Walk in the Light

August 1, 2025

August 1st, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 25-27

Highlight Verse:

“I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as my deputy. I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy you and make you an object of horror and contempt and a ruin forever.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭25‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve never felt comfortable with the fact that Jeremiah speaks of God lashing out against Israel.

But think about this. The destruction was done by violent nations.

If it wasn’t for God’s protection over Israel, these nations would have conquered Israel long before.

In God’s eyes, allowing Israel to be conquered was the height of anger; anger motivated by love.

In a sense, God takes the credit for the violence against Israel.

It kinda reminds me of Jesus taking the credit for all our sin.

In both cases, God’s actions are motivated by love for His people; a tough love to be sure, but love, nonetheless.

It’s a difficult concept to grasp, violence equaling love. But God’s goal was always to bring His children back to Him.

Have you ever had to exercise tough love on your kids, letting them feel the full consequences of their actions?
Has tough love ever brought you back in line? Share your stories.
July 31, 2025

July 31st, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 11-13

Highlight Verse:

“Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I admit that I was tempted to write about Paul’s thorn in the flesh – not for any deep spiritual truth but because of a meme I recently saw. Paul was writing about his thorn in the flesh while in a prison cell with a roommate; SpongeBob SquarePants.

That could be a far worse hardship than any of the others he endured.

In the end I decided it was the end that really mattered to me in today’s reading.

Paul, with all the authority he outlined in the previous two chapters, sums up what he wanted the Corinthians to take away from his teaching.

• “Be joyful” – could be considered a result of following the rest of his commands.
• “Grow to maturity” – Don’t dwell in the simple truths of mercy and repentance but move on to deepen and share your faith.
• “Encourage each other” – We’re not in this alone. Find and give strength in the body of Christ.
• And “Live in harmony and peace” – both with fellow believers to fulfill the previous command and with others that they may find salvation through your love.

What did you take away from Paul’s letters to the Corinthians?
How will you apply what you learned?
July 30, 2025

July 30th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 21-22

Highlight Verses:

“David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

They say the truth is stranger than fiction.

Quite frankly, I can’t imagine someone making this up. But I’ve written about the unflattering stories of the Bible being evidence of its veracity before.

The question that rises for for today is, is it okay to lie?

Some would point to this passage and say that if David lied, it must be okay to lie when it is expedient to.

Before we jump to that conclusion, I should point out that David was not God. His actions should not be used to define what is or isn’t sin.

Don’t forget there is a commandment against lying.

You could argue that the commandment speaks of “bearing witness” implying a legal context.

But then, there’s Proverbs 12:22 stating that lying lips are an “abomination” to God. That’s pretty strong language.

That begs the question, what would I have done in David’s place?

Hopefully, I would have the foresight to stay away from Achish.

But if David messed up like that, I probably would too.

In which case I would probably lie, knowing that to be a necessary compromise to ensure that I would be around to continue what God had called me to do.

Would it be sin? Maybe. If so, Jesus already paid the price for it.

Yes, we should not go willingly into sin, but I don’t think that qualifies as willful sin.

What do you think? Is lying always sin? Why or why not?
July 29, 2025

July 29th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 48

Highlight Verse:

“But Jacob crossed his arms as he reached out to lay his hands on the boys’ heads. He put his right hand on the head of Ephraim, though he was the younger boy, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, though he was the firstborn.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭48‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I can be a contrary old man sometimes.

True, Jacob was more than twice my age (that would be something else).

But, I’m reaching that point where people allow me to disagree with respect.

I just pray that anytime I feel like I need to disagree with the prevailing opinion, I understand God enough to have a Biblically accurate reason to disagree.

Jacob was close enough to God to see which grandson would flourish more.

And he wasn’t afraid to act on that knowledge.

He did so gently but firmly, continuing to give Joseph the respect due him.

As you grow closer to God, have you had moments when you had to differ from popular opinion to stay true to God’s Word?
Were you able to disagree in a way that preserved respect and love for those with whom you disagreed?
July 28, 2025

July 28th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 15-16

Highlight Verse:

“The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why would the soldiers call out the whole regiment?

In my first two years of high school, I went to school in a wealthy suburb of San Francisco. (I lived in one of the little duplexes at the bottom of the hill).

There was still a lot of racial tension back in the 1970s and when a fight broke out between a white local student and a black student that was bused in from East Palo Alto, hundreds ran down to the parking lot to watch.

It quickly escalated to a brawl.

I stayed as far away as I could.

It was a tough time to be a minority. My Mexican dad refused to speak Spanish at home for fear that us kids would learn and be discovered to be half Mexican.

The Roman Empire was a tough time and place to be a Hebrew.

The Roman soldiers would have thought it great fun to be given free reign to abuse and insult a Hebrew like Jesus.

They all gathered around to join in the “fun.”

It’s very easy to get caught up in the group mentality even when the group is going off the rails.

I’m sure there were some more levelheaded soldiers in that regiment, but they all gathered to take part in the abuse.

In this same chapter, some of the people who followed Jesus just days before shouted for his crucifixion.

I dare say that if I had been all white, I might have gotten caught up in that racist brawl.

We need to be diligent to follow Jesus even when the crowd goes a different way.

For those who are the victims of abuse, Jesus can truly understand what it is like to be abused.

His heart goes out to all those who have suffered abuse and discrimination.

Just like He healed bodies, He can heal your heart.

Have you ever gotten caught up in a bad group mentality? How did you break free from that?
How has Jesus healed your abused heart?
July 27, 2025

July 27th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 89-91

Highlight Verse:

“You rule the oceans. You subdue their storm-tossed waves.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭89‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I lived in the Santa Cruz, CA area, I loved to go out to West Cliff Drive toward Natural Bridges State Park.

I would stand on the cliffs and watch the waves pound so hard, the ground vibrated and the water sprayed higher than the tops of the cliffs.

Despite its plural name, Natural Bridges State Park now only has one natural bridge. One stormy night in 1980, the second, larger bridge collapsed under the constant pounding of the waves.

Every time I went there, I stood in awe when I felt the immense power of the ocean waves overwhelm my senses.

And God created that mighty ocean with a word.

With power that immense, my little problems are no problem at all to God, if I can only trust Him.

What parts of creation inspire you to worship God?
How does His amazing power affect the way you see Him?
July 26, 2025

July 26th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Hebrews 6:1-12

Highlight Verse:

“So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We go to an outreach-oriented church.

The Sunday sermons are geared toward new believers and non-believers.

They are very good but tend to stick with the basic truths.

It’s important that we find a way to dig a little deeper into God’s Word.

For us, that means daily reading the Bible and studying to find the whole of God’s message for us.

For me, that also means putting what I find into words and sharing it here.

A couple of our kids have found a weekly Bible study that also digs more deeply. That works well for them.

No matter how you do it, it’s important to go beyond the simple truths of grace and salvation to be able to live the fullest life God has for you.

How do you dig deeper into God’s Word?
What are some of the deeper truths that you have learned from studying the Bible?
July 25, 2025

July 25th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 22-24

Highlight Verses:

““In that day,” says the Lord, “when people are taking an oath, they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ Then they will live in their own land.””
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Google auto-completes the phrase “as surely as…” with “the Lord lives” and “the sun rises.”

Good to know A.I. has learned from the Bible, even if people forget the events to which Jeremiah refers.

That brings to mind the question, “How would you complete that sentence.”

As surely as (or as sure as) –
• The Lord lives.
• The sun rises.
• Jesus saved me.
• Peaches are poison (actually a Google suggestion).
• Death and taxes.
• Jesus is Lord.

It’s good to know beyond doubt that God lives and He is good!

We all need something solid we can rely on.

There is nothing more certain in my book that the facts that Jesus lives, He loves me, and He saved me.

What are the surest facts in your life?
What funny alternatives to this saying have you heard?
July 24, 2025

July 24th, 2025

Thursday — Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.””
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is always a tough subject to figure out.

The very fact that tithing is a principle taught in the Bible brings on pressure to give.

So how do we give without pressure?

First, I should mention that the gift Paul was collecting was to support those in need in Jerusalem. The Corinthians were already supporting their local church (which is what the tithe is for).

That’s not to say that the tithe shouldn’t be given cheerfully.

For us, it is just part of the normal monthly budget, and I rejoice when I see it spent to bring people to Jesus.

From time to time, there are other causes that stir your heart.

It could be sponsoring a child in need to hear the gospel and receive an education through the many ministries that provide that.

It could be helping victims of a natural disaster.

Or maybe it’s supporting a cause that is near and dear to your heart.

I can tell you from experience that being able to give as your heart directs is a far greater joy than holding on to money out of fear or greed (though saving for the future is also important).

I’ve also been on the side that has received help from other people’s giving.

That is humbling.

Finally, I’ve known people like the Macedonians (read the rest of the chapter) who would give even when it meant doing without themselves.

And they were some of the most joy filled people I have known.

No pressure here. (I’m not a non-profit so don’t try to give to me).

But if you want to know pure joy, give!

How has giving been a joy in your life?
In what situations have you seen people give who got more than their share of joy in return?
July 23, 2025

July 23rd, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 18-19

Highlight Verse:

“Then she took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put a cushion of goat’s hair at its head.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭19‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Michal’s willingness to throw her dad and his men off David’s trail shows that she was willing to go to great lengths to protect him.

But this verse makes it clear that she had an idol at the ready.

From what I’ve read, these idols weren’t like the ones found in pagan countries. They didn’t represent some fake God.

Even though they represented God, they turned the true faith of worshipping God into a religious construct.

Instead of receiving God’s grace, people tried to earn their way to heaven by the attention that they gave to the idols.

Michal’s faith required her to show herself worthy of relationship with God.

David’s faith was based on his true personal relationship with God.

He knew God!

He had no need for any idol.

He had a close relationship with the real thing.

Today, an idol is anything that draws your attention away from God.

If it distracts you from worshipping God, it’s an idol.

If it turns worship into work, it’s an idol.

What are the idols in your life?
How do you fight against something that would block you from worshipping God?

I’ve never felt comfortable with the fact that Jeremiah speaks of God lashing out against Israel.

If it wasn’t for God’s protection over Israel, these nations would have conquered Israel long before.

It’s a difficult concept to grasp, violence equaling love. But God’s goal was always to bring His children back to Him.

In the end I decided it was the end that really mattered to me in today’s reading.

They say the truth is stranger than fiction.

Before we jump to that conclusion, I should point out that David was not God. His actions should not be used to define what is or isn’t sin.

But if David messed up like that, I probably would too.

I can be a contrary old man sometimes.

I just pray that anytime I feel like I need to disagree with the prevailing opinion, I understand God enough to have a Biblically accurate reason to disagree.

He did so gently but firmly, continuing to give Joseph the respect due him.

Why would the soldiers call out the whole regiment?

It’s very easy to get caught up in the group mentality even when the group is going off the rails.

We need to be diligent to follow Jesus even when the crowd goes a different way.

His heart goes out to all those who have suffered abuse and discrimination.

When I lived in the Santa Cruz, CA area, I loved to go out to West Cliff Drive toward Natural Bridges State Park.

Every time I went there, I stood in awe when I felt the immense power of the ocean waves overwhelm my senses.

With power that immense, my little problems are no problem at all to God, if I can only trust Him.

The Sunday sermons are geared toward new believers and non-believers.

It’s important that we find a way to dig a little deeper into God’s Word.

No matter how you do it, it’s important to go beyond the simple truths of grace and salvation to be able to live the fullest life God has for you.

That brings to mind the question, “How would you complete that sentence.”

It’s good to know beyond doubt that God lives and He is good!

There is nothing more certain in my book that the facts that Jesus lives, He loves me, and He saved me.

This is always a tough subject to figure out.

And they were some of the most joy filled people I have known.

But if you want to know pure joy, give!

But this verse makes it clear that she had an idol at the ready.

Even though they represented God, they turned the true faith of worshipping God into a religious construct.

If it turns worship into work, it’s an idol.