April 17, 2023

Monday

Diversity and Unity

Ephesians 4: 3-6

⁷ But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:7

To illustrate the Trinity, some have suggested a three-leaf clover; others offer the three points on a triangle. Some say the three forms of water—as liquid, ice, and steam—reveal the essence of “three-in-one.” But all these suggestions fail to illustrate the biblical notion of the Trinity’s diversity within unity.

Interestingly, in a passage where Paul refers to the members of the Trinity—one Spirit, one Lord, one God the Father (Ephesians 4:4-6)—he illustrates diversity and unity. The members of the Trinity are in unity, yet they are diverse in their ministry. And Paul uses that illustration to appeal to unity among Christians. We are called to be unified as a Body of believers, yet we are also called to manifest the unique grace given to us as a gift. The human body is a unity, yet all its parts are diverse. And so is the Body of Christ.

Are you blending your unique grace-gifts into the Body of Christ in a manner that strengthens the unity of the Church?

A point to ponder…

You have a unique position in the body of Christ, with an ability to minister as no one else can.

John MacArthur

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Kings 12-14

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

April 15 – April 16, 2023

Shouldering the Government

⁶ For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

“And the government shall be upon his shoulder.”

Why is this simple sentence such good news? Because human government is flawed and failing. Even in our country, the system is broken; the purposes set out in the Constitution are not always being accomplished. In all human government motives are suspect and hearts are sinful. Instead of a constantly improving society, we have a continually deteriorating one.

If the sad answer to “What’s wrong with human government?” is “Almost everything,” we desperately need an answer to “Who’s going to fix it?”. And that answer is found in this verse written thousands of years ago, prophesying two advents—one of which has already happened.

Although human government has its place, the church’s hope must be always and only in the promises of God. He said a child would be born—a Son would be given—and two thousand years ago in Bethlehem the child was born exactly as prophesied. That was the first advent. But Isaiah also tells us that Jesus will come again, this time to reign in power. That will be the second advent, for which we wait eagerly as God’s children.

Jesus Christ is going to return to earth, and He will establish a kingdom of permanence, promise, perfection, and power. This kingdom—this government—will be upon His shoulder. No wonder the apostle Paul calls this our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13)!

In Isaiah 9:7 we are told, “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” God will not bring about this kingdom just because He can (His ability), or even because He said He would (His integrity). God tells us that His most foundational attribute which will bring about His government is His zeal—the fact that He cares with holy passion about doing it.

We use the term shoulder to describe carrying weight. Asking someone to “put your shoulder into it” is a call for extra effort. “A shoulder to lean on” implies physical and emotional support. And if we “don't think we can shoulder that,” it’s just too much for us.

But nothing is too much for the Lord. Not only will Jesus Christ completely shoulder the government of His kingdom with permanence, promise, perfection, and power; He will do so with absolute sovereignty and glory to spare. This is the second advent we await, to which the first advent drew us nearer.

The baby born in Bethlehem will come again as King. And this time the government will be forever and finally upon His shoulder.

Points to ponder…

• What are some of your disappointments in human government and how does the reality of God in your life overcome them?
• What are some things you need Jesus to shoulder today? Pour out your heart to Him over these matters.

Saturday’s Reading

1 Kings 8-9

Sunday’s Reading

1 Kings 10-11

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 14, 2023

Friday

Spiritual Heredity

John 17: 20-23

³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

John 13:35

As parents and grandparents, neighbors and relatives, gather ‘round a newborn, one of the first topics of discussion is usually, “Who does the baby look like?” Sometimes the family resemblances are immediate; sometimes they appear in time—especially likenesses based on personality and temperament.

It’s expected that biological children will manifest likenesses of others in their family tree, whether in appearance or personality. And the same thing is true—or should be true—when it comes to children of God. When Jesus gave His disciples a new command to love each other, He also gave them a reason: By such love, all the world would know that they were His followers (John 13:34-35). And the same is true for us. The world will know we belong to Christ when we demonstrate His love. Love is the only familial marker Jesus mentioned that would tell the world of His followers’ spiritual heritage.

When we demonstrate Christlike, unconditional love—especially to those who don’t know Jesus personally—we are telling the world to whom we belong. The longer we live with love toward others, the better idea the world will have of who Christ is.

A point to ponder…

The business of the church is to demonstrate God.

Bruce Hurt

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Kings 6-7

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 13, 2023

Thursday

Palm Sunday

Revelation 19: 11-16

⁹ And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:”

Mark 11:9

t’s hard to know which travels faster: good news or bad news. Sometimes, the same news is both good and bad depending on who hears it. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11), it was good news to Lazarus’ family but bad news to those who opposed Jesus since it would only increase His popularity.

The same happened shortly thereafter when Jesus entered Jerusalem and the crowds hailed Him as the Son of David who came in the Name of the Lord. But His entrance was bad news for those seeking to stop Him. Palm Sunday, the day we commemorate Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem, was a foreshadowing of the day He will arrive, not on a donkey but on a white horse. It will be good news for those who have loved His appearing but bad news for those who refuse to bow before Him as King of kings.

On this Palm Sunday, remember the good news that Jesus Christ is coming to judge the nations and establish His Kingdom for all who believe in Him.

A point to ponder…

The subject of the second coming of Christ has never been popular to any but the true believer.
Billy Graham

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Kings 3-5

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 11, 2023

Tuesday

In His Word

Psalm 119: 8-96

³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”

John 8:31

According to Architectural Digest, the most expensive private home on earth is in Mumbai, India—a 400,000-square-foot tower owned by Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man. It requires 600 employees to maintain the residence. Every floor is the height of two floors, giving it lofty ceilings. It contains a garage for 168 cars and has 3 helipads on the roof. Super-fast elevators whisk family and friends up and down the tower.

But there’s a far better house each of us can afford. Jesus told us to abide—to live in, to dwell, to settle down and be at home—in His Word. His Word has 66 rooms, all with a clear view of eternity. Its foundation is anchored into the truth of God, and its front door is the cross of Christ.

When we receive Jesus as Savior and begin studying our Bibles each day, trusting His Word and obeying His commands, we are abiding in His Word. And as we abide in His Word, we are learning to abide in Christ. That’s the best address in the universe.

A point to ponder…

The way to get back to reading the whole Word of God, and to reading it with understanding, is to live in Bible territory—to regulate one’s life and experience in every detail by God’s revealed law.

Oswald Chambers

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Samuel 22-24

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 10, 2023

Monday

Bear This in Mind

Ephesians 4: 25-32

²⁷ Neither give place to the devil.”

Ephesians 4:27

Deputies in Placer County, California, received a call of a break-in in progress in a local home. Racing to the scene, they caught the thieves in the act. It was a mother bear and her cub, ransacking the house for snacks. The bears had trashed the place, but the officers managed to chase them out of the house and send them on their way “with a stern warning.”

The Bible says Satan is like a prowling wild animal, seeking to ransack our lives (see 1 Peter 5:8). We need to lock him out of our habits, bar him from our thoughts, and guard our attitudes, lest we give him a foothold. We must beware of his schemes and resist him.

We can be victorious over Satan because of Christ’s death on the cross. The power of the living Christ provides protection for us, but we must be vigilant. Is there any area of your life that gives the devil an open door to tempt or trouble you? Bear down on that area and make up your mind to claim victory with the power of the Cross.

A point to ponder…

We don’t have to yield to the power of Satan. We can be victorious over him. Christ has defeated him once and for all.

David Jeremiah

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Samuel 19-21

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

April 8 – April 9, 2023

Rules of the Road

¹² And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

¹³ To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”

Deuteronomy 10: 12–13

Rules, some say, are made to be broken. And while you might not be the kind of person who’d say that (or mean it, at least), we all tend to question whether some of the rules we’re forced to follow are simply capricious or arbitrary and generally not founded in reason.

In some cases, of course, this is probably true. Cars traveling at 40 MPH, for example, might be just as safe and sensibly driven as ones following the posted 30 MPH speed limit on any given stretch of road. But someone in authority made a decision so, hey, that’s the way it is.

Please, though--do not extend this same line of thinking to God’s holy decrees in Scripture. Everything He’s said to us has its basis in His unique, all-knowing wisdom. The Bible is not a bunch of made-up opinions which, if God had been in a different mood one day, He might have configured in some other fashion. Life on Earth is not a sociological experiment. It is governed by its Creator, who perfectly understands everything about it--everything about us--and who in His mercy has given us His Word as the Manufacturer’s specifications for human happiness.

So, when you hear the word sin--when you’re contemplating caving to a familiar temptation, when you’re building your case for why one little indulgence couldn’t possibly hurt--I hope you’ll hear something else instead. I hope you’ll hear sin to mean any action (or any failure to take action) that goes against God’s loving plan for human flourishing. Sin is not another pointless regulation that, if it wasn’t there, would make your life a whole lot easier and less stressful. The reason God doesn’t want you and sin to ever occupy the same living space is “for your good,” not a random restriction to your freedom.

When our church was designing a new worship center for one of our first buildings, my idea all along had been that we should remove the columns obstructing people’s view. I didn’t want all those posts interfering with the open floor plan we were hoping to create. One problem: those columns weren’t there for decoration; they each served an important, stabilizing purpose. We couldn’t just cut them out--or at least not if we wanted the building to stand. If we ignored the laws of physics and the rules of reliable architecture, people would eventually be hurt. By the fallout.

God is the Structural Engineer of the universe. Our thoughts are not His thoughts, and we will not always understand His ways. But hear this: Sin is sin for a reason. Disobedience is painful for a reason. The problems that come about from the failure to be a person who, as Isaiah 66:2 says, “is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” aren’t the random, backhanded slap of mere coincidence. We either follow the Manufacturer’s specs, or we suffer the consequences.

Guaranteed.

Points to ponder…

• How have you experienced the “for your good”reality of God’s Word, both by what He commands us to do, as well as what He commands us not to do?
• How does meditating on God’s goodness and greatness help you to submit to His precepts even when it’s difficult?

Saturday’s Reading

2 Samuel 13-15

Sunday’s Reading

2 Samuel 16-18

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 7, 2023

Friday

Joy Now and Forever

Philippians 4:4

¹¹ Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Psalm 16:11

Why are patients willing to endure grueling weeks of chemotherapy? Why is a young couple willing to tighten their belts and their budget for two years? Why are some members of the military willing to undertake months of taxing training? It’s because of what lies ahead: physical health, freedom from debt, and achieving a goal.

The same question could be asked of the apostle Paul: Why could he write a short letter to the Philippians and mention “joy” and “rejoice” over a dozen times while incarcerated in a Roman jail? What gave him such a perspective—that it is possible to have joy and endurance in the midst of hardship? It is because we are future focused. Our eternal life begins when we come to know God through faith in Jesus Christ (John 17:3). We are living now in the future. The joy we will know on the new earth (Revelation 21:1-4) is the joy we can know today.

If you know Christ as Lord and Savior, you have been born from above to eternal life. Let eternal pleasure bring you fullness of joy today.

A point to ponder…

Only to sit and think of God, O what a joy it is!

Frederick W. Faber

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Samuel 8-12

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 6, 2023

Thursday

Resurrection and the Life Sunday

1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18

⁴ When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”

John 11:4

It’s a question we usually hear from children as they contemplate the death of a loved one: “Why did Grandpa have to die?” It’s one of those questions that is totally reasonable yet hard to answer in childlike terms.

There are biological and biblical reasons people die. But it’s a theological reason that gives us the most comfort: Death is for the glory of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. When Jesus heard that His friend Lazarus was ill, He waited several days before visiting, by which time Lazarus was dead. But it was what He said when first hearing the news of Lazarus’ illness that helps us most: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God.” Just as Jesus displayed God’s glory by raising Lazarus from the dead, so His glory will be revealed when we are raised from the dead as well.

The promise of Scripture is that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. All who believe in Him, though they die, will live to the glory of God (John 11:25-26).

A point to ponder…

Bless God that there is in us a resurrection life, and that there awaits us a resurrection morning!
J. J. Bonar 

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Samuel 4-7

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 5, 2023

Wednesday

Life to the Fullest

Romans 6:20-23

²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

An author wrote an op-ed in The New York Times entitled, “Would You Want to Live Forever?” She said, “Our time here is but a blip, and when we leave, the great world continues to spin. As such, the appreciation of our own lives has much to do with the ever-increasing awareness of its relative brevity. It is this—an awareness and acceptance of our own mortality—that makes us human. And it is the impetus, I’d argue, for living our lives to the fullest.”¹

This is the viewpoint of secularism. We aren’t here long, and there is nothing beyond the grave. So accept it and live it up while you can.

