Walk in the Light

September 22, 2024

September 22nd, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 15-16

Highlight Verse:

“Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The author of Job had some form of understanding of the Trinity. Job goes on to say that he needs a mediator between himself and God.

We have a mediator. His name in Jesus!

God allows us to cry out our complaints to Jesus.

He hears.

He listens.

He acts on our behalf.

If that isn’t amazing news, what is?

Have you ever had to cry out to God in anger or bitter disappointment?
Do you realize how much He hangs on your every word?
September 21, 2024

September 21st, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Proverbs 11:14; 12:15

Highlight Verse:

“Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We had a major decision to make today.

I thought I knew last night which way we were going to go with it. We decided to pray and sleep on it.

This morning, after quiet time, I realized that I hadn’t done much research to make a wise, well-informed decision.

After a morning meeting for work, I asked for the rest of the day off.

I was glad I did.

Like the OCD person that I am, I created a spreadsheet where I brought in information from several reliable sources and came to a much different conclusion than I expected.

The result after discussion with my wife and in person research?

The old minivan has been replaced with a Subaru Forester.

What is your decision-making process?
What role does prayer and seeking counsel take in it?
September 20, 2024

September 20th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Nahum 1

Highlight Verse:

“Yet Thebes fell, and her people were led away as captives. Her babies were dashed to death against the stones of the streets. Soldiers threw dice to get Egyptian officers as servants. All their leaders were bound in chains.”
‭‭Nahum‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

For about a year when I was in middle school, I lived in a small cheap 2 bedroom apartment in San Mateo, CA. In the apartment next door, which was the same size as our little 2-bedroom place, there lived a family of about 8.

The eldest member was a former general of the Persian Army.

Yes, the same army that was ousted by the Shah of Iran in the late 70’s.

They survived, but their family status did not.

Their situation changed overnight.

So did Thebes.

Conquered overnight.

Nahum predicts the same devastation to come upon Nineva, the capitol of Assyria.

We can expect the same if our nation continues its slide away from God.

What can you and I do to help steer our nation back to God?
Can you join me in praying for revival to sweep across our nation.
September 19, 2024

September 19th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelation 8

Highlight Verse:

“When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why was it silent throughout heaven for half an hour?

When it says silence, I don’t think they mean crickets in the background.

I think it was utter silence.

It might come across as a dramatic pause before the climax.

I think it’s more than that.

When I encounter utter silence, or close to it, I tend to pray silently.

Perhaps it’s those silent prayers of the multitudes that are lifted up as an offering in the following verses.

Perhaps it is that multitude of prayers that helps usher in the final victory at the end.

Perhaps it is those prayers that help the final remnant come through the last of the tribulation.

Or perhaps it’s just a dramatic pause.

Whatever it is, I will continue to choose to pray in the silent times.

Why do you think there is a half hour of silence before the trumpets?
What part of this chapter stood out to you today? Why?
September 18, 2024

September 18th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – Ezra 5-6

Highlight Verse:

““Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled from their house. Then they will be lifted up and impaled on it, and their house will be reduced to a pile of rubble.”
‭‭Ezra‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Darius didn’t mess around.

When he found out that Cyrus had ordered the rebuilding of the temple, and the construction had been stopped, he made sure it couldn’t be stopped again.

Like Cyrus, Darius wasn’t a believer. Therefore, his somewhat overly forceful statement here is understandable.

To me, it’s amusing.

I’ve also seen people who are (usually) new to the faith use cussing and threats to defend Jesus.

I confess I am amused by that as well.

Sometimes I think, “I wish I could express my thoughts that way.”

Politeness tempers my speech, as it should.

We shouldn’t scare people away from faith.

But sometimes I wish…

Do you temper your speech or just say what first comes to mind?
What do you think when others speak as plainly as Darius did?
September 17, 2024

September 17th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“I stood as an intermediary between you and the Lord, for you were afraid of the fire and did not want to approach the mountain. He spoke to me, and I passed his words on to you. This is what he said:”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Ten Commandments are what we got when Moses stood as our intermediary.

When Jesus stepped in, we got mercy and grace and a good measure of eternal life with it.

I’m not belittling the Ten Commandments. Without them, we wouldn’t know how desperately we need Jesus.

We should always attempt to obey the Ten Commandments.

Then, when we fall short again, we need to trust in Jesus’ work on the cross to bring forgiveness and get right back up to setting our moral compass by the true north of the Ten Commandments.

