Walk in the Light

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.
March 9, 2025

March 9th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 27-30

Highlight Verse:

“Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am not strong like younger me. Okay, truth be known, I was never very strong but I had more energy and could move more quickly.

But one huge advantage that 61 year old me has over young me is confidence.

Not the foolish confidence of youth that thinks he’s invincible.

I have confidence from many tough experiences that the Lord has brought me through.

He has never failed me before and I am sure He won’t start now.

Even the darkest nights have given way to new dawns.

And when that day comes that my circumstances usher me out of this world, I am confident that God’s grace is sufficient to bring me to my eternal home.

When you reach those dark times when you don’t know how you’ll survive, feel free to borrow my experience and confidence and know that you will make it through.

What has God brought you through that you can look back on for confidence?
How confident are you in God’s provision and protection for you?
March 8, 2025

March 8th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Isaiah 58:1-11

Highlight Verse:

““No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Lent has begun.

It’s the season when fasting in one form or another becomes more popular (or less unpopular).

People fast for a number of reasons – to express their devotion to God, to discipline their will power, or to lose weight among other things.

Jesus suggested that fasting increases the effectiveness of prayer. Isaiah said in today’s reading that it should be to share with those in need.

Both Isaiah and Jesus were emphatic about one aspect of fasting: it should not be to impress God or people.

With that in mind, I’ll admit that I am not fasting for Lent this year.

But if I decide to fast, I won’t let you know.

Have you ever caught yourself pious bragging about fasting?
What are ways you can fast without others knowing?
March 7, 2025

March 7th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 28-30

Highlight Verse:

“And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The church I grew up in could be described like this verse, at least from my childish perspective.

In college, I switched to a church that was less ritualistic but still pretty legalistic.

I remember seeing the choir in that church – mostly dour faces except one. One girl seemed to truly understand what she was singing about with a smile that radiated joy.

I got to know her as a friend (though I honestly can’t even remember her name anymore). She explained the Gospel in a way that was alive and exciting.

I lost track of her

but I never lost the excitement of the Gospel.

The amazing fact that Jesus would die so that we could live is the best news ever, especially in light of the resurrection.

Even in the midst of the worst of circumstances, we have something to be joyful about!

Does the Good News of Jesus and salvation bring you joy?
Are there any legalistic thoughts or behaviors robbing you of your joy?
March 6, 2025

March 6th, 2025
Thursday – Letters

Reading – Romans 10

Highlight Verse:

“I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul spoke this about the people of Israel. They loved God but missed the coming of the Messiah.

There are many religions and denominations in this world. Each one is convinced that theirs is the correct theology.

Which is the right one?

I’ve always said that when we get to heaven, each one of us will likely find out something that was wrong with our theology.

It is so easy to misinterpret Scripture. But there are certain truths that are more obvious than others.
- God created everything.
- He sent His only Son Jesus to pay the price for our sin so we could spend eternity in relationship with God.
- That gift of salvation is by grace alone, not because of anything we do but by whom we trust by accepting that gift.
- Jesus died and was resurrected and then ascended to heaven.
- He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with us and help guide us through this life.
These and probably a couple I’ve missed (this isn’t a theology class) are the essentials. There is room for disagreement on other tenets of theology.

We should not let our zeal for theological details to get in the way of the redemptive work of Jesus, no matter how convinced we are that we are right.

I’ve seen too many churches drive people away by overemphasizing beliefs that are unique to them.

And I’ve seen unstoppable revival when churches unite behind the truth of the Gospel.

Does your unique viewpoint ever get in the way of drawing people to redemption in Jesus?
Have you found ways to work with those with different takes on non-essential theology?
How did each situation work out?
March 5, 2025

March 5th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – Judges 4-5

Highlight Verse:

“Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help.”
‭‭Judges‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My day job is fixing copiers. It always amazes me when someone says something like, “oh it’s been doing that for months.”

I ask, “Why didn’t you call?”

The excuses vary from “we didn’t know it was covered” to “no one knew how to call,” at which time I point to the sticker with the phone number, email address and website right there on the machine.

The Israelites waited twenty years before calling for help!

Why?

I can only guess they thought they could handle it themselves. Or maybe they were ashamed.

Either way, help was a sincere prayer away.

How many times do we do the same thing?

Maybe not for twenty years, but we try to take care of the impossible ourselves?

Maybe we think we deserve what we get. Or we think we aren’t worthy?

News flash – we’re not worthy. But, he loves us anyway and wants the best for us.

Like a loving Father, God is willing to step into the most impossible situation and rescue us or give us the strength to get through it.

We can ask for God’s help anytime.

Why wait?

Have you ever delayed asking for God’s help?
When you got around to asking, did He fix the situation or you?

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.

But one huge advantage that 61 year old me has over young me is confidence.

Even the darkest nights have given way to new dawns.

When you reach those dark times when you don’t know how you’ll survive, feel free to borrow my experience and confidence and know that you will make it through.

It’s the season when fasting in one form or another becomes more popular (or less unpopular).

Both Isaiah and Jesus were emphatic about one aspect of fasting: it should not be to impress God or people.

But if I decide to fast, I won’t let you know.

I remember seeing the choir in that church – mostly dour faces except one. One girl seemed to truly understand what she was singing about with a smile that radiated joy.

but I never lost the excitement of the Gospel.

Even in the midst of the worst of circumstances, we have something to be joyful about!

Which is the right one?

I’ve seen too many churches drive people away by overemphasizing beliefs that are unique to them.

And I’ve seen unstoppable revival when churches unite behind the truth of the Gospel.

The Israelites waited twenty years before calling for help!

Why?

News flash – we’re not worthy. But, he loves us anyway and wants the best for us.

Like a loving Father, God is willing to step into the most impossible situation and rescue us or give us the strength to get through it.

Why wait?