Walk in the Light

August 8, 2023

August 8th, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Okay, what mom doesn’t think that their baby is special?

In case you didn’t read the context, Pharaoh had commanded that all the Hebrew baby boys be throw into the Nile after birth.

His previous order to the midwives to kill all the baby boys at birth had gone ignored.

We are not told for sure how well this order was followed. It is implied that baby Moses’ case was the exception.

In his case, Pharaoh’s decree was followed. They just added the little boat to keep baby Moses afloat.

God and Moses’ mother arranged it so that Moses could survive to save his people.

Do you think that still happens today?

I do.

I’m not saying that those who die early had nothing else they could do with their lives. Tragedies happen. Lives are cut far too short.

I cannot explain why, in some situations, God allows people to pass from this world far too soon.

I can say that there are times when God intervenes and protects people from harm or death. I’ve heard far too many amazing stories to think otherwise.

I am certain that we don’t always know when that happens.

For that reason, I firmly believe that

we should take each day as a gift

and take every opportunity we can to make a difference in this world.

Have you or someone you know seen supernatural protection that saved you or them from injury or death?
In what ways can you treat each day as a gift from God?
August 7, 2023

August 7th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is John the Baptist speaking. The way he lived was radically repentant of sin.

If you’re wondering, locusts and wild honey were considered “clean” food.

Does that mean that we all need to live in the wilderness and eat locusts and wild honey.

Umm… NO!

But he did say “repented of your sins and turned to God”. That doesn’t mean we can be perfect. It does mean that we should be living our lives in a way that brings us closer to God and further from sin.

If we do that, people will see it and know that there is something different about us.

If they can’t tell the difference between us and those who are not living for God, we’d better take a closer look at what repentance means.

Can people tell that you are trying to live a life turned toward God?
What do you think repenting of sins should look like?
August 6, 2023

August 6th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 95-98

Highlight Verse:

“Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭96‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I find it ironic that it takes a really old song to remind us to keep making new music.

I truly believe that music is near and dear to God’s heart.

Throughout the Bible, music seems to pop up spontaneously. Not just in the Psalms and the Song of Solomon but in spur of the moment songs by Moses, Miriam, David, and Mary among others.

Years ago, we had a foster child. We had just visited my Mom and little brother. Everyone was tired. We climbed in the car and proceeded to bicker at each other until we decided that instead of arguing, we’d just listen to some worship music.

45 minutes later, the album ended as we were stuck in a bad traffic jam near home. It was a situation that could have sparked more argument. But we were happy. We even talked to other motorists as the traffic had come to a complete halt as they cleared an accident a mile ahead.

When we let it, music has power to soothe and comfort, inspire and encourage.

We worship and invite the Holy Spirit to join us in giving praise to God.

If you read this Sunday morning, I encourage you to join with a local church and bring that music to life.

If that’s not possible, at least turn on some music and sing a new song to the Lord!

Have you ever experienced the same kind of mood restoration from music?
What kinds of music brings about the best results for worship and mood lifting for you?
August 5, 2023

August 4th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Matthew 14:22-33

Highlight Verse:

““Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I used to think that Jesus was the only person in history to walk on water.

I was wrong.

It says so right here. Peter walked on the water toward Jesus.

True, he lost sight of Jesus when he saw the wind and the waves and freaked out and started to sink.

He wasn’t perfect.

The only perfect person in all of history was Jesus.

Peter lost sight of Jesus in that moment. He messed up other times as well. But, in the end, he had a huge impact on he world.

We lose sight.

But if we are bold enough

to do the incredible things Jesus asks of us, we can make a huge impact as well.

Are there incredible things that Jesus has asked of you?
Have you been bold enough to do those things?
Will you be bold now?
August 4, 2023

August 3rd, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 25-27

Highlights Verse:

““For the past twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, until now—the Lord has been giving me his messages. I have faithfully passed them on to you, but you have not listened.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭25‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Talk about a frustrating career!

No matter how much you warn, plead, argue, or persuade – people will make their own choices.

Obedience would not exist without free will. If you could force someone to follow your advice, they would be your robot rather than your loved one.

Jeremiah’s responsibility was to get the message of God out. How the people respond to it is not his responsibility.

Likewise, when someone we love is not following Jesus, we have the responsibility to make them aware of the Gospel by what we do and say. As long as we do that in grace and love, our loved one’s response is not our responsibility. A negative response may be painful, but at least it’s a response.

It’s important that we keep speaking to God about them.

I believe that it is also just as important to live out God’s love to that person rather than just constantly bug them.

Do you have someone close to you who does not follow your advice?
Does that discourage you?
August 3, 2023

August 3rd, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 11-13

Highlight Verse:

“I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You might think that Paul is putting on false modesty when he says he is an unskilled speaker. But he was known to ramble on all night, putting some people to sleep. (Acts 20:7-12).

But it was he who brought the Gospel to much of known civilization.

It was he who was one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament.

He was the perfect example of qualifying the called rather than calling the qualified.

So what did he have that made such a big difference?

He was willing and passionate.

That passion turned into action. That action changed the world.

What is one skill that you think you’re not good at?
Do you understand how a weakness in God’s hands, could be used to change the world?
August 2, 2023

August 2nd, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 21-22

Highlight Verse:

“David went to the town of Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he saw him. “Why are you alone?” he asked. “Why is no one with you?””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ahimelech’s simple question, asked in two ways, speaks volumes about David.

It was so unusual for David to be alone that the priest trembled when he saw it.

If you read on, you know that David lied to Ahimelech to try to protect him. That was a tactic that didn’t work. Saul was so crazy with envy and rage that he had the priests at Nob killed.

That was the kind of desperate situation that David was in.

Saul’s insanity and the way David handled it is why so many people gathered around him. It’s what launched his reign as king when Saul finally died.

The key thought for me is that David was a natural leader. For that reason, he almost always had people around him.

It wasn’t because he came into power and told people to follow him. It was because he unselfishly led people that they followed him.

What does it take for you to want to follow someone?
How do you know if God has called you to be a leader?
August 1, 2023

August 1st, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 49-50

Highlight Verse:

“So Joseph and his brothers and their families continued to live in Egypt. Joseph lived to the age of 110.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭50‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT

Here’s a silly question –

Why?

Joseph lived in Egypt for many decades. Most of that time, his extended family was there too.

Why didn’t they go back to the promised land when Joseph, a powerful man in Egypt, was still alive?

Their land claims would have still been fresh. They could have resettled the land without much conflict.

Instead, the people of Israel chose to stay where it was comfortable. Egypt supported them as long as Joseph was alive. They had a good gig. They didn’t want to give it up.

Isn’t that just like us. We get comfortable and we don’t want anything that would challenge that comfort.

Let that go on too long and we end up just like the Israelites, gradually enslaved and trapped.

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone to do the right thing at the right time?

How did it turn out?
July 31, 2023

July 31st, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 1-2

Highlight Verses:

“That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In a sense, the flight to Egypt was a repeat in form of the people of Israel living in Egypt in Genesis.

Hosea appears to be talking about the people of Israel in the Matthew’s quote here, but it could just as easily prophetically refer to Jesus or both Israel and Jesus.

What’s more important here is that God provided for the protection of Jesus.

The gifts of the Magi gave Mary and Joseph the means to escape Herod’s paranoid wrath.

Joseph’s prophetic dream gave them the knowledge they needed to escape that wrath.

God gave Joseph great insight and wisdom in order to protect his young step-son. Joseph proved faithful to follow that insight.

Hebrews tells us that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I believe He still gives miraculous insight today if we will take the time and give the attention to God.

To your knowledge, has the guiding voice of God saved you from peril?
How did you know it was God who protected you?
July 30, 2023

July 30th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 92-94

Highlight Verse:

“You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.”

Psalms 92:4 NLT

I love this translation of this verse because it captures the excitement of realizing all the God has done for you.

Most translations use the term made me glad instead of thrill. That may be technically more accurate, but then –

Have you had that moment when you realize that you no longer have to carry the guilt of every shameful thing you’ve done?

Have you experienced that still small voice guiding you when your intellect and wisdom fall short?

Have you experienced the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit?

I think “thrill” is an appropriate translation.

I know not everyone has experienced that thrill. I do not mean to invalidate their faith. If that’s you, by all means, join in the song of praise.

For those who have experienced the thrill of God’s working, you have all the more reason to sing for joy!

In what ways have you been thrilled by God?

What keeps your faith solid between the thrills?

Okay, what mom doesn’t think that their baby is special?

God and Moses’ mother arranged it so that Moses could survive to save his people.

we should take each day as a gift

Does that mean that we all need to live in the wilderness and eat locusts and wild honey.

If we do that, people will see it and know that there is something different about us.

I truly believe that music is near and dear to God’s heart.

When we let it, music has power to soothe and comfort, inspire and encourage.

I was wrong.

But if we are bold enough

No matter how much you warn, plead, argue, or persuade – people will make their own choices.

I believe that it is also just as important to live out God’s love to that person rather than just constantly bug them.

But it was he who brought the Gospel to much of known civilization.

He was willing and passionate.

It was so unusual for David to be alone that the priest trembled when he saw it.

The key thought for me is that David was a natural leader. For that reason, he almost always had people around him.

Why didn’t they go back to the promised land when Joseph, a powerful man in Egypt, was still alive?

Let that go on too long and we end up just like the Israelites, gradually enslaved and trapped.

What’s more important here is that God provided for the protection of Jesus.

I believe He still gives miraculous insight today if we will take the time and give the attention to God.

Have you had that moment when you realize that you no longer have to carry the guilt of every shameful thing you’ve done?

I think “thrill” is an appropriate translation.