Nothing could be further from the Gospel truth. According to Scripture, eternal life begins the moment a person enters a relationship with the everlasting God through Christ. The Bible says, “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Notice the tense of the verb—is. The Bible doesn’t say, “The gift of God will be…” but “…is eternal life.”

We live life to the fullest, not because we are dying, but because we are truly living in Jesus.

A point to ponder…

Eternal life does not begin with death; it begins with faith.

Samuel Shoemaker

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Samuel 1-3

I love you!!!

¹www.nytimes.com/2018/11/15/learning/would-you-want-to-live-forever.html

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 4, 2023

Tuesday

Undistracted

Hebrews 12: 1-2

35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.”

1 Corinthians 7:35

If you’re traveling through the village of Mantua in northeast Ohio, don’t drive with a dog in your lap. Determined to stop distracted driving, the police are aggressively issuing tickets for texting and for driving with an animal sitting on one’s lap. All around the world, new laws are being written to address distracted driving. In the U.S., approximately nine people are killed and more than one thousand injured each day in crashes involving a distracted driver.

It’s also important to let nothing distract us from a driving faith in Christ. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race set that is before us.” Jesus warned us that if we aren’t careful, the “cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches” can choke the work of the Word of God in our lives (Matthew 13:22).

When we live according to God’s plan, nothing can distract us. Every day provides a fresh opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the Lord and live with single-minded devotion to Him.

A point to ponder…

I learned early in sports that to be effective—for a player to play the best he can play—is a matter of concentration and being unaware of distractions, positive or negative.

Coach Tom Landry

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 28-31

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 3, 2023

Monday

Pleasing God

Hebrews 13: 13-17

⁵ While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Matthew 17:5

Who do you most want to please? Your spouse? Your parents? A teacher or coach? When we admire someone, we want to please them. Jesus said, “The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29).

Just as Jesus desired to please His Father, we should seek to please Jesus. The book of Hebrews gives us two specific ways of pleasing Him. First, He is pleased when we trust Him with our burdens and exercise faith in Him. Hebrews 11 says, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him” (verses 5-6).

Second, according to Hebrews 13, the Lord is pleased when we are generous and share with those in need: “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (verse 16).

Is there something you need to commit to God in faith? Is there someone who needs your act of kindness today?

A point to ponder…

It should be our greatest desire to please our Redeemer.

R. C. Sproul, in Pleasing God

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 25-27

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

April 1 – April 2, 2023

Choice Considerations

¹⁹ Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Romans 14:19

Life is full of gray areas, choices that individuals or families can make--and even biblically defend, whichever side of an issue they may come down on.

The drinking of alcohol, for instance, is one of those debatable areas. On one hand, numerous verses in the Bible, particularly in Proverbs, decry how drinking impairs wisdom, how it’s unnecessary, destructive, addictive, and harmful in numerous ways. “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine” (Proverbs 23: 29-30). Yet someone else, equally confident in his or her stance, can note how the drinking of wine is almost assumed in the Scriptures, that Jesus turned water into wine as His first recorded miracle, or that Paul advised Timothy to “use a little wine for the sake of your stomach” (1 Timothy 5:23).

But while drinking alcohol is an example of an area where we may choose to lovingly differ, the Bible provides a proven path for taking the high road through all kinds of gray areas. When faced with an unknown that could be argued either way, consider the following criteria.

1)      Make the wise choice. While you may technically feel the freedom to indulge in a particular pleasure or activity, permission alone should not be the final determinant in your decision-making. Solomon said, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). What if you and your family would be better off if you chose to forego something, even if you felt a personal green light yourself for doing it? Wouldn’t forgoing it be the wiser way to go?

2) Make the loving choice. “Above all,” said the apostle Peter, “maintain an intense love for each other” (1 Peter 4:8). Love for others, not your own preferences and desires, should be a main filter that every decision of yours runs through. Paul, in advising the Romans on a contentious first-century matter about the acceptability of certain foods, said, “If your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love” (Romans 14:15). Your actions or decisions may be fine on a superficial level, but do they stand up to the test of love?

