Walk in the Light

July 10, 2024

July 10th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Chronicles 13-15

Highlight Verse:

“Then the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded, and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. “Listen to me, Asa!” he shouted. “Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It sounds harsh when you read that God will abandon you.

The effect is as simple as this; if you leave the Lord’s side, He will let you.

The abandonment aspect comes in when you realize that, on your own, you no longer have His protection to keep you safe.

Yes, that would feel like abandonment, but it is actually you stepping away when you turn your back on God.

Exposed to the attacks of the enemy and life in general, you could feel quite vulnerable.

Then, like the prodigal son, you might come to your senses and turn back to God.

Then God, the Father, will abandon all reservations and run to meet you!

Have you ever felt life without God?
How did that make you feel in terms of your security?
What was it like when you turned back to God?
July 9, 2024

July 9th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 21-22

Highlight Verse:

“Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!””
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭21‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The symbol of the snake on a pole is more than just a symbol of the medical profession (Though that’s another whole subject that we could explore).

It is one of many precursors to the Messiah, the one who can heal all those who turn to Him.

The symbolism doesn’t stop there.

The snake is a symbol of the tempter. Satan came as a serpent to fool Adam and Eve. He returns in this story to curse those who grumbled against Moses and God.

The snake empaled on a pole represents Satan’s defeat by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.

We are all “bitten” by the curse of sin, but healing comes when we simply have enough faith to turn to Jesus to receive our healing from sin and its consequences.

Have you defeated the curse by turning to Jesus for healing?
Have you spread the word that healing is available that easily?
July 8, 2024

July 8th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 4

Highlight Verse:

“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I attended a professional soccer game for the first time last night.

It was good. The Rapids won. We had good fellowship (It was a group of students and parents). Even the weather was good with a storm missing us and cool temperature for July.

What stuck with me, however, was not any of those things.

It was the amazing amount of teamwork.

Each of those players had enough talent to bring the ball down the field by themselves. Instead, they chose to keep passing the ball back and forth.

They did that in a way that seemed well coordinated, each player knowing who to kick it to next.

That made it hard for the opposing team to catch up and get the ball back.

No one player hogged the ball.

We could learn something from that game as the Church.

Instead of a few talented players hogging the ball, the ministry could be accomplished better as a whole team.

That applies not just to individuals within local church bodies, but as church bodies in a community working together to defeat our mutual enemy, the devil.

Do you tend to hog the ministry ball or shy away from it?
Does your local church body cooperate with other churches in the area?
What can you do to promote team playing in your church and community?
July 7, 2024

July 7th, 2024
Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Song of Solomon 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“This is Solomon’s Song of Songs, more wonderful than any other.”
‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There have been many interpretations of the Song of Solomon. They boil down to three categories:
- It is an allegory of the love between man and God.
- It is the love story of Solomon and his one true love.
- Or it is the story of a young shepherdess who is wooed by Solomon but chooses to stay faithful to the simple young man to whom she is committed already.
We’ll spend the next few weeks looking at those possibilities as we read through it.

Today I want to focus on the simple fact that God values romantic love.

No matter how you think this book should be interpreted, it is couched in very romantic language.

While some are more romantic than others, the language of this book, along with the claim that it is “more wonderful than any other” makes it clear that

God strongly believes in romantic love.

Those of us who might not be the most romantic should take note.

Romance in the context of a committed relationship is important to God.

Lesson noted. I should work on that.

Those of you who are married or will soon be married, how can you better express that godly romance?
How should the concept of godly romance affect your relationship with God?
Which of the three main interpretations do you think is more accurate?
July 6, 2024

July 6th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – John 11:1-44

Highlight Verse:

“Then Jesus wept.”
‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One of our members just lost their adult son to a long-term illness.

I cannot begin to express my sympathy for them. It is a situation that no parent should ever have to deal with.

As a father to an adult daughter who has multiple medical issues, the situation spikes my fears.

I don’t know what I would do in that situation.

But I know what Jesus would do.

He would weep.

He would sympathize with our sorrow. He is well acquainted with pain and sorrow.

There are times when He will step in and heal. I believe in healing and know that God is able to extend life.

I also know that all of us are only on this earth for a limited time.

In theory, I trust God’s timing.

I try to trust in practice as well.

Please join me in praying for that family who is dealing with loss that God would be their comfort and strength even as their faith is tested.

Thank you.
July 5, 2024

July 5th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Amos 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“What sorrow awaits you who lounge in luxury in Jerusalem, and you who feel secure in Samaria! You are famous and popular in Israel, and people go to you for help.”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse struck me as I’m lounging in a recliner in our family room. (we’re staying up late to comfort the dogs with all the fireworks going off around us).

Our youngest and I walked down to the local park at the height of the fireworks.

It sounded like a war zone.

That made me think of people in some countries who were prospering when war came their way. Many lost everything to war and violence.

While it seems very unlikely here, I realize that nothing is impossible, and

I should work toward peace.

Some might think that means gun control or more police.

This scripture makes the answer clear.

If I want peace in this land, I should worship God alone, strive to follow in obedience to his leading, and encourage others to do the same.

How do you work for peace?
What does following in obedience to Him look like in your life?
July 4, 2024

July 4th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 John 5

Highlight Verse:

“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today I wear a T-shirt that says, “I stand at the flag and kneel at the cross.”

I am a patriotic person.

I love the United States of America.

I believe in the constitution, the freedoms it defends, and the inalienable rights of all US citizens.

And, in the language of the constitution, I believe that we are endowed by our Creator with those rights.

I respect our flag, our military, and our means of government.

But I worship only God!

In what ways have you learned to balance respect for our country and worship of God?
What other ways do you see this verse applying to our lives?
July 3, 2024

July 3rd, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Chronicles 10-12

Highlight Verse:

“But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭10‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is so tempting to say that Rehoboam blew it because he didn’t listen to the advice of older men.

It’s not that simple.

The fact is, not all older men are wise.

In this case, the men were advisors to Solomon, a man thought to be the wisest king ever. That’s some pretty high qualifications.

But, it’s also true that God had sent a prophecy that Rehoboam would lose the ten tribes.

Does that mean that God chose to force Rehoboam to choose poorly?

I won’t go so far as to say that is impossible. But I don’t believe that would be in line with God’s character.

But God did know what Rehoboam would choose.

For all his father’s wisdom, Rehoboam was not a wise King. He was unfaithful to God and the Kingdom of Israel suffered as a consequence.

Here’s the tough part – Was Jeroboam any better?

If not, the people of Israel had a very difficult choice – To follow the bad man or to follow the worse one.

The best answer to that is to follow God, not the imperfect human politicians.

What leader do you follow after?
What makes that person a good leader to follow?
July 2, 2024

July 2nd, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 19-20

Highlight Verse:

“Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!””
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭20‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

They could have gone to Moses and begged him to ask God for water.

Mind you, they were still receiving Manna from God every morning except the Sabbath so

they knew God could provide.

Yet they dwelt on the negative.

Instead of asking for provision, they whined, complained, and tried to assign blame.

How often do we do that?

I work for a big corporation that swallowed up the smaller family company that I used to work for.

It’s very easy to look back at the family atmosphere of the smaller company and whine about that all being gone now.

I know because I’ve done it.

It’s not as easy to look at the positive side of working for a big corporation.

While I miss many of the good things of the past,

I find it makes my job much easier if I look at the advantages

I now have in the corporation.

Yes, it may be harder to find the positives, but they are there.

Even Moses got caught up in the negativity and it cost him entry into the promised land.

Is negativity taking a toll in your life?
What are some of the positive aspects of your current situation?
July 1, 2024

July 1st, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 3

Highlight Verse:

“Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s another banner day for the early church.

I’m certain that Peter and John had seen the lame man before as he was put there each day.

Perhaps this is the first time that he asked Peter and John for money. Perhaps this is the first time they listened to him.

I prefer to think that the Holy Spirit spoke to Peter and prompted him to heal the man.

As the commotion over the healing grew, that’s when Peter seized the opportunity and spoke to the crowd.

Because Peter listened to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and he seized the moment, His words hit home.

We find out in the next chapter that many who heard the message believed and that the church grew significantly.

All because Peter listened and acted, many were saved.

Have you heard that prompting from the Holy Spirit before?
Have you acted on it?

The effect is as simple as this; if you leave the Lord’s side, He will let you.

Exposed to the attacks of the enemy and life in general, you could feel quite vulnerable.

Then God, the Father, will abandon all reservations and run to meet you!

It is one of many precursors to the Messiah, the one who can heal all those who turn to Him.

What stuck with me, however, was not any of those things.

We could learn something from that game as the Church.

Instead of a few talented players hogging the ball, the ministry could be accomplished better as a whole team.

God strongly believes in romantic love.

He would weep.

It sounded like a war zone.

I should work toward peace.

This scripture makes the answer clear.

It’s not that simple.

For all his father’s wisdom, Rehoboam was not a wise King. He was unfaithful to God and the Kingdom of Israel suffered as a consequence.

They could have gone to Moses and begged him to ask God for water.

they knew God could provide.

How often do we do that?

I find it makes my job much easier if I look at the advantages

It’s another banner day for the early church.

All because Peter listened and acted, many were saved.