Walk in the Light

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?
September 12, 2024

September 12th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelation 7

Highlight Verse:

“For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The multitude spoken of in this passage has been interpreted in multiple ways. Some say that it is comprised of martyrs from all of time. Some say it is just those who suffered and persevered during the coming time of tribulation.

I say that the same God who honors those who go through tribulation for Him will lead and comfort all those who trust in Him.

Martyrs may be given special honor in the end times,

but Jesus will lead and comfort all those who follow Him.

Have you experienced the leading and/or comfort of the Lord?
Do you trust Him to lead and comfort, even in the greatest of tribulations?
September 11, 2024

September 11th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – Ezra 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid.”
‭‭Ezra‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Twenty-three years ago today, I ate my breakfast in front of the TV in my Prescott Valley, Arizona home, watching in disbelief as the World Trade Center burned.

By the end of that day, I had vowed to never forget it.

With much red tape, politics, and budget fights to deal with, it took 13 years to replace the main tower. Work continues on the complex even today.

In 586 BC, invaders destroyed the First Temple.

About fifty years later, Israelites began to return and started work on the Second Temple.

With much opposition to deal with, it took 20 years to complete.

There are tragic events in history that deserve to be remembered.

But I love what the Israelites did in today’s verse.

When they hit a milestone in their recovery, they celebrated, giving great thanks to God for the progress that He had helped them achieve.

What have been the milestones in your life?
How have you celebrated and given thanks to God for them?
September 10, 2024

September 10th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“Instead, commission Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them all the land you now see before you as their possession.’”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭3‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Moses asked to be allowed to enter the promised land.

God said no.

Instead, Moses was to pass the baton of leadership on to Joshua.

You might wonder why God didn’t show mercy to Moses.

I think He did.

He allowed Moses to see the promised land from the top of a mountain.

But the time had come for Joshua to lead.

If Moses had crossed the Jordan, it would have diluted Joshua’s authority.

Remember that Moses was 120 years old by then and did not truly have the health to continue.

You don’t have to be 120 years old for this principle to apply.

At one church I was at, I was a director of children’s church when a new next generation pastor wanted to revamp all of the children’s ministries. People looked to me for leadership, so I moved to another ministry so volunteers would look instead to the new pastor.

Have you had situations where you needed to step out of the way for new leadership?
Have you had someone do that for you?
September 9, 2024

September 9th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 13

Highlight Verse:

“Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭13‬:‭46‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul and Barnabas failed.

When the Jews rejected them, they could have gone on to the next town or high-tailed it back to Jerusalem.

Instead, they followed God’s true calling for them which was to reach out to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people).

God turned their failure into fruit, the rejection into redemption.

What is your first reaction when people reject you?
In what ways has God turned your failures around in the past?
Do you trust Him to do it in the future?

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?

I say that the same God who honors those who go through tribulation for Him will lead and comfort all those who trust in Him.

but Jesus will lead and comfort all those who follow Him.

By the end of that day, I had vowed to never forget it.

There are tragic events in history that deserve to be remembered.

But I love what the Israelites did in today’s verse.

Moses asked to be allowed to enter the promised land.

Instead, Moses was to pass the baton of leadership on to Joshua.

You don’t have to be 120 years old for this principle to apply.

Paul and Barnabas failed.

God turned their failure into fruit, the rejection into redemption.