May 16, 2023

Tuesday

Stewards Who Serve

Luke 12: 42-44

²¹ His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Matthew 25:21

We often read accounts of people who provide unique service to others through philanthropic or ministry outreach to people in need, and sometimes even to their own families when a need arises. But the word steward has a different meaning, although it is thoroughly a biblical word. For example, Adam and Eve were made stewards of creation; Joseph was made a steward of Potiphar’s household in Egypt; Paul was made a steward of the grace of God.

Jesus used the idea of stewardship in His parables. A wealthy lord would give his stewards the responsibility to manage things on his behalf. Later, he would evaluate their stewardship, or the faithfulness of their service. Those who were faithful received a reward for their service to him, while those who were not faithful received no reward. All of life for the Christian is a matter of service on which we will be evaluated and rewarded—or not (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

What is the basis of your service to Christ? Is it faithfulness to Him (1 Corinthians 4:2)? If so, your faithful stewardship will surely be rewarded.

A point to ponder…

The highest honor in the Church is not government but service.

John Calvin

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Chronicles 21-24

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 15, 2023

Monday

Breaking Bread

Acts 2:40-47

⁴⁶ And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,”

Acts 2:46

Thousands of people found Christ on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, and suddenly a huge family was born in Jerusalem. Perfect strangers became instant brothers and sisters, and former foes became friends. The population of Jerusalem suddenly had a community of people who claimed citizenship in another world, and new habits formed among them. One was going to church to worship Jesus, and another was breaking bread from house to house.

These traditions have never expired. We need our larger family gatherings each Sunday as we assemble to worship Christ on the weekly anniversary of His resurrection day. We also need time with family and friends who share our values, for we draw strength from each other. Time with other believers provides the encouragement we need to be faithful in our walk with the Lord.

Do you have another believer with whom you talk and pray? Do you have a small group with whom you can fellowship and grow? These aren’t optional disciplines; they are an essential part of the Christian experience.

A point to ponder…

There is a brotherhood within the body of believers, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the common denominator. Friendship and fellowship are the legal tender among believers.

J. Vernon McGee

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Chronicles 18-20

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

May 13– May 14, 2023

Expecting the Unexpected

6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Exodus 34: 6-7

Let’s say you’ve got some unpleasant news to deliver to someone you’re worried about offending or disappointing. Maybe you need to come clean about an instance where you haven’t been exactly truthful, or you have to report the loss of an important client or contract. It could be that there’s not enough money in the family budget for that vacation you’d been planning . . . or it could be something much worse.

How do you expect they’ll take it?

You might have a guess, but you probably don’t know. Depends on the day, depends on the timing, depends on whatever sort of context or preexisting conditions you’re wading into--factors that perhaps don’t even have anything to do with you. And it depends on whether this is the first time you’ve done something like this or it’s become your usual pattern.

So you hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

But at times like these when it’s not another person but it’s God who’s on the other end of your confession--and you’ve owned the responsibility for not making the right choice or handling things well, and you’ve repented of the poor judgment that put you in this spot to begin with--you can know exactly what kind of reception you’ll receive. And it’s the same one the children of Israel received at the base of Mount Sinai.

You’ll recall the golden calf incident that occurred while Moses was on the mountain with God receiving the Ten Commandments. It wasn’t a pretty scene. Moses came down, saw what his brother Aaron had allowed to happen, smashed the tablets of the law, then ground the golden calf into powder, mixed it with water, and forced the people to drink it.

So when Moses headed back up the mountain in Exodus 34 with a new set of stone plates for God to write on, he went also with an appeal for mercy--which he delivered in verse 9. But before Moses could even say the words, our God--who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love . . . forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin”--had already declared (in verses 6 and 7!) forgiveness of the people’s sin

Witness the heart of your God for forgiveness: “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

God’s nature and disposition are not to judge but to forgive. If they weren’t, there would be no Bethlehem, no baby Jesus, no perfect life, no atoning death, no victorious resurrection, and no salvation for those who believe. Because of His loving intention toward you, His forgiveness will never run out, never run dry. He will never give up on you or renege on His promises. He will never claim to forgive you but then hold a secret grudge. He won’t recall your sin to mind and then weaponize it against you the next time you come begging for mercy.

