Walk in the Light

March 26, 2024

March 26th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 18-19

Highlight Verse:

“So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭18‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Apparently, peer pressure was a thing even back then.

They might not have known what FOMO (fear of missing out) was, but they experienced it.

Just because it’s in Leviticus doesn’t mean it isn’t at least somewhat appropriate today. Most of today’s reading is very relevant still.

Yes, we have forgiveness from all sin, but some sin has more profound consequences than others. Some sins affect our mental, emotional, and/or physical health. Most sin affects those around us as well.

Most of the rules put forth in these two chapters are very advantageous to follow today.

What do you think are the most important rules in these chapters?
What if any rules do you think are not applicable today?
March 25, 2024

March 25th, 2024

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 13

Highlight Verse:

“About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I used to think that Pilate was misunderstood. He tried to save Jesus but was pressured into crucifying Him.

This verse makes it pretty clear that Pilate wasn’t exactly a nice guy.

Yes, highlighting a seemingly random statement may have pulled my attention away from the main points of this chapter.

But it’s there for a reason.

It’s one more precursor to what will happen to Jesus at Jerusalem.

This chapter is full of them. The Hebrew leaders are incensed at Jesus healing on the Sabbath. In a parable, the owner of a house rejects those to whom he has closed the door. Jesus laments for Jerusalem.

And right at the beginning, Pilate murders people who were worshiping God.

Jesus knows what’s coming. But He loves us enough to keep on teaching us.

Were you surprised at this mention of Pilate nine chapters before Jesus’s trial before him?
What else stood out to you about this chapter?
March 24, 2024

March 24th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 19

Highlight Verse:

“People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I know this one to be true because, frankly, been there – done that.

We’ve all done foolish things. The hard part is recognizing who is responsible for the consequences.

I know it was my foolishness that put me through hard financial times. And I’m sure I played a part in the end of my first marriage.

While I never lost faith in the Lord, I did have my share of grumpy prayers and “why me”s.

Fortunately for me, grace has brought me out of those situations, strengthened my faith, restored my finances and given me an amazing wife.

Do you have stories of how God restored you from your foolish acts?
Can you share them (while keeping appropriate confidences)?
March 23, 2024

March 23rd, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – John 12:12-19

Highlight Verses:

“The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!””
‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

They cried out Hosanna!

What a scene it must have been.

People laying down their coats and palm branches before Him as Jesus triumphantly rode a donkey into Jerusalem for the Passover festival.

Joy and expectation were in the air!

The Messiah had arrived!

In one scene from that day, when the religious leaders asked Jesus to quiet his followers, he said that if they didn’t shout out, even the rocks would cry out in praise.

Maybe it would have been better if they had.

At least the rocks wouldn’t turn on him in the space of a few days.

But then most of the people were not truly believers in Jesus. They believed in a Messiah who would come and drive the Romans and other unbelieving foreigners out of Judah and re-establish David’s throne. They cried out “hosanna” which means “save us.” It was a chant with which you would greet a military hero.

Jesus came not for a military coup but for a spiritual coup.

He came to set people free from spiritual captivity into true freedom, not just in Jerusalem but throughout the world and for all time.

Have you cried out “hosanna” to the Messiah?
Do you know Jesus’ true purpose in Jerusalem that day?
March 22, 2024

March 22nd, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Daniel 5-6

Highlight Verses:

“Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’m not sure my first words to the person who locked my in a lion’s cage overnight would be to the effect of “Live long and prosper.”

But Daniel is a man of grace and integrity – much more so than I.

In fact, he is so confident in his integrity that he makes a point to say “I have not wronged you.”

And he didn’t. He meant no disrespect by praying to and worshipping God.

He willingly submitted to the punishment for that unfair law.

And God honored him for it by taming the lions while he was in the lion’s den.

Have you ever disobeyed a law because it was contrary to the will of God?
How did that work out for you?
How can we improve our integrity to the point where we wouldn’t even think of doing the wrong thing?
March 21, 2024

March 21st, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Hebrews 11

Highlight Verse:

“All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I find it easier to have faith when things are bad than when they are good.

When things are bad, I find that I have to turn to God because I can’t get through it on my own.

When things are good, I find myself thinking I can do anything myself.

How wrong could I be?

All the people in this chapter saw adversity and overcame it by faith.

None of these people saw the object of their faith while they were still on Earth. The good news of Jesus had yet to make its story know. But they all trusted God to get them through it.

I have the advantage of arriving on this earth after Jesus appeared. I have the Bible to show me the way to God.

I have witnessed enough miracles that I know that God can do anything.

I will witness much more.

Does your faith grow stronger in adversity?
Do you find yourself thankful for where your faith has brought you?
March 20, 2024

March 20th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Kings 18-20

Highlight Verse:

“When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,”
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭20‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Isaiah had just told Hezekiah that he was going to die soon. That’s tough news to take.

Hezekiah did exactly what I would have done. He cried out to God.

Here’s the part that stood out to me…

God heard him and acted on his prayers.

Despite the prophecy, God healed Hezekiah and protected him from attack by Assyria!

God is sovereign and will act according to His will. But He listens to his children and allows them to influence His will.

This happened long before Jesus came to earth.

It happened when Jesus was here.

It still happens today!

If you could influence God’s will (and you can), what would you want Him to do?
Have you witnessed prayer change impossible situations? Share your stories!
March 19, 2024

March 19th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 16-17

Highlight Verse:

“The purpose of this rule is to stop the Israelites from sacrificing animals in the open fields. It will ensure that they bring their sacrifices to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle, so he can present them to the Lord as peace offerings.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love the fact that Scripture explains the purpose behind this particular rule.

More often than not, the rules are not explained.

From this explanation I infer two things.

First, there are reasons behind each and every rule found in Scripture.

Second, the reason for this particular rule no longer exists. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross did away with the sacrificial system including the need for priests who continually offered sacrifices.

Those of you who know me personally know that I’m not very legalistic. If there isn’t a compelling reason to keep a rule, I say to ditch it.

But then there’s often reasons that we never figure out.

I know I say it often but it’s true. God knows way more than we do so it is always better to trust His viewpoint rather than our own.

When His viewpoint is expressed in Scripture, it is always best to follow that viewpoint unless it is superseded by a later Scripture (like the sacrificial system was replaced by God’s grace through faith by the Cross).

What rules from the Bible do you believe are still for today?
What rules do you think are no longer appropriate for today?
March 18, 2024

March 18th, 2024

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 12

Highlight Verse:

“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you truly believe this verse, it is so freeing!

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to go to heaven any earlier than my appointed time. I truly want to live long enough to get to know my future grandchildren. I also don’t think my job here on Earth is finished. I try to do what I can to prolong this earthly life.

But I also know that this life is but a tiny drop in the bucket of eternity and life will go on in heaven.

Therefore, fear has no hold on me.

Can you embrace this idea?
Why or why not?
March 17, 2024

March 17th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 18

Highlight Verse:

“Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Haughtiness goes beyond pride. It is when one considers themselves superior to others.

It’s easy to think, “That doesn’t apply to me.”

But whenever we think that someone who does or believes something different than us is an idiot, we are living the very definition of haughtiness.

Right now, that is the prevailing atmosphere of the political world.

When someone disagrees with what we think is glaringly obvious, our minds default to them either being evil or stupid.

The truth is, I’ve known some very intelligent people who have completely different views from me on faith and politics.

I happen to think that they are wrong.

But I also know that none of us have the whole picture and if we finally get to see the big picture from heaven, we’ll each likely have to adjust our thinking.

Until that day, I’ll firmly stand behind what I believe.

But I’ll give others the freedom to believe as they do without belittling them in my words or thoughts.

When it comes to faith, I will do everything I can to help them understand the Good News of Jesus.

What is your default mode with those who disagree with you – to belittle them (if only in your thoughts) or to try to understand them and help them understand your point of view?
Have you tried finding common ground with those you disagree with?

They might not have known what FOMO (fear of missing out) was, but they experienced it.

Most of the rules put forth in these two chapters are very advantageous to follow today.

This verse makes it pretty clear that Pilate wasn’t exactly a nice guy.

Jesus knows what’s coming. But He loves us enough to keep on teaching us.

I know this one to be true because, frankly, been there – done that.

Fortunately for me, grace has brought me out of those situations, strengthened my faith, restored my finances and given me an amazing wife.

What a scene it must have been.

The Messiah had arrived!

Maybe it would have been better if they had.

Jesus came not for a military coup but for a spiritual coup.

I’m not sure my first words to the person who locked my in a lion’s cage overnight would be to the effect of “Live long and prosper.”

In fact, he is so confident in his integrity that he makes a point to say “I have not wronged you.”

He willingly submitted to the punishment for that unfair law.

I find it easier to have faith when things are bad than when they are good.

I have witnessed enough miracles that I know that God can do anything.

Hezekiah did exactly what I would have done. He cried out to God.

God is sovereign and will act according to His will. But He listens to his children and allows them to influence His will.

I love the fact that Scripture explains the purpose behind this particular rule.

I know I say it often but it’s true. God knows way more than we do so it is always better to trust His viewpoint rather than our own.

If you truly believe this verse, it is so freeing!

But I also know that this life is but a tiny drop in the bucket of eternity and life will go on in heaven.

But whenever we think that someone who does or believes something different than us is an idiot, we are living the very definition of haughtiness.

But I’ll give others the freedom to believe as they do without belittling them in my words or thoughts.

When it comes to faith, I will do everything I can to help them understand the Good News of Jesus.