Walk in the Light

August 3, 2024

August 3rd, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Psalm 104

Highlight Verse:

“Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels you decreed.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭104‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

We went for a hike yesterday.

I’m feeling it today.

It was worth every sore muscle.

The Rocky Mountains are incredibly beautiful.

It boggles my mind to think that some can look at them and say they came about by chance.

In my eyes, the mountains are a beautiful masterpiece and I have the privilege of knowing the Artist.

Of course, I also appreciate the culinary artists who created the calzones and the ice cream we rewarded ourselves with after the hike.

What part of God’s creation do you enjoy the most?
Have you gotten out and enjoyed it lately?
August 2, 2024

August 1st, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jonah 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.”
‭‭Jonah‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse struck me as funny.

I know the skeptics out there are saying, “Of course it’s funny. No one could survive 3 days in a fish or whale or any animal.

Other’s might say, “oh, it’s just a metaphor.”

I would say that it really happened and I don’t dwell on how because God is the one that made it happen and He can do anything.

But then, we’re all missing the point.

Jonah was in a place where he could do nothing.

He was left with only 2 choices, give up or turn to God.

He prayed to God from inside the fish.

Have you ever made such bad choices that you were suddenly left with no choice? Maybe facing jail time or bankruptcy?
Did you pray to the Lord Your God (implying that you truly trust Him) to deliver you from the consequences of running away from Him?
How did He bring you through it? (I assume He did since you’re reading this).
August 1, 2024

August 1st, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelation 1

Highlight Verse:

“I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Some would discredit Revelation because John claimed it would be fulfilled “soon”.

In verses 8, 17, and 18, we are reminded of the timeless nature of God.

He was here before creation and will be here at the end. In fact,

He is the beginning and the end.

2000 years may seem like forever to us but to God, it is the blink of an eye.

We would do well to spend the next 22 weeks learning what to expect at the end and how to act to be a part of want God wants to do in the end.

The book of Revelation is just as valid today as when it was written.

Does studying Revelation make you nervous?
Are you willing to look at it with an open heart and mind?
July 31, 2024

July 31st, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Chronicles 22-24

Highlight Verse:

“But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭24‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

King Joash seemed so promising at first.

He did what was right in the Lord’s eyes until Jehoiada passed away.

Then, like college students freed from their parents’ home sometimes go wild,

he followed after the wrong people and turned away from the ways of God.

I didn’t go wild in college. But then, my parents didn’t keep that close an eye on me in high school.

Am I saying that we should be hands off parents of teenagers?

No!

I had some excellent guidance outside my family that helped me stay at least close to the right path. Not everyone has that.

Controlling every aspect of a teenager’s life like Jehoiada did as a surrogate parent can have a negative impact as well.

The people we guide, whether a child, a teen, or an adult being mentored, need to learn how to make their own wise decisions.

In what ways can you help your child or peer learn to make wise decisions?
What did it take for you to learn how to make wise decisions?
July 30, 2024

July 30th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 27-28

Highlight Verse:
“Prepare these special burnt offerings, along with their liquid offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its accompanying grain offering. Be sure that all the animals you sacrifice have no defects.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭28‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was about to start writing about how we should give our first and best when I realized that I hadn’t yet tithed on last Friday’s paycheck.

Let’s just say I’m preaching to myself today.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has superseded the system of sacrifices and offerings spoken of in these chapters.

That doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can learn from today’s reading.

In fact, I’d say it’s very relevant.

We humans tend to be generous with what we have left over.

It’s easy to drop a little cash in the offering plate or donate some leftover items to the church yard sale or food drive.

In the old sacrificial system, the Lord required the first and the best of what a person had.

You see, when we give our first and our best, we demonstrate our faith in God to provide for us.

It’s an act that bolsters our faith when we find that God really will provide when we give by faith.

Our salvation no longer relies on what we sacrifice, but our faith will thrive when we do.

Usually, our financial situation will thrive more when we give than when we try to hoard our wealth.

What is your experience?
What has blessed you more, giving or getting?
July 29, 2024

July 29th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 7

Highlight Verse:

“Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭7‬:‭57‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have heard it said that those who complain the loudest about someone sharing the Gospel are often the ones closest to coming to faith.

They seem to be closed off to the Gospel like these guys covering their ears and shouting. But that is sometimes a symptom of a person’s last-ditch efforts to avoid the question that has been nagging at them.

What is true?

Of course, that doesn’t seem to be the case here. These guys up and stoned Stephen.

But wait.

Among them was Saul.

Who soon encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Who brought the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Who brought the Gospel to the rest of the world.