3) Make the edifying choice. Choices are never made in a vacuum. They either build up or cause damage to those who observe you. Especially in families, kids tend to embrace what their parents tolerate. So, when evaluating the wisdom of doing something, don’t think only of its rightness or wrongness. Take into account that your children may go further in your choices than you’ve gone. The next generation could go to a destructive level with what you’ve deemed harmless, unless you make a deliberate effort to “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”

4) Make the supportive choice. Others will be much quicker to notice your behaviors than to ask you for your reasons and rationales for why you’re okay with them. Realizing this, will the silent perception you’re sending be one that helps protect the people you influence, or will it do more harm and raise more questions? “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble” (Romans 14:21). Does your position on an iffy subject meet this biblical standard?

Especially when a decision falls in a gray area, evaluate it in the light of God’s Word and counsel.

Points to ponder…

• What are one or two traditionally gray areas that you’ve come to your own personal conclusions about? What have you decided?
• How confident are you of your positions after evaluating them in light of these four biblical benchmarks?

Saturday’s Reading

1 Samuel 18-20

Sunday’s Reading

1 Samuel 21-24

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 31, 2023

Friday

Our Go-Between

1 John 1: 1-2

²⁵ Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Hebrews 7:25

You’ve seen it—in a professional sporting event two players are on the verge of tussling with one another. Before the disagreement can flare up, a referee gets between the two players and tries to push them apart. Literally speaking, that person is an intercessor—a go-between, if you will. The English intercede is from a Latin word of two parts: inter meaning “between” and cedere meaning “go.” An intercessor is a go-between.

Jesus Christ is the intercessor for the Church and for every believer. He stands between us and the Father as our personal advocate—pleading our case. If we sin, Christ “speaks to the Father in our defense” (1 John 2:1). He declares our sins having been atoned for at the Cross. If Satan accuses us before the Father, as he accused Job (Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5), Jesus defends us (Romans 8:34) since there is “now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

At this very moment, the Son of God Himself is advocating for you at the throne of God. He is our divine Intercessor.

A point to ponder…

We are never more like Christ than in prayers of intercession.

Austin Phelps

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 15-17

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 30, 2023

Thursday

March Madness—A Biblical Course in Anger Management: Maintenance

Colossians 3: 8-17

⁶ And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?”

Genesis 4:6

Rage rooms have opened in cities around the world. The first one opened in Japan around 2008, and since then they’ve popped up in cities everywhere. These are places where, for a fee, people can go to smash things, throw things, break things, and release their stress. In New York City, a special $95 couples package is available with two buckets of dishes and two electronic items they can smash.

Maybe there’s a better way to do the needed maintenance on your anger management. Here are some suggestions.

Confess your anger to God and ask Him to show you the roots of your rage. Apologize to those who have been on the receiving end of your anger. Read all you can on the subject of anger management because the more you learn about your emotions, the more likely you’ll be able to manage them wisely. Locate and memorize a handful of Bible verses on anger and quote them to yourself often. Finally, know when to get help. God can lead you to someone gifted with wisdom who can help you mature in your reactions to life.

This March, stop the madness and learn the power of spiritual patience and divine mercy.

A point to ponder…

Without mercy, all of us are without hope.
Charles L. Allen

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 13-14

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 29, 2023

Wednesday

Steadfast

John 17: 20-23

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:58

Paul’s letter to the people at Corinth was an exhortation to remain steadfast. The church in Corinth was an undisciplined church, and he was letting them know that even though the culture around them was in flux, their faith in Jesus Christ needed to remain focused and sure. It is true for us today also. How can we remain steadfast in our faith and avoid the pressures of this ever-changing world? By devoting time each day to the study of God’s Word.

As we read the Bible and immerse ourselves in God’s truth and character, our lives are changed—we become more like Him. God’s Word is a powerful litmus test for our souls and actions. As our lives center on God, giving priority to hearing His voice and reading His Word, we become bolder in sharing our faith.

Joshua had the confidence and courage to lead God’s people into the Promised Land because He believed in God’s promise and presence. We serve the same God who said: “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

You can place your steadfast trust in Him.

A point to ponder…

When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful.

Dwight L. Moody

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 9-12

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 28, 2023

Tuesday

Tipping the Scale

Ecclesiastes 3: 16-17

² Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.”

Proverbs 21:2

There is a world invisible to the naked eye beneath our skin. With every breath we take, our heart pumps blood through veins and arteries, minuscule cells reproduce and heal, and organs perform their functions. If this is true of the world within the walls of our skin, how much more is it true of the physical world surrounding us?

From our perspective it may appear that the unrighteous prosper, while the righteous experience trouble and pain. But when the scales seem incorrectly tipped in this life, remember that God not only created the entire universe, He sees the invisible motives of every heart. He will execute justice. We can trust Him to not only balance the scales of life but to also extend mercy. His plans and purposes are often hidden from us, but God is faithful. Yes, we will face challenging circumstances in life, but we are never alone or out of God’s sight. God sees our hidden tears and listens to our whispered prayers—we can trust that when the scales of justice are weighed righteousness will reign.

A point to ponder…

The state of your heart dictates whether you harbor a grudge or give grace, seek self-pity or seek Christ, drink human misery or taste God’s mercy.

Max Lucado

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 4-8

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 27, 2023

Monday

Fairweather or Faithful?

Genesis 39: 1-6

² Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

1 Corinthians 4:2

Most of us know what a fairweather fan is—the team supporter who supports the team only under one condition: a winning record. If the team is on a losing streak, the fairweather fan will likely stay home. The opposite of a fairweather fan is a faithful fan.

The biblical equivalent of a faithful fan is a steward—one who has been commissioned by an authority to carry out a specific task. And the chief characteristic of a steward is faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:2). The steward will carry out his or her commission regardless of cost. The Bible speaks often of stewards: Joseph in Egypt, the faithful steward in Jesus’ parables, church overseers, and the apostle Paul—a steward of the grace of God. In every case, faithfulness was the chief requirement. We might ask ourselves whether we are a fairweather or a faithful fan of God’s assignments for our life. How inconvenienced are we willing to be for the sake of the Gospel?

God has made every Christian a steward of the gift of salvation by grace, a gift we are to use for His glory. Pray today to be a faithful steward.

A point to ponder…

Faithfulness in little things is a big thing.

John Chrysostom

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 1-3

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

March 25 – March 26, 2023

The Way Up Is Down

¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” 

John 13:14–15

Jesus Christ, Son of God, second person of the Trinity, Lord of the universe, humbled Himself and washed His disciples’ feet. This wasn’t a seminar on foot washing. It was an example of service. “For I have given you an example,” Jesus said, “that you also should do just as I have done to you” (13:15).

So what does that mean? Let’s not let the applications slip into something retouched and generic. Let’s be specific and consider five, necessary brands of humility—actual things we can do. What are the verbs that should be flowing out of our lives?

1. Choose a difficult obedience. You’ve got your run-of-the-mill obedience, things that may feel easy to you. These are everyday, entry-level actions. But there are actually some difficult obediences, choices that require sacrifice. We obey for Jesus Christ. He deserves everything, and it should cost us, it must cost us, and it will cost us. What is the difficult obedience right in front of you? Run to it, wrap your arms around it, humble yourself, and obey Jesus. It will be good for your soul.

2. Own it all to reconcile. Generally where there’s friction in relationships, there’s fault on both sides. But maybe you’re in a conflict with someone who can’t see his own fault and who won’t listen to you anymore, so you can’t reason with the person. If you want to work that out, humble yourself and own it all. Take everything you want to say, all your rightness and accuracy, and permanently file it under G for garbage. Forego any opportunity to clarify your position. Lay it all down, and humble yourself. “I’m sorry that I hurt you. I never wanted you to feel this way. I know that I have responsibility in that, and I want to own it, tell you how sorry I am, and ask you to forgive me.” Grace will rush like a river upon you. Even if the person refuses you, grace will flow into your life. God loves humility. He doesn’t like it. He loves it. With God, the way up is down. That’s how it is in the family of God.

3. Serve in total secrecy. Find ways to do things no one will know about. A few years ago, I felt an urge to serve somewhere anonymously, where no one knew my name or even recognized me. That experience was so good for my own soul. Find a way to serve in total secrecy.

4. Lay down a liberty. Too often we think the continuum runs between legalism and liberty. But legalism is a lie, so we don’t need to react against legalism by flaunting our liberty. For the followers of Jesus, the continuum is between liberty and the forgoing of our liberties. In Christ, we have freedom and liberty, but when our liberty becomes an obstacle to the gospel, we need to forgo our liberty. We lay down our liberty for the sake of Christ’s kingdom. We don’t glory in our liberties. We don’t fail to love our weaker brothers and sisters. We live in liberty, but we gladly and willingly forsake freedoms for the sake of our influence over others.

5. Refuse to be offended. It’s so easy to take things personally. I can't believe what she said about me. How dare he treat me that way! Instead of taking offense, we can simply refuse to be offended. My mom used to recite these lines from an anonymous poem:

             “I’ve asked the Lord to take from me
             the super-sensitivity
             that robs the soul of joy and peace
             and causes fellowship to cease.”

Do nothing when you’re hurt. Hurting people hurt people. If you want to break that cycle, get low. Humble yourself, and refuse to be offended.

Jesus gave us an example that we would go do for others as He’s done for us. Which brand of humility do you need to practice today?

Points to ponder…

• Review the five brands of humility. Which strikes a chord with you?
• How can you follow the example of the Master and humble yourself today?

Saturday’s Reading

Judges 19-21

Sunday’s Reading

Ruth 1-4

I love you!!!

© 2000-2021 B. Michael Goerlich

March 24, 2023

Friday

Temple Duty

John 14: 19-25

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

1 Corinthians 6:19

Solomon’s Temple, perhaps the most beautiful building ever constructed, cannot compare with the temple of our bodies. Just one statistic will suffice: If you took all the blood vessels out of your body and laid them in a straight line, they would stretch close to 100,000 miles. We are fearfully and wonderfully made!

On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the believers who were meeting together, and tongues of fire sat upon each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3-4). That day the Spirit came down from heaven to indwell every believer, and now our very bodies are His temples. He does His work through our hands, feet, minds, and mouths. He lives within us.

Just as we grieve a little when passing a dilapidated church building, so we should grieve when we don’t care for our bodies as we should. We have a duty to stay as healthy as possible and glorify God through our body, which is the temple of the Spirit.

A point to ponder…

Christ wants to sanctify our body and fill it with the Holy Spirit so that it can be a vessel for Him.

Watchman Nee

Read the Bible through in a year

Judges 16-18

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 23, 2023

Thursday

March Madness—A Biblical Course in Anger Management: Forgiveness

Matthew 6:12

¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Matthew 6:12

Between chemotherapy appointments a few summers ago, Mike Veley planned a trip to Europe with his wife, but things went wrong in Venice when a pickpocket robbed them. After asking God to help him manage his anger, Veley wrote an open letter to the thief: “This is my last trip with my wife. I’m dying from cancer. You left me with no money and no credit cards. Imagine for only a moment what this does to your victim. I have been praying for forgiveness. I also pray for you. Turn away from your sin which hurts innocent people. I forgive you. Michael Veley, USA.”

When a local Italian paper printed his letter, the couple was showered with hospitality, though they soon had to return to the States for chemotherapy. “The memory of this trip was initially ruined,” Veley said, “but after writing this letter the memory has now gone from anger and frustration to joy.”

When we choose to forgive, we unchain the shackles of anger in our hearts. Forgiveness helps us move from frustration to joy.

A point to ponder…

I don’t know the source of your betrayal, hurt or disappointment. But I do know that there is a way to get rid of those seeds of anger, and that it all relates to forgiveness.
Gary Smalley, in From Anger to Intimacy

Read the Bible through in a year

Judges 13-15

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 22, 2023

Wednesday

From Success to Significance

Matthew 6: 32-34

³⁷ Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”

Daniel 4:37

The late Bob Buford had been successful in business but felt he was missing significance. He began writing books for leaders, challenging them to consider how to move from success to significance. The Halftime Institute is his legacy—a place successful men and women can learn to explore significance in the second half of life by making God their priority.

We hear it all the time: “I had everything I ever wanted, but still something was missing.” Step one is realizing something is indeed missing; step two is seeking and finding it. The great king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, had all the world could offer—but he didn’t have God. And he didn’t know what he was missing until God entered his life, humbled him, and opened his eyes to see. After seven years of humbling and learning, Nebuchadnezzar was a changed man—a man who glorified God.

True significance in life is not found in possessions or power but in knowing the one true God through Christ.

A point to ponder…

If God is God and man is made in His image, then each man is significant.

Os Guinness

Read the Bible through in a year

Judges 10-12

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 21, 2023

Tuesday

Resist or Assist?

Matthew 23: 11-12

⁶ But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

James 4:6

When the new nation of the United States of America elected its first President, no one knew how to address him. Since America was populated by people from European monarchies, some wanted to call the President “Your Highness” or “Your Excellency” or other such fancy titles. But the first President, George Washington, would have none of such exaltation. The title he agreed to use was humble and has stuck: “Mr. President.”

History is littered with the biographies of leaders of nations who loved to be exalted and who loved to exalt themselves. The king of Babylon was one. Nebuchadnezzar, typical of ancient kings, saw himself as all-powerful, a potentate above even God Himself. But through Daniel, God delivered a humbling message to the king: He would be humbled for seven years until he confessed that God was the Almighty—which he did (Daniel 4). Nebuchadnezzar learned the lesson of humility the hard way—by suffering.

Nebuchadnezzar is an example of what the Bible teaches throughout: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Better to humble ourselves before God and others than for God to humble us Himself.

A point to ponder…

God assists the humble but resists the proud.

John Blanchard

Read the Bible through in a year

Judges 8-9

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 20, 2023

Monday

The "Better" Principle

Mark 4: 35-41

²⁵ He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Daniel 3:25

The “better” principle is illustrated a number of different ways in Proverbs. For instance, Proverbs 15:16 says, “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.” And Proverbs 16:8 reminds us that “Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.”

Another example of the “better” principle is this: Being in God’s will in a difficult place is better than being out of God’s will in an easy place. Or, said another way: Being in a hard place with God is better than being in an easy place without Him. There are examples in Scripture. When the three young Hebrew men found themselves in a fiery furnace in Babylon, they discovered that another person—“like the Son of God”—was with them. And they came out alive. Likewise, when the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee with Jesus in a storm, His presence assured their survival.

God may not always keep us out of hard places, but He is always with us. A hard place with Him is better than an easy place without Him.

A point to ponder…

The more terrible the storm, the more necessary the anchor.

William S. Plumer

Read the Bible through in a year

Judges 6-7

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

March 18 – March 19, 2022

The Arm of God

¹⁰ Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

¹¹ He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Isaiah 40:10–11

Have you ever given much thought to God’s arms? (“God has arms?” you might be wondering.) When God describes His arms, He doesn’t tell us their circumference or how much He can lift—those are human, physical terms, like the jock showing off at the gym. But God’s description of His arms tells us some awesome things about Him. In fact, the dual description of God’s arms in this passage shows us His power and His comfort.

“Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him.” When the Bible talks about God’s right arm, it refers to His powerful, ruling arm—His justice, His holiness, and His strength. God is like that. He is all that and more.

But then the very next verse describes His tender shepherd arm. “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” If you’ve spent any time in church, sadly you’ve probably heard one extreme or the other: a ton of preaching about the transcendent, holy, awesome Judge or a ton of preaching about the tender, loving, merciful Shepherd. But He’s both, right? In this passage we clearly see both. Don’t let God’s nearness minimize His transcendence nor let His transcendence make you think He isn’t very aware of you individually.

Imagine a shepherd in the fields, and this gives you a picture of God. A shepherd can oversee hundreds of sheep, but he holds only one at a time. He gathers the lambs one by one in his arms. The point here is that this awesome God cares for you. Personally. Individually. Yes, He’s guarding a big flock, but when He cares for the lambs, He tends to them one by one. This is God’s love for you. Personal. Individual. Attentive. Aware. Devoted. That’s how He cares for you.

When He carries His lambs, He holds them “in his bosom.” Picture that. He doesn’t hold us awkwardly squirming at arms’ length. No, He draws us close, right to His own heart.

And He will “gently lead those that are with young.” The sheep that is about to give birth has special needs, and the shepherd accommodates those needs. In the same way, when our needs are great, the Lord is that much more attentive to us. Some of us are at a point of acute need right now in our business or in our family. God knows what it is. And just as pressing as that need is, His attention matches that. He’s on it! He is right there, gently leading those whose circumstances demand additional care.

So which one is He—mighty or tender? Yes. His arm is a picture of absolute power and unconditional love.

That’s your King. That’s your Shepherd.

Point to ponder…

• According to A.W. Tozer, the most important fact about any person is “what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.” How does Isaiah 40 shape your theology—your thoughts about God?
• On which side do you tend to err—God as Judge or God as Shepherd? Why is it important for you to realize He’s both mighty and tender, both transcendent and near?

Saturday’s Reading

Judges 1-2

Sunday’s Reading

Judges 3-5

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich