Walk in the Light

August 9, 2024

August 9th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jonah 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” “Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!””
‭‭Jonah‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jonah had anger issues.

Last week we saw that he was so angry at the Assyrians that he didn’t want to warn them about the wrath of God.

Today he got angry at God for letting a plant die.

But…

Don’t miss this…

God used Jonah to save 120 thousand people!

We all have our faults.

We shouldn’t ignore them and should be striving to improve ourselves our whole lives long.

But we should never think that God can’t use us because we aren’t perfect!

God uses imperfect people because that’s what He has to work with.

If He didn’t use imperfect people, nothing would ever get done.

Is there anything you’ve been putting off or a call that you’ve been ignoring because you think you’re not good enough?
If you were good enough, what could God do through you?
Are you willing to let Him do that through you anyway? He can you know.
August 8, 2024

August 8th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelation 2

Highlight Verse:

““But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Ephesians were doing really well. John was full of compliments for them – until he got to the subject of their passion for God.

I dare say this is the number one problem with the Church in America today.

We let church become a boring place of religion.

Where’s the excitement in that?

Instead it should be a place we get to gather together with a family we would die for, led by a Father who is incredibly wise and powerful.

Of course, the number two problem in the Church might be people living by their passions instead of by the Word of God.

There must be a place where zeal for God and his ways can be paired with inspired and intelligent application of God’s Word, where passion meets scholarship – where zeal meets accurate information.

Are you the passionate believer who can sometimes ignore the Scripture
Or, are you living by dispassionate devotion?
August 7, 2024

August 7th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Chronicles 25-27

Highlight Verse:

“But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: “Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: ‘Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭25‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ll probably regret writing this but I can’t read this verse without thinking of the 1969 film “Bambi Meets Godzilla.”

I won’t stoop to describing it other than you can guess from the title what happens. Look it up if you must but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Why would God have this little taste of dark humor put in the Bible here?

I think it’s so we’ll remember it.

That worked for me.

I bet you’ll remember it too.

That simple message of God not backing those who trust in their own strength has worked its way into my psyche since the first time I read this story.

God uses astounding stories, dramatic stories, music, and poetry to help us get to know Him.

Why not humor?

So, when you read this, laugh a little and learn.

What is your favorite humorous story from the Bible?
Do you have any good sermon jokes you can share here? (Don’t get me started.)
August 6, 2024

August 5th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 29-30

Highlight Verse:

““Five days later, on the fifteenth day of the same month, you must call another holy assembly of all the people, and you may do no ordinary work on that day. It is the beginning of the Festival of Shelters, a seven-day festival to the Lord.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭29‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The three festivals mentioned in this chapter are still celebrated today.

Rosh Hashanah or Festival of Trumpets

marks the celebration of harvest and prepares one for the holy days to come. The blowing of the trumpet or Shofar (ram’s horn) signifies the presence and provision of God.

You Kippur or Day of Atonement is the annual commemoration of God forgiveness for His people. It is a time of worship, repentance and focusing on God. It is the most holy day on the Hebrew calendar.

Sukkot or the Festival of Tabernacles provides a practical illustration of when God led His people through the wilderness. It is a seven-day festival involving living or at least feasting in temporary shelters.

God required His people to observe these festivals so they would remember their special relationship with Him.

We would do well to remember these and other festivals that keep us centered on God.

What holy day means the most to you?
Why?
August 5, 2024

August 5th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 8

Highlight Verse:

““Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭8‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In just over a week, it will have been 47 years since I committed my life to Jesus.

In those early days, my heart was for Jesus but my understanding was very limited.

I messed up a lot.

I’m still good at planting my foot firmly in my mouth.

I can relate to Simon.

Peter let him know in no uncertain terms that he had some stinkin’ thinkin’.

We need to listen to those Peters in our lives that yank us back to better thinking.

Sometimes we need to be the Peter in someone else’s life.

How have people corrected you in your life?
How did you respond to their correction?
Have you been that person who brings correction?
August 4, 2024

August 4th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s get straight to the elephant in the room in regard to Job.

Is it historically true?

That question is raised right here at the beginning by the fact that no human could have possibly witnessed what was said in the meeting described here.

I am not opposed to the notion that there is fiction in the Bible.

That is to say that there were stories made to teach a lesson.

The most obvious examples are most of Jesus’ parables.

While this book is poetic, I don’t believe it falls into that category.

Parables are normally told about unnamed characters. Job has a name and a context within Israel. Job’s friends are named as well and echo the orthodox theology of the culture in which it was written.

This opening scene would have been either conjecture on the part of the author or divinely revealed to the author (who remains anonymous).

I don’t have a problem with those who believe it is poetic fiction,

but I think its lessons are far more profound in a true historical context.

What do you think? Is this book historically accurate or just divinely inspired fiction?
What makes you think that?
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?

Jonah had anger issues.

God used Jonah to save 120 thousand people!

But we should never think that God can’t use us because we aren’t perfect!

Why would God have this little taste of dark humor put in the Bible here?

I think it’s so we’ll remember it.

Why not humor?

Rosh Hashanah or Festival of Trumpets

You Kippur or Day of Atonement is the annual commemoration of God forgiveness for His people. It is a time of worship, repentance and focusing on God. It is the most holy day on the Hebrew calendar.

We would do well to remember these and other festivals that keep us centered on God.

I messed up a lot.

I can relate to Simon.

We need to listen to those Peters in our lives that yank us back to better thinking.

Is it historically true?

I am not opposed to the notion that there is fiction in the Bible.

The most obvious examples are most of Jesus’ parables.

but I think its lessons are far more profound in a true historical context.

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.