Walk in the Light

August 28, 2023

August 28th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 7

Highlight Verse:

““Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What does it mean to not throw your pearls to pigs?

I recently saw a Facebook post with some inaccurate historical information that made Jesus look like a phony.

My first inclination was to refute the false information while expressing compassion for the person who posted. They had suffered severe church abuse when young.

I prayed about it.

I sensed something dark behind the post and the comments and decided not to stir a fire of pent up anger against the church.

Let me be clear. I do not consider the poster to be a pig.

The demonic forces behind their abuse and resultant anger are what I consider to be swine.

There have been and will be times when I can express God’s love to this person. That will be far more effective at reaching them than a Facebook comment war.

We as Christians can be very quick to argue for the Lord. We see falsehood and want to shoot it down before it causes any damage.

Sometimes that’s a good thing.

Often we do more damage than the original falsehood.

A good rule of thumb is to bite your tongue (or keyboard) until after you have prayed it through. After that, do what you believe God would have you do.

Have you ever posted or said something in defense of Jesus that you later regretted because it was taken wrong?
Have you ever successfully argued in defense of Jesus? (Having the person stop replying should not be considered a success).
August 27, 2023

August 27th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 105-106

Highlight Verse:

“Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough?”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭106‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Some years ago, I was at a music festival in Northern Colorado. It was evening and everyone gathered around the main stage for a time of worship and hearing from the Word of God.

One minor problem – a massive thunder storm was headed straight for us.

Someone onstage prayed that the storm would not hit us. I am sure that thousands in the crowd were praying the same thing.

Some would call it chance that the storm split in two. Rain and lightning struck to the north and the south. The festival grounds stayed dry.

Coincidence? I don’t think so.

It was a miracle that happened in plain site that most people never noticed.

I believe there are many miracles that happen in plain site that we never notice. There is no way we could ever see all the miracles that happen around us.

This verse expresses our praise for those things we do not see.

Have you experienced miracles that were hidden to everyone else?
Share your stories here.
August 26, 2023

August 26th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Highlight Verse:

“The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.””
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If I had to be a metaphorical body part, I would probably want to be the eye.

Definitely not the feet.

Maybe that’s because mine tend to hurt.

Or maybe it’s that odor drifting up from them after a hard day’s work.

Regardless, my feet are an essential part of my body. Without them, it would be far more difficult to get around – and my job requires a lot of walking.

Likewise, different people in the church have different roles. Some are more visible. All are essential.

I wouldn’t want to attend a church that had no one tending to the janitorial duties. Nor would it be good to have no one taking care of the toddlers.

Okay, you all know this, but I’d like to take it a step further. You can debate this theologically, but I believe this chapter also applies to different churches.

Many bemoan the fact that there are so many denominations.

I say we make the most of our differences.

The church I attend is very evangelistic, bringing many thousands to Jesus over the years.

Some churches go deep into theological teaching building up people with deep rooted faith.

Some churches appeal to those who relate to a quiet worship style. Some are far from quiet.

While it is true that I won’t agree with every theological detail of every church, if they are bringing people to Jesus, we’re on the same team.

“In the essentials unity, in the non-essentials diversity” is a motto I can relate to.

We would do well as a community of churches to practice more of that unity.

We should be building on each other’s strengths and holding each other up in our weaknesses.

Have you found your role within the church?
Have you found a church body where you can thrive in that role?
August 25, 2023

August 25th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 34-36

Highlight Verse:

““Therefore, this is what the Lord says: Since you have not obeyed me by setting your countrymen free, I will set you free to be destroyed by war, disease, and famine. You will be an object of horror to all the nations of the earth.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭34‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As far as I’m concerned, you can keep that kind of freedom!

Seriously, though, God has given us freedom. We can do whatever we want whenever we want.

But that doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences.

We may choose to free ourselves from the path God directs us down, but we need to be aware that when we do that, we take ourselves out of a zone of protection that God provides along that path.

You may ask me, “why then do people who are faithful to God suffer and die?” That is a very good question. The standard answer is that we live in a fallen world and the death and evil in this world can affect anyone in it.

That seems to contradict what I said above about the zone of protection.

Perhaps it is better put like this, when we deliberately stray from God’s path, we invite negative consequences.

When we stick to God’s path, bad things can still happen, but that’s the exception, not the rule.

For example, if you consistently drive at double the speed limit, at best, you invite an expensive speeding ticket. It is also very likely that you will have an accident that could cost far more than mere money.

If you drive at the speed limit, you are very unlikely to get into an accident.

But that doesn’t mean you will never get hit by that person doing double the speed limit.

Bottom line, life is better along the path that God guides you down.

Have you had to deal with the heavy cost of straying from God’s path?
Have you told God lately how grateful you are for the protection over your life so far?
August 24, 2023

August 24th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Galatians 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Glenn is retired now. When I first met him, he was a pastor of a church in North Carolina and involved in the leadership of the denomination I was in. He later became the supervisor for the whole region. Then the president of the denomination.

The older he got and the higher position he attained, the more his kindness shone through.

He not only helps those he knows, but he actively seeks out how he can help people he doesn’t know.

Now that’s how to get over self importance.

Have you tried turning accolades into opportunities?”
Have you ever been the one whom people call “Mr. Nice Guy?”
August 23, 2023

August 23rd, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 27-28

Highlight Verse:

“David did not leave one person alive in the villages he attacked. He took the sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing before returning home to see King Achish.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭27‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

To do these commentaries, I read the passage first thing in the morning.

Over the course of the day, I pray about it and dwell on it and try to determine what verse or verses I should highlight and comment on. Then, before bed, I sit down on the comfy sofa in our basement and make that selection and write and post my comments.

Sometimes it’s a struggle. Tonight was one of those times.

What stood out to me today was David’s cruel raiding of villages, not leaving any survivors.

But, I didn’t want to comment on it.

I didn’t want to highlight David’s cruelty.

I told God as much.

He told me that was the point.

David was not just a an excellent king later on.

He had a dark side.

At times, that side took over, such as his days of cruel raiding.

You would think that God would reject someone like that.

Instead, God gave him compassion and wisdom.

This cruel raider becomes the “Man after God’s own heart.”

If God could do that much with a cruel raider, imaging what he can do through you and me!

Have you ever felt like you’ve messed up too much to be God’s chosen leader?
Did you know that God can use whomever he wants to?
August 22, 2023

August 22nd, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 5-6

Highlight Verses:

“Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!””
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever had one of those Exodus 5 moments when you try to do everything right but nothing seems to work?

In fact, the very moment you take that bold action for the Lord, it seems to backfire and make things worse.

What Moses didn’t realize in that moment was that God was using every apparent setback to set up for the greatest victory in Israelite history.

Without that resistance from Pharaoh, Israel may have escaped, but it wouldn’t have been that resounding victory that it was.

Not every setback will result in resounding victory for you and I. But, with the tenacity of Moses and Aaron, it could.

Remember, when things look the bleakest, that’s often when breakthrough is about to come.

Have you experienced breakthrough in the midst of apparent failure? Share the story!
Are you in the middle of a desperate situation? Tell us and the rest of us will lift you in prayer to help start the breakthrough.
August 21, 2023

August 21st, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 6

Highlight Verse:

“Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Whenever I read this verse, I think back to a friend in college who had built up an impressive book collection. He was very protective of his books until one day.

He had a dream that he went to heaven, got his heavenly mansion, and found that it had a very small library. He asked God why his library was so small when he loved books so much. God replied, “Those are all the books that you loaned out that never got returned.”

After that he became very generous with his book collection.

I don’t know how theologically correct that story was.

I do know there are no trailer hitches on hearses and he who dies with the most toys doesn’t win, they take just as many worldly goods with them as the beggar on the streets.

One thing I hope will make it to heaven with me is all the people whose lives I touch.

I don’t care if I ever receive thanks from them. I just want to know that I made a difference .

Whether the effect came from a personal relationship or as a result of me serving or giving, I believe God will grant me the blessing of that knowledge.

What do you hope to bring with you to heaven?
If it is something you believe God will grant, what are you doing now to make it happen?
August 20, 2023

August 20th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 103-104

Highlight Verse:

“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A thousand years before Jesus, David already had a good understanding of the redemptive work of God.

In this single verse, David recognizes that we mess up and that God is able to remove our guilt from us.

As far as east is from the west is an expression that presupposes that east and west never meet. Therefore our guilt is so far gone, we’ll never see it again.

This verse is in the middle of a Psalm of praise in which David lists many amazing attributes of God, any one of which is worthy of praise.

Understand the amazing gifts of God starting with Jesus’ sacrifice that paid the price for all we’ve done wrong, past, present, and future. Then you will have plenty of incentive to praise Him.

Does dwelling on the attributes of God, especially His forgiveness, make you want to bring Him praises?
Have you ever found yourself taking His grace for granted? Did it result in you praising less?
August 19, 2023

August 19th, 2023
Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – James 3:1-12

Highlight Verse:

“Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s back to school time.

Did you know that my first choice of career was going to be that of a teacher?

Things didn’t work out so well for that. In college, money was running out and I wasn’t selected for the education program I was trying to get into for my senior year.

I could have changed schools and easily gotten an education degree and certification. But I chickened out and went for a career that was available and didn’t require spending a ton more money on another year of college.

That worked out well for me.

And I still get to teach in a very important way.

I’ve had the privilege of teaching children and youth at church for many years now.

I often get asked if I get nervous speaking in front of a large group of students. Honestly, I don’t – except for two things.
- My main concern is that I rightly present the teachings of God to them.
- Secondly, I want to be sure that I’m living out the things that I teach.
I know that if I live differently than what I teach, it not only negates the teaching but it may irreparably damage the faith of those who trusted my words.

That’s a burden I never want to live with.

In what ways have you been given the opportunity to teach?
Have you been able to stay faithful to your teaching?

What does it mean to not throw your pearls to pigs?

I prayed about it.

Often we do more damage than the original falsehood.

One minor problem – a massive thunder storm was headed straight for us.

Coincidence? I don’t think so.

If I had to be a metaphorical body part, I would probably want to be the eye.

Many bemoan the fact that there are so many denominations.

We would do well as a community of churches to practice more of that unity.

But that doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences.

But that doesn’t mean you will never get hit by that person doing double the speed limit.

Bottom line, life is better along the path that God guides you down.

Now that’s how to get over self importance.

He had a dark side.

This cruel raider becomes the “Man after God’s own heart.”

Have you ever had one of those Exodus 5 moments when you try to do everything right but nothing seems to work?

Without that resistance from Pharaoh, Israel may have escaped, but it wouldn’t have been that resounding victory that it was.

Remember, when things look the bleakest, that’s often when breakthrough is about to come.

One thing I hope will make it to heaven with me is all the people whose lives I touch.

A thousand years before Jesus, David already had a good understanding of the redemptive work of God.

It’s back to school time.

And I still get to teach in a very important way.

I know that if I live differently than what I teach, it not only negates the teaching but it may irreparably damage the faith of those who trusted my words.