This is what separates Christianity from every other form of religious belief in the world. In Christ, you can experience complete acceptance, full resolution, total restoration. God doesn’t want you living in shame and regret, but rather receiving His boundless grace.

Don’t let it surprise you. Come expecting the unexpected.

Points to ponder…

• What are you continuing to suffer and struggle with today, primarily because you doubt God’s heart of forgiveness toward you?
• Who in your life needs to know of your heart for forgiveness toward them? How will you express it to them?

Saturday’s Reading

2 Chronicles 9-12

Sunday’s Reading

2 Chronicles 13-17

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 12, 2023

Friday

Infinite Goodness

Psalm 7: 9-10

¹⁰ My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.”

Psalm 7:10

In 1849, Asiatic cholera spread through America. During the outbreak approximately 4,500 people died in St. Louis, 3,000 in New Orleans, and 5,000 in New York City, where many of them were buried in a mass grave on Randall’s Island. President Zachary Taylor proclaimed a National Day of Fasting, calling Americans to “humble themselves before His throne, and, while acknowledging past transgressions, ask a continuance of the Divine mercy.” He urged them “to acknowledge the Infinite Goodness which has watched over our existence as a nation, and so long crowned us with manifold blessings, and to implore the Almighty in His own good time to stay the destroying hand.”

On Friday, August 3, 1849, Americans filed into churches to unite in humility and prayer; and by the end of the month the death toll “dropped suddenly” and the plague abated.

Our world is stained by sin, filled with suffering, and subject to plagues. But there’s never a time we can’t humble ourselves before God’s throne, acknowledge our sins, and ask for a continuance of divine mercy. His all-powerful hand can preserve and protect us, and His infinite wisdom can direct our affairs. His sovereignty is the source of our strength and stability.

A point to ponder…

Things work out in our lives, not somehow, but sovereignly.

David Jeremiah

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Chronicles 6-8

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 11, 2023

Thursday

Chapter Eights: Esther 8—New Grace

Esther 8: 15-17

¹⁶ The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.”

Esther 8:16

The book of Esther describes how the Jewish people faced possible annihilation in the Persian Empire. An evil mastermind named Haman forged a plan to kill the Hebrews, but God placed Esther, herself a Jew, in the palace as queen. She and her kinsman Mordecai, with God’s help outwitted Haman, and the Jews were delivered.

Esther 8 describes the joy that flooded the Jews across the empire as they heard the news. They could defend themselves, and Mordecai, their leader, was appointed prime minister of the land. The Bible says, “And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday” (Esther 8:17).

None of us want to endure seasons of anxious stress or tense uncertainty. But after we’ve passed through the test, our sense of release and relief is like opening the windows to fresh air. We can breathe again. By God’s providence, every trial somehow returns a blessing in His time and way. Think of some of the deliverances God has given you, and let your heart be full of light and gladness, joy and honor.

A point to ponder…

When you have been through the fight, there is the wondrous joy and triumph of the feast.
Oswald Chambers

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Chronicles 2-5

I love you!!!

© 2000-2021 B. Michael Goerlich

May 10, 2023

Wednesday

Victory in Him

2 Corinthians 2: 14-15

⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

To first-century leaders in the Roman world, the imagery was familiar: A victorious Roman general returning from battle leading his soldiers and their captives into the city. Citizens lined the streets applauding while the aroma of celebratory incense filled the air. Paul uses that image to say that Christ leads His followers in a victory procession through every difficulty in life (2 Corinthians 2:14-15).

The Christian’s victory is through Christ. The victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and sin was won by the Cross and the empty tomb. He did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We have victory now and for eternity only because of the victory Christ won for us. Therefore, if we are to experience victory in this life, it will come only as we depend on Him. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, the life we now live is the life of Christ in us as we keep our faith in Him.