How do you view the Ten Commandments?
How long has it been since you broke one?
Did you find forgiveness?
September 16, 2024

September 16th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 15

Highlight Verse:

“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I grew up thinking that God would reject children who weren’t baptized. Then if we didn’t go through confirmation class, our infant baptisms would be for nothing.

I also read the Bible as I was growing up and something didn’t seem quite right with that.

When I was 16, we moved to rural southwest Virginia, and I couldn’t afford to drive all the way to that other type of church, so I went to the little country church just down the road from where I lived.

Suddenly the Bible started to make more sense.

It wasn’t about what I did to please God, it was about what He already did because He loves us!

I’d like to say that my legalism flew out the window at that point, but the truth is, I remained pretty judgmental until I realized how powerless I was at being good without Jesus.

His grace truly is undeserved.

How dare I judge others when any good I do is by the grace of God.

Now, instead of judging, I try to help others who are willing to get closer to Jesus.

Have you struggled with judgmental tendencies?
What are ways that you can help people get closer to Jesus without judging them?
September 15, 2024

September 15th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 13-14

Highlight Verse:

“If only you could be silent! That’s the wisest thing you could do.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I think everyone in this chapter could stand to follow its advice.

I could too.

How many problems would we avoid if we just kept our mouths shut

instead of spouting out opinions that we didn’t think through all the way.

Job’s friends could have comforted instead of accused.

Job could have accepted his difficulties instead of accusing God of bringing them.

So many of us could have avoided unneeded arguments instead of insisting on being right.

Are you prone to talking too much (like me)?
How would life be different for you if you had kept silent when, instead, you spoke words you wish you could take back?
September 14, 2024

September 14th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Ecclesiastes 3:1-7

Highlight Verse:

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

It’s dark when I get up.

True, it’s still been hot here lately, but change is coming.

Part of me dreads it.

The cold makes my body ache, and snow wreaks havoc with traffic.

Nevertheless, I prefer the four seasons to warmth all year long.

Variety is good.

It is said the only constant is change.

Our society is constantly changing.

If we in the church do not stay relevant to our culture, we will be cast aside.

I’m not saying to compromise our morality.

I am saying we need to know whom we are reaching out to and meet them where they are.

So, as much as I’d love to sit around and listen to oldies all day, I choose to learn about the next generation so I can help bring them to Jesus.

In what areas do you struggle to stay relevant to the next generation?
What are you doing to positively change with each new cultural season?
September 13, 2024

September 13th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Nahum 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.”
‭‭Nahum‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today’s reading is full of warnings of impending doom for Nineveh.

In the middle of it is this little verse that sums up the source of confidence for those who trust God.

I know that no matter what comes my way, God will pull me through.

It might not be in a way I expect.

But I have seen Him provide for my safety and well-being more times than I can count.

Someday, when my time here is done, He will provide an eternal home for me in His presence.

What more do I need?

Do you trust God to stay close and protect you?
How has He protected and provided for you in the past?

We have a mediator. His name in Jesus!

He listens.

If that isn’t amazing news, what is?

We had a major decision to make today.

This morning, after quiet time, I realized that I hadn’t done much research to make a wise, well-informed decision.

I was glad I did.

Their situation changed overnight.

Nahum predicts the same devastation to come upon Nineva, the capitol of Assyria.

We can expect the same if our nation continues its slide away from God.

Why was it silent throughout heaven for half an hour?

Perhaps it’s those silent prayers of the multitudes that are lifted up as an offering in the following verses.

Whatever it is, I will continue to choose to pray in the silent times.

Darius didn’t mess around.

To me, it’s amusing.

Politeness tempers my speech, as it should.

When Jesus stepped in, we got mercy and grace and a good measure of eternal life with it.

Then, when we fall short again, we need to trust in Jesus’ work on the cross to bring forgiveness and get right back up to setting our moral compass by the true north of the Ten Commandments.

I also read the Bible as I was growing up and something didn’t seem quite right with that.

It wasn’t about what I did to please God, it was about what He already did because He loves us!

Now, instead of judging, I try to help others who are willing to get closer to Jesus.

How many problems would we avoid if we just kept our mouths shut

So many of us could have avoided unneeded arguments instead of insisting on being right.

Variety is good.

It is said the only constant is change.

I am saying we need to know whom we are reaching out to and meet them where they are.

I know that no matter what comes my way, God will pull me through.

What more do I need?