Have you encountered resistance to the Gospel?
Don’t give up. There could be a Saul listening.
July 28, 2024

July 28th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Song of Solomon 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right.”
‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve worked with youth for years. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard middle schoolers talk about their girlfriends or boyfriends.

It is tough not to lecture them each time they say that on why they shouldn’t even think about that sort of thing at their age.

Our culture encourages romance from the moment kids can talk.

It robs kids of all the friendships and fun they could have if they were just content to be kids.

I’ll step down off my soap box now and bring this more into context.

The young woman in this book shows her faithfulness to her “lover” by not giving in to Solomon’s desires to add her to his harem.

In the context of this culture, her relationship was probably prearranged by her parents. If that was the case,

she not only honors her lover but also her parents and her culture by staying faithful.

I see today’s highlight verse as a plea for help from the women of Jerusalem to keep her and all the other young women faithful.

What are you doing to stay faithful to the one to whom you are pledged or will be pledged?
How can you help others around you stay faithful?
July 27, 2024

July 27th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Proverbs 16:31, 20:29

Highlight Verse:

“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Tonight’s study comes to you from a late-night hotel indoor pool room. A bunch of kids are playing up a storm while one of mine relaxes in the hot tub. I’m at a table in the corner trying to not get splashed while I write on the iPad.

Why are we here?

We are spending a little time with my father-in-law this weekend.

The older I get, the more I realize how much there is to learn from him.

I wish I had listened to him more when he was younger. Physical limitations make it more difficult to understand him now.

But I know there is still a ton I could learn from him.

I wish I had learned more from my dad, who has been gone for 24 years now, and my mom, now gone for 4 years.

I will do my best to glean what wisdom and knowledge I can from my wife’s dad.
I know none of my parents were/are perfect. I’m not either.

But there’s always something more I can learn.

Are your parents still around?
Have you listened to them lately?
July 26, 2024

July 25th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Obadiah

Highlight Verse:

“You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully.”
‭‭Obadiah‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When the Germans invaded what is now the Czech Republic during World War 2, they took many Tatra automobiles. They were very fast on Germany’s new autobahns. Too fast. The officials who drove them grew overconfident and crashed them at high speed.

This happened so often that some say that Tatra killed more German officers during the war than the allies.

As many who opposed The Lord and Israel found out during Old Testament times, overconfidence can be deadly.

Edom, the descendants of Esau, took their pride to a level that they not only ignored the injustices put on Israel, but the took advantage of Israel’s hardships and plundered them when they were vulnerable.

Nice cousins, huh?

They got their punishment and taught us a lesson through the prophet Obadiah.

Let compassion rule the day, not pride.

Has overconfidence gotten you into trouble? Share your stories.
What have you done to remember humility and compassion?
July 25, 2024

July 25th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Jude

Highlight Verses:

“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.”
‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have long heard it said that we must love the sinner but hate the sin.

More and more hear people claim that you cannot love someone if you don’t accept their differences even if those differences can be considered sinful.

To that I would say, how can you love someone without extending a hand to rescue them when they are drowning.

When a person’s identity becomes so rapped up in their sin, they are drowning.

Every person is a beautiful creation of God and deserves to be loved.

Sometimes that means accepting them with all their sins so that they can learn to trust you to help them escape that sin.

But accepting them does not have to mean accepting their sin as good.

How do you show love to someone whose identity is wrapped up in their sin?
Have you ever had someone help you escape from your sin? How did they do it?

In my eyes, the mountains are a beautiful masterpiece and I have the privilege of knowing the Artist.

But then, we’re all missing the point.

Jonah was in a place where he could do nothing.

He prayed to God from inside the fish.

He is the beginning and the end.

The book of Revelation is just as valid today as when it was written.

he followed after the wrong people and turned away from the ways of God.

The people we guide, whether a child, a teen, or an adult being mentored, need to learn how to make their own wise decisions.

Let’s just say I’m preaching to myself today.

We humans tend to be generous with what we have left over.

You see, when we give our first and our best, we demonstrate our faith in God to provide for us.

I have heard it said that those who complain the loudest about someone sharing the Gospel are often the ones closest to coming to faith.

But wait.

Among them was Saul.

It robs kids of all the friendships and fun they could have if they were just content to be kids.

she not only honors her lover but also her parents and her culture by staying faithful.

I see today’s highlight verse as a plea for help from the women of Jerusalem to keep her and all the other young women faithful.

The older I get, the more I realize how much there is to learn from him.

But I know there is still a ton I could learn from him.

But there’s always something more I can learn.

Let compassion rule the day, not pride.

I have long heard it said that we must love the sinner but hate the sin.

To that I would say, how can you love someone without extending a hand to rescue them when they are drowning.

Every person is a beautiful creation of God and deserves to be loved.