Walk in the Light

May 15, 2024

May 15th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Chronicles 19-21

Highlight Verse:

“But David was not able to go there to inquire of God, because he was terrified by the drawn sword of the angel of the Lord.”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭21‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today, this seems like an irrational fear.

After all, David was a “man after God’s own heart.” What did he have to fear?

Well, there was the little matter of 70 thousand people who just died in a plague because of his poor decision.

I might be a little freaked out too.

It’s easy to judge others when they have what seem to be irrational fears.

Perhaps it would be best to look at things from their perspective.

Maybe then we would understand.

But then, sometimes we don’t understand our own fears.

Do you tend to judge people for their irrational fears? (Guilty here)
How would it be different if you could see through their eyes?
May 14, 2024

May 14th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This little section is called the Aaronic benediction.

It’s a beautiful poetic blessing in the middle of the book of Numbers.

The contrast makes it all the more powerful.

I remember a pastor who would end every service with this blessing and I would always leave church feeling like I had been truly blessed.

Try it on for size.

Bless those around you.

Then see if you feel blessed as well.

Have you ever made a practice of blessing those around you?
Can you think of occasions when this or a similar blessing would be appropriate?
May 13, 2024

May 13th, 2024

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 20

Highlight Verse:

“So he is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive to him.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Tonight I am typing with brand new, but cheap, keyboard.

My old but very nice keyboard seems to have typed its last. My iPad doesn’t even recognize it anymore.

I can’t complain; I’ve used it a ton.

But it’s dead.

It wore out.

Sometimes I know the feeling.

The older I get, the more worn out I feel.

Oh, I still have a bunch of good years ahead. I’m not even close to giving up.

But I know that my time will come eventually.

Then what?

I am confident from this and many other passages like it that there is a new life awaiting me.

This life is a drop in the bucket compared to what awaits.

I don’t know much in the way of specifics but I know it will be awesome.

While I look forward to completing all the plans God has for me here on Earth, I joyously anticipate heaven.

I hope to see you there.

Do you believe there is a heaven awaiting us in the next life?
What do you most look forward to in heaven?
May 12, 2024

May 12th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 30

Highlight Verse:

“Some people curse their father and do not thank their mother. They are pure in their own eyes, but they are filthy and unwashed.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭30‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Don’t want to be filthy and unwashed (or any of the other nasty things in the following verses?

Thank your mother. Today!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Let’s honor each of the moms in our lives today!

Nuff said.
May 11, 2024

May 11th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Mark 6:1-6

Highlight Verse:

“Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It just so happens that this passage is in the lesson I am planning to give to middle school students this Wednesday.

Jesus knows what it is like to be rejected by people.

The people of his hometown refused to believe Him.

Despite the fact that He knew rejection, Jesus will never reject us.

Think about it.

There is nothing that you can do that will make Him love you any less.

He will allow you to reject Him, but He will never reject you.

EVERY person who puts their trust in Jesus is welcomed into the family of God.

You can walk away from God, but He will never walk away from you.

Have you ever felt like there was no way that God could ever forgive the things you have done?
What helped you overcome that feeling?
If you haven’t overcome that, what is holding you back?
May 10, 2024

May 10th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Hosea 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Their arrogance testifies against them, yet they don’t return to the Lord their God or even try to find him.”
‭‭Hosea‬ ‭7‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I started reading today’s chapters, I thought, “this is kinda harsh.”

The Good News of the Bible is that there is forgiveness and new life for all who put their trust in Jesus.

This chapter doesn’t sound like God is showing these people grace.

Then I got to this verse.

The majority of the people of Israel did not trust in God.

In fact, they were outright rejecting Him in favor of “foreign Gods” and wild living.

So, I have to wonder, were they all lost?

Hosea doesn’t say.

But he is writing to someone.

I gotta believe that God had Hosea share this story so that the readers would have a chance to have their eyes opened and turn away from the evil.

That would have been a tough lesson to learn. But it beats not learning it.

Have you ever had to learn things the “hard way” through tough life experience?
What, if anything broke the chains of evil for you?
May 9, 2024

May 9th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – James 5

Highlight Verse:

“But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.”
‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’m a storyteller.

I tend to add emphasis to my stories through colorful description, painting a picture that is sometimes more vivid than the original.

Thankfully, James is not speaking of storytelling here, but he is warning against exaggerating about our decisions.

Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

In other words, just be honest.

If we are completely honest, there’s no need to invoke heaven or earth to back our decisions.

Just be honest.

Did any other verses jump out at you in James 5?
Share what you saw!
May 8, 2024

May 8th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Chronicles 16-18

Highlight Verse:

““Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in.”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭17‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Disappointment.

We’ve all had a taste of it.

You have a great idea.

Your friends all think it’s great.

You put things into motion to make it happen.

Then you hit the brick wall.

That’s one more way I can relate to David.

So, what does David do with disappointment?

Read the rest of that chapter.

He gave thanks for all the good things God did for and through him.

He focused on the positive and kept a thankful heart.

How do you handle disappointment?
What do you think you could learn from David?
May 7, 2024

May 7th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“When their names were recorded, as the Lord had commanded through Moses, each man was assigned his task and told what to carry. And so the registration was completed, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭4‬:‭49‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The very fact that a book like Numbers exists points to the fact that, for a nation wandering the wilderness, Israel was very well organized.

Apparently, the jobs for the Levites were allotted to individuals right down to who carried which post.

I have worked within ministries and currently work as an outside contractor within a city government, and I can tell you that I have never seen this level of organization.

Some would say they are organized, but not to this level (though our church comes pretty close).

How would things be different if we were that organized?

As a person with OCD, I’d like to think it would be amazing!

I honestly admit that I think it would be a good standard to strive for.

But biblically, in the light of the entirety of the Bible, I cannot say with any certainty that this level of organization is something that God wants us to strive for.

What is your opinion?
Is detailed organization a Biblical standard to strive for?
Or would Jesus want us to be more relaxed in our methods?
May 6, 2024

May 6th, 2024

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 19

Highlight Verse:

“He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭40‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The rocks are still silent!

Last night, we had a night of worship at our church. It was awesome.

Around the world, all day Sunday, hundreds of thousands of congregations were praising God in hundreds of languages.

Throughout the week, many more will be singing God’s praises.

There’s people right now cranking the worship tunes as they drive and sing.

There are students in chapels raising their voices.

The walls in a thousand prayer closets bear witness to words of thanksgiving and praise.

Let’s keep the rocks unemployed and keep lifting praises to the One Who is truly worthy of all praise!

Where do you like to worship the most?
Where is the most unique place you have worshipped?

Today, this seems like an irrational fear.

Perhaps it would be best to look at things from their perspective.

But then, sometimes we don’t understand our own fears.

It’s a beautiful poetic blessing in the middle of the book of Numbers.

Bless those around you.

Sometimes I know the feeling.

Then what?

This life is a drop in the bucket compared to what awaits.

I hope to see you there.

Thank your mother. Today!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Jesus knows what it is like to be rejected by people.

Despite the fact that He knew rejection, Jesus will never reject us.

EVERY person who puts their trust in Jesus is welcomed into the family of God.

This chapter doesn’t sound like God is showing these people grace.

So, I have to wonder, were they all lost?

I gotta believe that God had Hosea share this story so that the readers would have a chance to have their eyes opened and turn away from the evil.

Thankfully, James is not speaking of storytelling here, but he is warning against exaggerating about our decisions.

In other words, just be honest.

Disappointment.

That’s one more way I can relate to David.

He focused on the positive and kept a thankful heart.

The very fact that a book like Numbers exists points to the fact that, for a nation wandering the wilderness, Israel was very well organized.

But biblically, in the light of the entirety of the Bible, I cannot say with any certainty that this level of organization is something that God wants us to strive for.

The rocks are still silent!

Around the world, all day Sunday, hundreds of thousands of congregations were praising God in hundreds of languages.

Let’s keep the rocks unemployed and keep lifting praises to the One Who is truly worthy of all praise!