) and any who would lead people to life (like Lazarus).

I hope to bring such light into the world to be considered a threat to the enemy of light.

In this chapter, Jesus brings life to Jerusalem in a way that split history in two.

May we continue to bring that life!

How would you react if the main religious leaders were out to take your life?
Is your faith in Jesus strong enough to face death for His sake?
March 16, 2025

March 16th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 28-30

Highlight Verses:

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And this, my friends, is why I chose poetry for Sunday. It’s also why I choose to go to church.

It is a time of joyous celebration and praise.

God deserves our praise, and I don’t mind a little joy myself.

So, see you at church this morning! (Some of you literally in person).

What do you like the most about praise and worship?
Would you like to trade in some sorrow for joy?
March 15, 2025

March 15th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Genesis 45:1-15

Highlight Verse:

“Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭45‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A 16-year-old boy was kidnapped by human traffickers from a rural seaside settlement.

He was put to forced labor by a gang known for their brutality.

It was in these inhuman conditions that he first sought out the faith of his father and grandfather. He earnestly prayed for escape.

After 6 long years, God gave him a vision of his escape.

It came true.

He was so thankful that he became a priest

He eventually returned to the place of his captivity to spread the Gospel of Jesus throughout Ireland.

As we remember Saint Patrick this Monday, remember the miracle of faith that brought him out of the worst situation with faith, power, and grace.

Remember his restoration.

Most of all, remember how he boldly returned to his place of captivity to bring the Gospel that changed an entire nation.

Like with Joseph in today’s reading, God can bring amazing results from hopeless situations.

Are you in a hopeless situation? God can change the world through it.
Has God ever asked you to do something you couldn’t even imagine? How did that turn out?

Here’s a little bonus – a good video on the life of Saint Patrick.
March 14, 2025

March 14th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 31-33

Highlight Verse:

“Look, a righteous king is coming! And honest princes will rule under him.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭32‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Most theologians believe this prophecy refers to Hezekiah, who was a good king of Judah who followed Ahaz, one of the worst kings.

Most would also count it as a messianic prophecy referring to the coming of Jesus.

I just look at the basic principle – Righteous king = thriving kingdom.

Or to put it in modern terms, if we want to see revival in our land, we need godly leaders.

To my knowledge, I have no influence on the national or global levels.

But leadership happens at every level.

We as leaders must not just practice godliness in our lives but lead others along the right path.

If you lead even one person – a child, a student, a friend – how you lead will make a huge difference when combined with the efforts of many other leaders.

Let’s be those honest princes that Isaiah predicts here and help bring the truth of the Gospel to our land.

Who is it in your life that you lead?
What can you do to help bring God’s truth to those you lead?
March 13, 2025

March 13th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Romans 11

Highlight Verse:

“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This line comes from a man who studied Scriptures his entire life and spent the previous few years preaching.

But the more he understood about God, the more he realized that He couldn’t fully understand God.

The older I get and the more I get to know God’s Word, the more I realize that I cannot understand it all.

Should I give up studying the Bible as fruitless?

No – for the simple reason that it is not fruitless.

I may understand that I can never fully understand God’s motives and methods,

but studying His Word helps me understand how to be a better man of God in a world that desperately needs godly men and women.

How has your understanding of God grown over the years?
What parts of theology have you come to understand that you cannot fully understand?
March 12, 2025

March 12th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – Judges 6

Highlight Verses:

“Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded.”
‭‭Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We read earlier in this chapter that Gideon claimed to be the least person in the least clan in the least tribe.

But here he is bold enough to call people to arms and they responded!

What happen?

The Holy Spirit intervened.

If the Holy Spirit clothes you with power too, people will follow you as you lead them as God directs.

You don’t have to be a great leader or super religious. You just have to be willing to let Him fill you with His power.

Gideon wasn’t special. He was willing and He loved God and His people.

Are you willing to be led by God through the Holy Spirit?
Have you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit?
March 11, 2025

March 11th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 15-16

Highlight Verse:

“And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you ever wondered if people in the Old Testament could be redeemed by Jesus’s sacrifice, here’s your answer.

Think about that. People who have never heard the Name of Jesus can receive God’s forgiveness on the basis of their belief.

They may not have known the name of the Messiah, but they trusted in His coming and the redemption He would bring.

Mind you, that is not the same as all religions leading to heaven. Salvation comes through Jesus alone. More on that another day.

Does knowing that people in the Old Testament could receive God’s grace change your perspective on the Old Testament at all?
Who else in the Old Testament do you think trusted God for salvation by grace?
March 10, 2025

March 10th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 11

Highlight Verses:

“When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept.”
‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭33‬-‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I don’t understand when people think that God is just some cosmic force or emotionless supernatural being.

Just within these three short verses, we see Jesus get angry, troubled, and weep.

Jesus experienced the full range of emotions that we do.

Why?

I might be stretching it a bit but I think all three emotions came for the same reason; the lack of sincere faith in the people around him.

Mary and Martha, who believed Him to be the Messiah, did not expect Him to be able to raise Lazarus from the dead.

The mourners were likely there out of religious duty and not for love of Lazarus or his sisters. They certainly did not expect Jesus to raise him from the grave.

Jesus reacted appropriately, getting angry at the lack of faith. He was troubled about how deeply traditional and shallow the faith of God’s chosen people had become. He wept for what that meant for the people of Israel.

He came to bring true life to His people and found a dead religion.

How alive is your faith?
Do you believe that Jesus cares enough about you to do the impossible?
He does.

Here it was used in a rather unique battle.

So, whether you have experienced the piercing tone of a shofar or not, remember the meaning behind the horn and trust God completely.

God sometimes confirms His promises in unique ways.

That night, I gave my whole situation over to God since I had no way to resolve it on my own.

I believe He has amazing blessings for you as well.

When I read this, I had to wonder, how would Lazarus have reacted if he knew he was a target.

I hope to bring such light into the world to be considered a threat to the enemy of light.

May we continue to bring that life!

And this, my friends, is why I chose poetry for Sunday. It’s also why I choose to go to church.

God deserves our praise, and I don’t mind a little joy myself.

It was in these inhuman conditions that he first sought out the faith of his father and grandfather. He earnestly prayed for escape.

He eventually returned to the place of his captivity to spread the Gospel of Jesus throughout Ireland.

Like with Joseph in today’s reading, God can bring amazing results from hopeless situations.

I just look at the basic principle – Righteous king = thriving kingdom.

But leadership happens at every level.

If you lead even one person – a child, a student, a friend – how you lead will make a huge difference when combined with the efforts of many other leaders.

But the more he understood about God, the more he realized that He couldn’t fully understand God.

Should I give up studying the Bible as fruitless?

but studying His Word helps me understand how to be a better man of God in a world that desperately needs godly men and women.

What happen?

The Holy Spirit intervened.

Gideon wasn’t special. He was willing and He loved God and His people.

Think about that. People who have never heard the Name of Jesus can receive God’s forgiveness on the basis of their belief.

Mind you, that is not the same as all religions leading to heaven. Salvation comes through Jesus alone. More on that another day.

Jesus experienced the full range of emotions that we do.

I might be stretching it a bit but I think all three emotions came for the same reason; the lack of sincere faith in the people around him.

He came to bring true life to His people and found a dead religion.