If you need a victory in your life, begin every day by renewing your faith in Christ in whom all our victories are to be realized.

A point to ponder…

The spiritual battle, the loss of victory, is always in the thought-world.

Francis Schaeffer

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Chronicles 28- 2 Chronicles 1

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 9, 2023

Tuesday

Confidence in Prayer

Luke 11: 5-8

¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16

The country music star Vince Gill once gave a small concert in a high school gymnasium. While he was onstage performing, a small girl made her way up onto the stage where she ran over to her daddy—Vince Gill—who scooped her up in his arms.

That little girl was not intimidated by her father’s fame, the bright lights, or the adoring crowd. She had every confidence that she was more important to her father than anything else. And she was right! That earthly illustration helps us understand the words of Hebrews 4:16—we are exhorted to come boldly, with confidence, to God’s throne of grace in prayer to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” It might be easy to be intimidated by the glory of God. But He is our Father who welcomes us, His children, into His presence.

If there is a need you’re reluctant to ask God to meet, go into His presence with confidence. His mercy and grace are there for the asking.

A point to ponder…

God’s sovereignty does not negate our responsibility to pray, but rather makes it possible for us to pray with confidence.

Jerry Bridges

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Chronicles 25-27

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 8, 2023

Monday

Standing

Acts 7:54-60

⁵⁶ And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”

Acts 7:56

The non-profit organization Open Doors published their findings about the persecuted Church from the past year. In the top fifty oppressive countries, 245 million Christians experienced high levels of persecution, and 4,136 believers were slain for their faith—an average of eleven people per day. More than 1,200 Christian buildings were attacked, and 2,625 Christians were detained without trial.¹

In the book of Acts, Stephen became the first believer to be murdered for his stand for Christ; and as he died, he gazed into heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the throne of God. Since Jesus is typically described as sitting on the throne, it makes us wonder if He stands every time the soul of a martyr ascends to glory. If so, it would appear He has stood up eleven times in the past 24 hours.

God gives the grace we need whenever we’re pressured because of our faith—whether we’re living for Him or dying for Him. Christians are God’s ambassadors in a hostile world. Take courage, be faithful, and stand for Jesus!

A point to ponder…

Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die.

G. K. Chesterton

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Chronicles 22-24

I love you!!!

¹https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/stories/christian-persecution-by-the-numbers

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

May 6 – May 7, 2023

Confident Hope

¹³ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1 Peter 1:13

It doesn’t take much to see that the whole world has gone crazy.

In the midst of so much chaos, where can we stake our hope? Exhorting us to endurance, the Apostle Peter urged us to prepare “your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The energy to live the Christian life is found in one place—in our focused, conscious choice to put our hope in Jesus. Hope is the confident expectation that something better is coming tomorrow.

As you look to the future:

Don’t set your hope on your physical health—set your hope on Jesus. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day”(2 Corinthians 4:16).

Don’t set your hope on your stuff—set your hope on Jesus. “And [Jesus] said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions’”(Luke 12:15).

Don’t set your hope on people—set your hope on Jesus. “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God”(Psalm 146:3, 5).

No leader, pastor, family member, friend, or spouse can be everything that we hope and dream he will be. People, places, and positions always let us down. Only Jesus is worthy of all our hopes and all our confidence. Maybe you find yourself a little down today. Like Peter standing on the water, the moment you take your eyes off the Lord you start to sink (Matthew 14:22–33). Lift up your eyes; set your hope fully on Jesus.

Our confident expectation is in God, who sees, knows, and will ultimately turn an upside-down world right-side up at the appearing of our Lord. Every righteous decision will be rewarded. Every wrong choice will be judged. Every motive will be revealed.

Is your faith faltering as you look at the world coming unhinged around you? Are you struggling to carry on? Do you need hope that will endure?

Set your hope fully on Jesus.

Points to ponder…

• On what might you be tempted to set your hope—your physical health, your talents, your stuff, other people?
• How can you tell if your hope is in anything other than Jesus?

Saturday’s Reading

1 Chronicles 15-17

Sunday’s Reading

1 Chronicles 18-21

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 5, 2023

Friday

Maze Daze

Psalm 102:18-22

⁴⁹ Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission.

⁵⁰ Till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven.”

Lamentations 3:49-50

Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon, California, has the largest corn maze in the world—about sixty acres of winding paths between towering stalks of corn. Every year during maze season authorities brace for 911 calls. After wandering for hours, visitors panic. “I don’t know what to do anymore,” one caller said. “We’ve been in here like four hours.” Another said, “We’re stuck, and they close at 10. We’re very worried, and we can’t find a way out.”

What a parable of life! We all encounter twists and turns, dead ends and puzzling circumstances. But if you took a helicopter over the maze, you would see a distinct route. In fact, the maze often spells out words when viewed from above. The maze is actually amazing.

If you feel lost in your circumstances, remember that God is looking down from above and it all makes perfect sense to Him. His handwriting has spelled out a perfect plan for you. Even when we don’t understand our circumstances, we can be confident in God’s grace and guidance.

A point to ponder…

We do not always understand Thy care, our Father, but Thy great hand of love always covers us. Show us Thy signature, now and then, that we may know that we are on the right road.

John Wanamaker

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Chronicles 12-14

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 4, 2023

Thursday

Genesis 8—New Beginnings

Genesis 8: 15-22

²² While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

Genesis 8:22

It’s fun to explore the Bible. Have you ever inspected all the 3:16s in Scripture? Have you noticed the sevens in the book of Revelation? Well, for our weekend devotions this month, let’s focus on some great chapter eights of Scripture, starting with Genesis 8, a story of new beginnings. Here the waters of the great Flood receded, and Noah led his family and animals onto dry land. He worshiped God, and the Lord gave him a promise: The natural order of creation, the cycles of day and night, winter and summer, seedtime and harvest, would remain stable as long as the earth endures.

Scientists marvel at the fine-tuning that allows life to function on earth. Everything about the laws of science on our planet—the atmospheric conditions and terrestrial nature—is designed to bless us. The sun rises every morning, making every day a fresh start. Look up into the sky and praise Him for His faithfulness.

A point to ponder…

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Thomas Chisholm, in his hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Chronicles 9-11

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 3, 2023

Wednesday

Ready and Willing

1 Timothy 2: 3-4

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9

A leper approached Jesus and said, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus touched the man, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed”—and he was healed (Mark 1:40-42).

That event is a beautiful example of the willingness of God. In fact, there are no instances of Jesus being asked to help or heal and Him answering, “I am not willing.” There is a place where the Bible says God is “not willing,” and that is 2 Peter 3:9. In writing about the timing of the Day of the Lord (the end of the age), Peter says God is waiting for all who will be saved to come to Him. He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Said another way, God is willing for any who want to be saved to come to Him (John 6:37; 7:37). The question is never whether God is willing but whether man is willing.

Have you responded to God’s willing invitation to come to Him?

A point to ponder…

God is far more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved.

J. C. Ryle

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Chronicles 7-8

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 2, 2023

Tuesday

Never Alone

Matthew 28:19-20

⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Hebrews 13:5

Technology now exists that allows us to track the location of a particular smartphone. Let’s say parents are concerned about their daughter driving alone back to college, in stormy weather, after a visit. Via their phone, the parents can track their daughter’s journey until she arrives safely. In case of car trouble, they know her exact location. “I’ll be there with you all the way” takes on new meaning in the digital age.

In the Old Testament, that security was expressed another way: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” That was God’s promise to the Israelites as they prepared to cross the Jordan River and move into Canaan—and face the Canaanite tribes that occupied their land (Deuteronomy 31:6). God’s presence was one of protection. But in the New Testament, the same promise of God was applied to provision. The writer of Hebrews told his readers not to be covetous but to be content with what they had. Why? Because God would be their provision. He would be with them and never leave them.

Whether you need protection, provision, or something else—you have it in the God who has promised to always be with you.

A point to ponder…

The best of all is God is with us.

John Wesley

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Chronicles 6

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 1, 2023

Monday

A Constant Invitation

Luke 15: 11-31

²⁰ And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Luke 15:20

The prodigal son was still a far way off. There was no guarantee of his repentance. Perhaps he was returning to demand more money? Yet, in this parable, we see the father rushing toward his son, as soon as he is within sight.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is compassionate. His words and power transform and heal one person at a time. Even in His rage and harsh words to the Pharisees and Sadducees, He is motivated by a heart broken over their dead faith and the heavy burdens they are inflicting on others.

Jesus proclaims His desire that no one should perish. As Christians, we not only receive Christ’s compassion for ourselves, but we also get to share it with the world through our actions and words, inviting others to experience Christ for themselves. Who will you show compassion to today?

A point to ponder…

No matter how low down you are; no matter what your disposition has been; you may be low in your thoughts, words, and actions; you may be selfish; your heart may be overflowing with corruption and wickedness; yet Jesus will have compassion upon you.

Dwight L. Moody

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Chronicles 3-5

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

April 29 – April 30, 2023

Bless this Mess

¹⁰ When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

¹¹ I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

Psalm 69:10-11

We all know what David did involving Bathsheba, the one-night stand, the cover-up, the conspiracy to commit murder . . . a really bad stretch for a guy who, up until that point, had been the model of character, valor, and unusually noble self-restraint.

What’s not as well known about this part of David’s life (since the Bible doesn’t come right out and say it, although it’s quite easy to calculate) is that he proceeded to keep his secrets hidden for roughly a year. Except for the people on the very inside, no one knew or probably even suspected the evil their king had done. And if God through the prophet Nathan hadn’t called him to account (2 Samuel 12:1-15), he’d likely have been content whistling through life with his sin undiscovered for the rest of his days.

But give him some credit. When confronted with his sins face-to-face, he didn’t balk. “David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD’” (2 Samuel 12:13). He wept and humbled himself with fasting. And if his Psalm 69 is any indication, he “made sackcloth [his] clothing” (Psalm 69:11) --the common Old Testament uniform of the remorseful and repentant.

Sackcloth and ashes. What kind of person, especially someone of David’s public stature, would be willing to walk around in such an embarrassing state of shame and confession? What kind of person, exposed in scandal, even goes so far as to write a personally unflattering song about his sin (Psalm 51), baring the pitiful weakness of his own soul, so that people can stand up and sing it in church?

The only person who does it is someone who’s sick of the lies, who’s sick of the cover-up, who doesn’t care anymore what he looks like or what anybody else thinks about him. He’s adopted a new and radical rejection of externals. Instead of being so careful and cautious with his defenses, he’s now indiscriminate in his confessing. No more filter. No one’s left to wonder what really happened or what this person was really like, because he’d be the first to tell you. Yes, I did it. I was like that. I hate it, and I wish I’d hated it more then, but I don’t mind you knowing it now.

Wow. Sound too messy for you? Too revealing? TMI? Would you never dream of letting people in on some of the things you’ve done and how you’ve failed?

Then maybe you’re not truly repentant yet . . . because when you’re genuinely repentant, you have a strong need for letting people know who you really are. In fact, that part--the telling part--is not the part that sounds so messy to you anymore. What’s messy to you was all that wasted time, all the tactics you deployed and juggled to avoid being exposed, all while knowing full well exactly who you were and what was actually going on.

That’s the freedom that only repentance can generate. “For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment” (2 Corinthians 7:11)! When you’re finally ready to “clear yourselves”--to give an explanation of the truth, to set the record straight without concern for reputation or fallout--that’s when you’ll know God is doing something in you that no hard-hearted person would allow. Something you’d never have done before. Something that only happens to people who’ve been truly saved, truly changed, and are truly His.

Points to ponder…

• What would be a modern-day equivalent of “sackcloth and ashes”?
• Repentance is messy. What happens when a church doesn’t want to be a messy place? How can you help contribute to ensuring that the culture in your church is one where even the messiness of repentance is embraced?

Saturday’s Reading

2 Kings 23-25

Sunday’s Reading

1 Chronicles 1-2

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 28, 2023

Friday

Don’t Be Conformed

Psalm 119:11

² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:2

We’ve all used the phrase “cookie cutter” to describe things other than cookies: cookie-cutter houses, cookie-cutter apartments, cookie-cutter customer service solutions, and cookie-cutter haircuts on new military recruits. In other words, the design is set and applied in every instance so the results are according to the design—like when star-shaped cookies all look the same.

The English Bible translator J. B. Phillips used the cookie-cutter idea in his paraphrase of Romans 12:2: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.” The world (empowered by the devil) wants to conform every person into a godless image. Instead, we are to renew our mind with God’s Word daily so we can resist the pressures of sin, the world, and the devil.

The truth of the Bible is our protection. It defends us against being made into a cookie-cutter image of the world.

A point to ponder…

The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.

D. L. Moody

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 20-22

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 27, 2023

Thursday

Emmaus Sunday

Luke 24:13-35

³² And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

Luke 24:32

Some of the best-known words in Christian hymnody were penned by John Newton in his poem, “Amazing Grace”: “I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.” Many Christians have expressed similar sentiments upon believing in Christ: “I finally saw Christ for who He really is.”

One wonders whether John Newton had in mind the experience of two followers of Jesus on the day of the Resurrection. The resurrected Christ joined them on the road to Emmaus, though they didn’t recognize Him. They expressed confusion over events in Jerusalem, how the leaders had put Jesus to death. So “beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). As they broke bread together, “their eyes were opened and they knew Him” (verse 31).

Have your eyes been opened to the reality of who Jesus is? Don’t let this Easter season pass without encountering Jesus through faith in Him.

A point to ponder…

The heavens declare Thy glory, Lord, in every star Thy wisdom shines; but when our eyes behold Thy Word, we read Thy Name in fairer lines.
Isaac Watts

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 18-19

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 26, 2023

Wednesday

Permanent Joy

Acts 5:40-42

¹⁶ Rejoice evermore.

¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.

¹⁸ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Through the modern musical era in the West, there have been many songs written about happiness—but fewer written about joy. Most people would see those two subjects as synonymous but, biblically speaking, they are not. And the Bible puts far more emphasis on joy than on happiness. “Joy” and “rejoice” occur more than four hundred times while “happy” and “happiness” and similar words occur slightly more than twenty times.

What is the difference between the two? Generally speaking, happiness is an emotion that is dependent on circumstances. Joy, on the other hand, is a deep-seated conviction that is based on truth and faith, not circumstances. Joy is specifically listed as part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Paul illustrates the permanence of joy when he writes, “Rejoice always . . . in everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Some things in life don’t create happiness or laughter. But the conviction that God is in the midst of our circumstances can lead to joy and contentment. Even if our circumstances lead to tears, “joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

Don’t let anything steal your joy. Trust in the Lord, be filled with His Spirit, and trust His sovereign will for your life.

A point to ponder…

Doubt breeds distress, but trust means joy in the long run.

C. H. Spurgeon

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 15-17

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 25, 2023

Tuesday

Joy of Discovery

1 John 1: 3-4

¹⁶² I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.”

Psalm 119:162

Among new platforms and pursuits made possible by the digital revolution and smartphones, one of the most interesting is geocaching. Think of a treasure hunt—there are millions of “treasures” (caches) hidden by people all over the world. When you get directions via your smartphone and find the treasure, you make a record of your presence and leave the treasure for others to find and enjoy.

In the case of geocaching, the joy is more in the pursuit than in the treasure itself. Still, participants love the experience. The idea of a treasure map has always been the anticipated joy in discovering the treasure. In that way, the Bible is like a treasure map leading to the discovery of truth-based joy. In fact, the psalmist rejoiced at the anticipation of finding “great treasure” in God’s Word. And what is the treasure? Salvation, security, the promises of God, instructions for living a joyful and godly life—who wouldn’t rejoice at discovering such treasures?

The joy of discovery awaits all who read and obey the Word of God. Don’t miss out on that joy by failing to know His Word.

A point to ponder…

The more reverence we have for the Word of God the more joy we shall find in it.

Matthew Henry

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 12-14

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 24, 2023

Monday

In the Presence of Royalty

Psalm 73: 25-28

⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”

Philippians 4:5

A few years ago, when Queen Elizabeth II visited a children’s charity in London, she met nine-year-old Nathan Grant and his adoptive parents. He was dressed for the occasion in a suit and tie. With cameras running, the boy was star-struck and overwhelmed. He suddenly fell to all fours, crawled away from the Queen, and exited with a nervous “Bye!”

Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the presence and glory and demands of a holy God, and we’re tempted to crawl away and exit through the door. But in Jesus Christ, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and when we behold His glory, we are filled with grace and truth.

Try to develop the habit of practicing the presence of the Lord Jesus. By His Spirit He is with you constantly, and the Holy Spirit even dwells within you. Christ is a sanctifying influence in our lives as we realize who He is and what He has called us to be. Learn to frequently whisper to yourself, “Christ is with me, around me, inside me.” Learn to be comforted by His royal presence.

A point to ponder…

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise.

St. Patrick

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 9-11

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

April 22 – April 23, 2023

The Way God Wins

¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

¹⁴ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

¹⁵ And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 2:13–15

When God wins, He wins big time! We’re not talking an overtime, squeak-it-out victory. And we’re not talking about a soccer game where there’s a shootout win because one ball dribbles in, but otherwise it would have been a tie. God doesn’t operate like that. When He wins a battle, His victory is decisive.

As God was pouring out His wrath on His Son, we were there in His mind. From each painful step to Calvary, to His last breath on the cross, Jesus was taking on the ultimate battle—“the rulers and authorities” who were waving “the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.”

Satan had an open-and-shut case against us; left to ourselves, we were toast. But Colossians 2:15 declares that when Jesus won the victory on the cross, “He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” When it came to settling our eternal destiny, God wasn’t offering an obligatory “good game.” He was triumphing over the principalities and powers, including the enemy himself: “You lost! Just like I told you!” That’s the way God wins.

Long before the cross, the Israelites who escaped the bondage of slavery witnessed one such victory. Imagine their joyful shouts when they looked back and saw the miraculously-parted Red Sea close over the Egyptian army in hot pursuit. “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously . . . ” (Exodus 15:1). Game over!

Some two-thousand years later, after what looked like a devastating defeat by the enemy, came the ultimate triumph: “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:6). Neither death nor the grave nor Satan’s plans stood a chance against the risen Savior!

Today, Jesus lives to further His victory through the lives of His followers. In fact, “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). In Christ, we aren’t just conquerors, we’re super conquerors—because God doesn’t just win, He crushes the enemy (Romans 16:20). That’s why you don’t want to take on this battle yourself. It is the reason the transaction at the cross was entirely out of our hands.

Jesus took on your debt, your sin, your condition, and defeated the condemning, eternal hold those things had on you. Because of His death and resurrection, all who trust in Christ for salvation are granted a place in the conquering band that will rejoice in His victory forever!

Consider your battles in light of this truth. Express your heart to the Lord and pour out your adoration. Every day we have the ultimate reason to celebrate.

Points to ponder…

• How does the concept of victory fit the way you think about your relationship with Christ?
• Where does the truth that “we are more than conquerors through him”need to intersect your life today?

Saturday’s Reading

2 Kings 4-5

Sunday’s Reading

2 Kings 6-8

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 21, 2023

Friday

Are Your Pots Holy?

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

²¹ Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts…”

Zechariah 14:21a

Even the most basic duties of life—like cooking a meal or washing the dishes—should be an act of holiness, for our entire lives are to be characterized by purity, reverence, service, and a desire to glorify God in all we do. How can we cultivate such a holy lifestyle?

Nothing will bring holiness to our lives like studying God’s Word. Psalm 119, the longest chapter of the Bible, reveals the change that comes over diligent Bible students. According to this chapter, when we devote ourselves to the daily study, memorization, meditation, and obedience of Scripture, we learn how to cleanse our way (verse 9); we avoid sinning against God (verse 11); we are inwardly revived and strengthened (verses 25, 28); our hearts are enlarged (verse 32); our eyes turn away from worthless things (verse 37); and we are comforted in affliction (verse 50).

Nothing can compare to the habit of meeting with God over His Word each day. All it takes is a Bible and a dedicated time (and maybe a pen and notebook). Don’t miss this blessing!

A point to ponder…

You and I can walk in obedience to God’s Word and live a life of holiness.

Jerry Bridges, in The Pursuit of Holiness

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 1-3

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 20, 2023

Thursday

Win-Win

Philippians 2: 1-4

¹¹ And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”

John 17:11

Most young children eventually encounter the “heads I win, tails you lose” trick. It’s a lose-lose situation, a coin-flip that can only benefit one party—and it’s not them! Eventually, they learn that the best kind of negotiation is one in which everyone benefits: a win-win situation for all.

Christ’s final prayer for His followers would result in a win-win for all involved. First, He asked the Father to protect His disciples from the world in which He was about to leave them. He asked that they might “be one as We are [one].” Surely, Church unity would be a win for believers: peace, harmony, love, and fellowship. But secondly, the unity of the Church would be a benefit for the world that would be antagonistic toward the Church. Christ said that through the demonstration of their loving unity, the Church would cause the world to see the character of the Savior who came to save the world—a win-win, for the Church and the world.

Do all you can to be part of God’s answer to Jesus’ prayer. Do all you can to strengthen the unity of the Body of Christ.

A point to ponder…

Unity is the essence of the body of Christ.
R. B. Kuiper

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Kings 21-22

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 19, 2023

Wednesday

The Stranger of Galilee

Psalm 5: 11-12

¹⁷ And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?”

Luke 24:17

The two disciples of Jesus were downcast as they trudged home from a Passover gone terribly wrong. Their Lord had been slain on Friday. Saturday had been a miserable Sabbath as they were unable to return to the comfort of their homes, and on Sunday they began the journey to Emmaus, discussing the tragic events.

A Stranger joined them and asked, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” The Stranger proceeded to give them a tour of the Old Testament, showing them God’s plan of redemption. He explained from the Law, Prophets, and Psalms how the Messiah had to die and rise again. Arriving in Emmaus, the Stranger revealed Himself. They had been walking with the Risen Lord!

The greatest encouragement we will ever know is the encouragement of knowing the Christ who rose on Easter Sunday. He walks with us and talks with us and tells us we are His own. What indescribable joy is ours—to know our Risen Savior.

A point to ponder…

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing / eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!

Alfred H. Ackley, in the hymn “He Lives!”

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Kings 18-20

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 18, 2023

Tuesday

Since We Have Hope

2 Corinthians 3: 12-18

¹² Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:”

2 Corinthians 3:12

In his book On Losing Faith, Filipino artist Danny Sillada said, “Perhaps the most humiliating condition in life is when you no longer feel that there’s still someone or something worth waiting for and that, worst of all, no one or nothing’s waiting there for you in the twilight of your existence.” That’s a sad perspective—just the opposite of how we feel as Christians! With the hope of Christ and His eternal life, we can say:

• Since we have such hope, we are optimists and eager for the future.
• Since we have such hope, we deal with the troubles of life by focusing on the eternal joys of heaven.
• Since we have such hope, we go to sleep every night with confidence in heaven and awaken each morning eager for the Lord’s return.
• Since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech and look for every opportunity to share with others the reason for the hope within us.

Because Christ is alive, we have a certain hope that carries us through life on earth to heaven above.

A point to ponder…

Where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present.

John Maxwell

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Kings 15-17

I love you!!!

2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich