Walk in the Light

October 15, 2024

October 15th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 13-14

Highlight Verses:

“and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before— do not listen to them. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There have been many respected people who have lead people astray from the Gospel with convincing arguments and enticing promises.

Some have even “proven” their authority by miraculous signs.

But let’s be very clear, if their words disagree with the Word of God, they are at best, wrong, and at worst, purposely trying to keep people out of heaven.

Do you know the Word of God well enough to tell when someone is trying to lure you away from devotion to God?
What are some things that could attempt to lure you away from pure devotion to God?
October 14, 2024

October 14th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 18

Highlight Verse:

“Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭18‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you know that Paul was a working man?

His profession allowed him to work almost anywhere. Leather working tools could be carried with him as he travelled.

It also enabled him to make friends with people like Priscilla and Aquila.

During his extended stays in Athens and Corinth, he was able to support himself with his profession.

Most ministers of the Gospel are not full-time pastors.

The gospel is best spread by ordinary people.

Yes, what Paul did in bringing the Gospel to the world was extraordinary.

But he was an ordinary guy.

Did you know that you have the same qualifications to spread the Gospel as Paul?
What opportunities for spreading the Gospel are available in your ordinary life?
October 13, 2024

October 13th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 21-22

Highlight Verse:

“You must have refused water for the thirsty and food for the hungry.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭22‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In light of yesterday’s reading, it was easy to notice that the sins that Eliphaz falsely accuses Job of revolve around not being generous.

The idea that selfishness is sin agrees with Jesus’ teaching in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37).

Eliphaz was just ranting incorrectly about Job, but his rantings reflected the importance of generosity in Hebrew culture.

That generosity is rooted in God’s Word from the start.

That generosity is still what God expects from us today.

What do you think God expects from us regarding generosity?
How are you doing in fulfilling that expectation?
October 12, 2024

October 12th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Hebrews 5:11-14

Highlight Verse:

“Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Last Sunday we were treated to a message from Andy Stanley.

He pointed out that

Jesus didn’t call people to be more spiritual but to be more mature.

As today’s verse implies, he pointed out that maturity is not ME focused, but WE focused.

That is the biggest difference between right and wrong.

Is your faith focused on yourself or others?
What are some ways that we can focus on others instead of ourselves?
October 11, 2024

October 11th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Zephaniah 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“They will receive the wages of their pride, for they have scoffed at the people of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One of the things I love about America is we get to vote for who we believe will best represent us in government.

But I can’t stand election season.

Everywhere I turn, there are ads declaring how terrible the other person is.

Sadly, a lot of those ads work on a lot of people.

I wouldn’t mind the season so much if the ads were both positive and honest.

But the worst part is when Godly people are painted as monsters out to take away your rights.

I’d like to say that those people get what they deserve.

Instead, unfortunately, the whole country suffers when they succeed as the consequences of ungodly policies take effect.

How can we rise above the battle? Ignore the mudslinging and vote your values.

Has negative campaigning had an effect on your voting?
How can you reduce the amount of scoffing of the godly in our land, especially in election season?
October 10, 2024

October 10th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelation 11

Highlight Verse:

“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One of the questions I keep in mind when I read the Bible is “How does this affect the way I should live today?”

The answer today is that I can live with hope and confidence.

No matter how bad this world gets, I know who wins in the end – Jesus!

That makes me want to invite as many people as I can to the winning team.

Nuff said.

Does this chapter give you hope or fear?
Why?
October 9, 2024

October 9th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – Nehemiah 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.”
‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT

When I read this, I picture Nehemiah praying face down before God for days straight.

Maybe he did.

Maybe he was working and only prayed and fasted while off-duty.

Whatever he did, he did it with passion, giving his all to bring the plight of his country before God.

He waited 6 months to be bold enough to show his sorrow before the king.

I believe he prayed every day during that entire time.

And God answered by giving him favor with the king.

What would happen if we prayed with that same intensity and consistency for our country?
How about we try it and find out?
October 8, 2024

October 8th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 11-12

Highlight Verse:

““Your children didn’t see how the Lord cared for you in the wilderness until you arrived here.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Our children didn’t have our experiences.

No matter how many times we tell our kids stories of how God has shown Himself faithful in our lives, they did not experience those stories themselves.

We should still tell them those stories, instruct them, and guide them to God.

But we also need to let them experience the faithfulness of God.

They need to have their own stories to strengthen their faith.

It’s a tough line to tread between protecting them and letting them experience life.

I pray God will guide us while we walk that line.

In what ways have you tried to get your kids or others to understand your experiences?
How have you helped them, or others find their own experiences?
October 7, 2024

October 7th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 17

Highlight Verse:

“For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭17‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I once attended a service at a church that reached out to refugees from a certain country I will refrain from naming.

There was a potluck buffet dinner after the service.

It was mayhem.

The culture of that country had no concept of lines.

The pastor, an acquaintance of mine, warned me of this cultural difference ahead of time.

He worked within their cultural norms in order to reach them with the Gospel.

Paul was sensitive to the cultures of the places he wanted to reach with the Gospel.

He did his homework and used his knowledge of the culture to help him reach the people of that culture.

When he got to a point in his preaching that the majority could not grasp, they stopped him.

Nevertheless, he reached several people in Athens.

Those started the trend that, a couple centuries later, brought a majority of Greek people to Christianity.

In what areas do you reach beyond cultural lines?
What are you doing to better understand those cultures?
October 6, 2024

October 6th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 19-20

Highlight Verse:

“And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!”
‭‭Job‬ ‭19‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Some say that resurrection is a New Testament concept.

Job just blasted that theory out of the water.

Yes, it’s true that Job spent much of this chapter blaming God for what Satan did.

But that doesn’t negate the fact that Job or at least the writer of Job had a concept of the resurrection long before Jesus was resurrected.

I for one, take comfort in that.

Do you believe in resurrection?
Are you looking forward to it?

But let’s be very clear, if their words disagree with the Word of God, they are at best, wrong, and at worst, purposely trying to keep people out of heaven.

Did you know that Paul was a working man?

The gospel is best spread by ordinary people.

But he was an ordinary guy.

The idea that selfishness is sin agrees with Jesus’ teaching in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37).

That generosity is rooted in God’s Word from the start.

That generosity is still what God expects from us today.

Jesus didn’t call people to be more spiritual but to be more mature.

As today’s verse implies, he pointed out that maturity is not ME focused, but WE focused.

But I can’t stand election season.

How can we rise above the battle? Ignore the mudslinging and vote your values.

The answer today is that I can live with hope and confidence.

That makes me want to invite as many people as I can to the winning team.

Whatever he did, he did it with passion, giving his all to bring the plight of his country before God.

I believe he prayed every day during that entire time.

What would happen if we prayed with that same intensity and consistency for our country?How about we try it and find out?

Our children didn’t have our experiences.

We should still tell them those stories, instruct them, and guide them to God.

He worked within their cultural norms in order to reach them with the Gospel.

He did his homework and used his knowledge of the culture to help him reach the people of that culture.

Those started the trend that, a couple centuries later, brought a majority of Greek people to Christianity.

Some say that resurrection is a New Testament concept.

Job just blasted that theory out of the water.

I for one, take comfort in that.

What would happen if we prayed with that same intensity and consistency for our country?
How about we try it and find out?