Walk in the Light

January 14, 2023

January 14th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic – Justice

Micah 6:8

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8 NKJV

This was listed as one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s favorite Bible verse. It has been one of my favorite verses since my college days.

Micah reminds us that God does not want religion but an active faith. Do, love, and walk are active verbs for an active faith.

With an active faith, one can change the world!

How is your faith lived out in your actions?

How does one “do justly?”
January 13, 2023

January 13th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Isaiah 4-6

Highlight Verse –

“What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.”

Isaiah 5:21 NLT

It is the tendency of those of us with OCD to see the way we do things as the only correct way. We are wise in our own eyes.

Then I read this verse.

Ouch!

Okay, I know there are other ways to do things. But I can’t bring myself to do them any other way. That’s okay. But when I see other people do things differently, biting my tongue is not enough.

I have to refrain from thinking my way is better and I’m so clever for thinking of it.

The struggle is real!

But pride is a sin that I have to repent from daily. I’ve come a long ways but I have a much longer ways to go.

Do you struggle with pride?

Have you come up with any great ways to deal with OCD? (Please share!)
January 12, 2023

January 12th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Romans 2

Highlight Verse –

“No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.””
‭‭Romans‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To put this in context, Paul just spoke about hypocrisy. Particularly, he addresses the error of teaching people not to do something and then doing it.

There’s a little hypocrisy in each of us. Paul reminds us how important it is to fight against that tendency. When people see that in us, they see our faith as fake. We may try to explain that we are only human but our hypocrisy robs us of our credibility.

Don’t get me wrong. We are saved through grace by faith alone, not by anything we do short of putting our trust in Jesus.

But, when we do the things that go against what Jesus taught us, we put a stumbling block between others and our faith.

None of us are perfect, but we strive to bring those we love into the faith that brings eternal life.

For me, that is my deepest desire and my greatest regret when I fall short.

Have you known people who shun faith because of what they have seen Christians do?
How do you live your life before others in a way that attracts them to faith?
January 11, 2023

January 11th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Joshua 4-6

Highlight Verse –

“So the men did as Joshua had commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there.”

Joshua 4:8 NLT

A few weeks ago, we were in Nebraska and decided to visit my wife’s late husband’s grave. The stone bore testimony to the life he lived on Earth and the life he now lives in heaven. That’s the first thing I think of when I hear the word memorial.

I have been to Washington DC and seen the many memorials to the men and women who built this country. They bring our history alive.

The memorial Joshua had built went beyond that.

It was intended to teach future generations about the greatness of God and His faithfulness to His people.

What kind of memorials to God do we build today?

For me, the answer to that is in my writing? Even in my fictional writing aimed at general audiences, my ultimate aim is to get people thinking about God and Faith in Him.

What are your memorials?

How would you like to be able to teach future generations about God and His faithfulness?
January 10, 2023

January 10th, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Genesis 2-3

Highlight Verse:

“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.”

Genesis 3:8 NLT

The first thing I thought when I read this verse was, How amazing would that be to walk in the same garden as God Himself!

And then they hid.

They knew they had crossed the line. They had betrayed the trust that God had put in them.

God knew it.

But they hid anyway.

Isn’t that just like us.

When we mess up, the last thing we tend to want to do is spend time with God.

In fact, that’s when a lot of daily devotions go off the rail.

People don’t want to face God and the Bible and be reminded how far from perfect they are.

Let’s face it. Not one of us is perfect.

But we have something that Adam and Eve could only dream about – the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.

So when we mess up, what can we do?

Get right back to trusting Jesus. Trust His sacrifice to cover that sin. And get back into the Word and prayer so you can see the next one coming and do your best to avoid it.

How do you handle it when you mess up?

What steps can you take to get back on track?
January 9, 2023

January 9th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

John 2-3

““How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.”

John 3:9 NLT

Have you ever been confused by what the Bible says?

Have Jesus’ teachings left you befuddled? You’re not alone. Even Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish council, was confused at Jesus’ words.

Let me ask you one more question.

Would it be really be faith if you fully understood before you believed?

I’ve been studying the Bible my whole life (which is getting to be a fairly lengthy amount of time) and I still have questions about things I don’t quite understand. But, over 45 years ago, I decided to take a leap of faith and follow Jesus. I found that life that Jesus tells Nicodemus about.

I’m pretty sure Nicodemus found that life too since he was there to help temporarily bury Jesus’ body after the crucifixion. I plan on having a conversation with him when I get to heaven (after I speak with Jesus, of course).

Do you have questions about Jesus’ teachings that would keep you from trusting in Him?

What would it take to get beyond those questions and into faith?

If you have a strong faith, what got you beyond those questions to a place of trust in Him?
January 8, 2023

January 8th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Psalms 4-6

“Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.”

Psalms 4:4 NLT

Some versions read, “In your anger, don’t sin.” Surprisingly, the newest version of the NIV reads “Tremble and don’t sin.”

I was going to make this commentary about anger but when I dug into it, this is a good time to say a few things about Bible versions.

Let me lead off with the fact that I believe that the Bible in it’s original texts was the inspired, infallible Word of God. While those original texts no longer exist, there are far more early copies of those originals than any other writing of those eras. Therefore, today’s translations are remarkable accurate and the differences are almost entirely in presentation rather than meaning.

I see two main reasons for differences in today’s translations.

First, the source texts used. Some, use source texts found long ago but date to a later time. Some use more recently found texts that are very early.

Second, the target audience. The King James Version was translated for the well educated people of England in the 17^th century. The NLT was translated to be understood best in 21^st century North America. Some of the latest versions of several translations have been altered to not offend. The NirV is translated into simple language that beginning readers can understand.

The question then becomes, which translation do we trust most?

When I want to dig deeper into the meaning of a passage, I will read several versions of it as well as commentaries about that passage. There are several good websites that have commentaries as well as many Bible commentary books you can buy.

Before, during, and after those studies, I ask God to show me what He wants me to learn from them. Usually He does.

How do you go about studying the Bible?

Any tips you would like to offer the rest of us?
January 7, 2023

January 7th, 2023

Saturday – Open topic – New Beginnings

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

New Beginnings.

New year, new you. That’s what they say. Have you broken any resolutions yet?

Why is it, when we set about to make positive changes in our lives and blow it, we get stuck there and leave those resolutions behind. It reminds me of my favorite couple of verses in Lamentations.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

Did you hear that? Fresh every morning!

I went to college when I was young. I ran out of money and started a career instead of completing my degree. Then in my thirties I went to Bible college – until my wife started threatening to leave me because she was freaked about being a pastor’s wife. In my forties, she left me and moved to Colorado.

I was at rock bottom.

I had friends who loved and supported me, but I knew I had to leave them if I wanted an active part in my daughter’s life.

So why would you listen to this college drop out who couldn’t keep his marriage together?

Because God gave me a new start in Colorado. He has blessed me with an awesome wife and three more kids. He has given me an active role in the lives of children and youth in church. He is developing my writing life. I am blessed beyond measure.

I am not saying this to brag on me. My life is not perfect. I have plenty faults and failures I’m trying to work beyond.

But I can tell you beyond the shadow of a doubt that His mercies are new every morning.

No matter how many time’s you’ve failed, you can move forward, leaving the past behind. God can forgive you for every time you fail and bless and grow you in every faithful decision!

So, whether you’re in that place of already blowing off that New Year’s resolution or you decided not to bother since you knew you’d break it anyway, know that you can move forward with God’s mercy full of new life. Take it one day at a time and God will bless your faithfulness.

Are you struggling to keep your resolutions or reach your life goals?

Are you tempted to quit trying?

What do you think would happen if you never quit, despite momentary setbacks?

Note: For Saturdays, I will be picking verses that are appropriate to the season or current events. The readings will be very short but my commentaries may be longer (and might just appear in my blog as well).

If you have a suggestion for a passage to read on any given Saturday or are interested in writing a commentary for any day (preferably under 200 words for regular days and 400 words for Saturdays), please message or email me at least 48 hours before the day you would like to write on.
January 6, 2023

January 6th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Isaiah 1-3

“Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.”

Isaiah 2:8 NIV

Isaiah is passionate about bringing his people back to the Lord. He lays it on thick, not holding back. And no wonder when you find out that the people of Israel have been worshipping idols.

Usually, when I see the concept of idol worship applied to today, we talk about the things we desire or what we idolize.

What struck me today was the people were not just worshipping their idols, they trusted them.

They thought they could get what they wanted or needed by worshipping these sculptures of silver and gold.

While most of us don’t worship statues, we tend to put our trust in things that have little value in the light of eternity. That retirement account won’t pay the bills in heaven. That house is a gift from the one who provides for you. It is not the provider.

God is!

God provides us with many things. They are blessings to be used to bless us and others. Don’t trust in them, trust in the One who provided them.

Does it make you anxious to think about not having certain things in your life?

Have you ever experienced having to put all your trust in God because you had nothing left?

How did that work out for you?
January 5, 2023

January 5th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Romans 1

“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I long to go to Rome. My motives are not as awesome as Paul’s, though. I just want to see the historical buildings and art.

Maybe I’m not as mission minded as Paul.

Or maybe my heart is focused closer to home. I hope to make my children strong, to be a spiritual leader for my wife and family, to lead the boys of my youth small group. I hope to inspire you all as well.

Back in the 80’s there was a cooking show called Yan Can Cook. Martin Yan would start each show with “If Yan can cook, so can you!”

At the risk of infringing on Martin Yan’s copyright, if Richard can minister, so can you!

I believe that every believer can be a minister. You may not be called to pastor a church, but you can lead and inspire people in your sphere of influence. I also believe that God can expand your sphere of influence.

Where do you feel called to minister?
What will it take to make that happen?

New Beginnings.