June 5, 2023

Monday

Excellent Spirits

Ezra 3: 1-6

³ And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening.”

Ezra 3:3

Chaplain Kenneth Best served in World War I. One day he held a communion service at 6 a.m., hoping to minister to the men before the firing started; but the enemy started their attack early. Though Best didn’t expect anyone to show up at the service, he felt responsible to be there if they did, despite the danger.

“To my surprise, regardless of shrapnel, about 100 men were present. Never shall I forget my first service under fire. We all felt God’s good providence watched over us, for not one was hit. We are all in excellent spirits.”¹

Some days are frightening, and we’re surrounded by circumstances that could make us anxious. But as we go about the work God has assigned us, He is among us. He is able to keep us in excellent spirits today.

A point to ponder…

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.

John Newton

Read the Bible through in a year

Job 14-16

I love you!!!

¹From A Prayer for Gallipoli: The Great War Diaries of Chaplain Kenneth Best

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

June 3– June 4, 2023

In the Trenches

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

² And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

³ And when the tempter came…

Matthew 4:1–3a

Faith is as practical as you can get. It’s not ivory tower, abstract, feel-good thinking. Faith is for real life in the trenches. Let’s look together at the life of Jesus and see how Christ Himself used faith at the point of temptation to gain victory.

Some people argue that as God, Jesus couldn’t experience true temptation to sin. False. The Bible teaches that Jesus was severely tempted. Hebrews 4:15 reassures us that Jesus gets it: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” When facing temptation, Jesus didn’t use His divine powers to say no. Within the confines of His humanity, He was victorious by faith. In fact, using His deity is exactly what Satan was tempting Him to do, but Jesus refused. “And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread’” (Matthew 4:3). Satan appealed to Jesus’ hunger, since He hadn’t eaten for forty days, and tempted Him to prove Himself, but Jesus said no: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (4:4). Jesus exercised faith in the Word of God to repel the attacks of the evil one.

“HAVE FAITH IN THE PROMISES OF GOD’S WORD.”

Think how vulnerable Jesus was. He had been fasting in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. Undoubtedly, he felt hungry, tired, and lonely. In His humanity, He was facing off against Satan.

Satan crafted three, appealing temptations: turn stones into bread, throw Yourself down from the temple, and receive the kingdoms of the world from me if You worship me. Upon inspection, that last temptation appears to be a weak one, yet in it lies a lesson for us: In the heat of temptation, the offer may appear attractive, but when you stand back from it, you can see how ridiculous it is. In desperation to ruin Jesus’ perfect, sinless track record, Satan offered Jesus everything He had made and already owns. In His humanity, Jesus was susceptible to that temptation, yet He saw through the façade and realized it was not a part of His Father’s plan.

As each temptation presented itself, Jesus used only one weapon to fight it: faith in the Word of God.

Temptation #1: “Command these stones to become loaves of bread,” said Satan (Matthew 4:3).
Jesus said no and quoted Deuteronomy 8:3: “Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

Temptation #2: “Throw yourself down,” suggested the evil one (Matthew 4:6).
Jesus said no and quoted Deuteronomy 6:16: “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test.”

Temptation #3: “Fall down and worship me,” Satan invited (Matthew 4:9).
Jesus said no and quoted Deuteronomy 6:13: “It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.”

Three temptations. Three biblical answers. A perfect example of the power of faith in God’s Word.

Notice that this isn’t faith in faith, that cultic, deceptive message of faith in the power of faith itself. The Bible doesn’t teach that there’s any power in what you say simply because you say it with confidence. That would be blind faith. The power of faith is in the object of our faith: God’s Word. If what we say is from God’s Word, and in the depth of our being we believe it, then we will find incredible power. Like Jesus, we can have faith in the promises of God’s Word.

Points to ponder…

• Why is it comforting to know that Jesus was tempted just as we are?
• What are some common temptations you face? Think of some verses from God’s Word that address those temptations and arm yourself.

Saturday’s Reading

Job 8-10

Sunday’s Reading

Job 11-13

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 2, 2023

Friday

Sowing Lies

Romans 16: 17-27

²⁰ And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

Romans 16:20

The apostle Paul ended his letter to the Romans by warning them against false teachers. He wrote, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Romans 16:17). He accused the deceivers of using smooth speech and flattering words, but, he said, “Be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil” (verse 19). Then he assured them the God of peace would shortly crush Satan under their feet.

Paul must have been thinking of the first prophecy in the Bible about the coming Messiah when we’re told Christ will bruise the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).

The devil is sowing his lies everywhere, and false teachers show up in classrooms, videos, books, websites, slogans, cable channels, and political campaigns. Sometimes they even climb into the pulpit. But Satan’s lies cannot deceive those who are growing in the knowledge of God, and his attacks can’t destroy those kept by the power of God.

There is nothing Satan can throw at you that you cannot overcome, nor any stronghold he can build that Jesus can’t overthrow.

A point to ponder

You don’t have to be the victim because you can choose to live in the victory that God promises you as an overcomer.

Sheila Walsh

Read the Bible through in a year

Job 5-7

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 1, 2023

Thursday

Faithful Fathers: Abraham

Genesis 15: 4-6

²³ And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

James 2:23

We can imagine a child writing an appreciative and sentimental memoir about her “perfect father,” understanding that “perfect” was not intended to be taken literally. But how about a book titled The Righteous Father? The patriarch Isaac could have written that book about his father, Abraham.

Righteous doesn’t mean sinless, of course. We know that Abraham wasn’t perfect. But he did manifest some qualities that every father should emulate. First, he believed the promises of God about the future God had planned for him (Hebrews 11:8-12). And when he believed God, “[God] accounted it to [Abraham] for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Again, not perfect or sinless, but in a right standing with God. Second, as a result of Abraham’s trust in God, he became a “friend of God” (Isaiah 41:8). Could any father set a more worthy example to his children or grandchildren than that of being friends with God? Living in right standing with God? That means communing with Him, walking with Him, living for Him, and above all, trusting Him and His promises.

Follow Abraham’s example as a faithful father by deepening your friendship with God.

A point to ponder…

Friendship is the marriage of affections.
Thomas Watson

Read the Bible through in a year

Job 1-4

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 31, 2023

Wednesday

Love Like Jesus

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

John 13:34

When parents’ inconsistencies are pointed out by their children, they are tempted to say, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Fair enough; standards are standards. But the better outcome is for parents—for us all—to act the way we want others to act.

Jesus did that. His motto might have been, “Do as I say and as I do,” since His words and actions were always consistent. For example, He used His own love for His disciples as an illustration for how they ought to love one another. When we read the apostle Paul’s words about unconditional love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, we realize we are reading a description of how Jesus loved others. He was patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not prideful, not rude or self-seeking or easily angered. Instead, He forgave, rejoiced in the truth, protected, trusted, hoped, and persevered. When Paul says we are to love that way, he is saying, “Love as Jesus loved.”

When faced with a love-challenge in your relationships, ask, “How would Jesus love in this situation?”

A point to ponder…

You never so touch the ocean of God’s love as when you forgive and love your enemies. 
Corrie Ten Boom

Read the Bible through in a year

Esther 6-10

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 30, 2023

Tuesday

Never Alone

Jeremiah 23:2-3

² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.”

Psalm 139:2-3

Grief counselors recommend listening when comforting the suffering. Listening is a selfless, empathetic act, a way to be silently present: “You are not alone in your pain; I am here with you.”

God is like the listener—always there, listening to our thoughts and words, letting us know we are not alone. He is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Nowhere in the Bible is God’s “very presence” more beautifully expressed than in Psalm 139:1-16. When David was troubled by the adversaries of God who sought to discredit Him, he poured out his heart to God. In doing so, David recounted all the ways God was present with him, always ready to know and understand his thoughts. God was omnipresent—always and everywhere present—to David and had been from the moment of his conception in his mother’s womb (verses 13-16).

If you find yourself alone today, or in a troubling place, know that God and His great and precious promises are with you (2 Peter 1:4).

A point to ponder…

God is either a present help or He is not much help at all.

J. B. Phillips

Read the Bible through in a year

Esther 1-5

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 29, 2023

Monday

Two-Fold Peace

Philippians 4: 6-7

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Romans 5:1

Since 1992, The Innocence Project has seen more than 350 wrongfully convicted people exonerated and freed from prison (and more than 150 actual perpetrators convicted). When someone is released from prison after years of incarceration, they experience profound peace of heart and mind. But peace of mind comes only after they have experienced peace with the criminal justice system.

There is a two-fold peace in the Christian’s experience as well. We are promised the peace of God when we commit our troubles and requests to Him, peace that will guard our heart and mind as we abide in Christ (Philippians 4:6-7). But we can only experience the peace of God because we have peace with God. “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Both are important, but there is an order: first, peace with God; then, the peace of God. Both are gifts of grace, worthy of praise to Him.

If you are seeking God’s peace in your life, make sure you have peace with God first. Both are ours through faith in Christ.

A point to ponder…

When we lack the peace of God, we should turn to our peace with God.

Robert M. Horn

Read the Bible through in a year

Nehemiah 12-13

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

May 27– May 28, 2023

Joy Maker

⁸ The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psalm 19:8

Two people were walking along the road to Emmaus, a town not too far from Jerusalem, only hours after Jesus had been resurrected. All of a sudden, Jesus Himself came up and began walking with them, as if out of nowhere, though they didn’t yet recognize who He was.

As they discussed with this Stranger their perplexity concerning the events of the last three incredible days, Jesus began explaining to them what was truly happening. And here’s how He did it: “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

You’re probably familiar with the story. “The Road to Emmaus.” But why did Jesus--who is the Son of God, who is the Word of God--not just talk with them off-the-cuff, unscripted, from His own body of knowledge? Why involve the Scriptures at all in this conversation?

Answer: Because He wanted them to see--two disciples who would need to go on without Him after Jesus returned to heaven in a few days--that the Word could be trusted. It was accurate. It was reliable. And its truth alone, even in His physical absence, could give them something they couldn’t get anywhere else: a passion, a delight, and a “rejoicing” of the heart. Remember? “They said to each other, ‘Did our hearts not burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures’” (Luke 24:32)?

And it’s just as true today.

“The precepts of the Lord” are able to give you joy as you receive them, believe them, treasure them, and stay with them--as you order the entirety of your life around them. God’s divine principles, by virtue of being 100 percent accurate and essential in all they assert, set a “right” path through the maze of life that causes your heart to rejoice.

Let me give you an example. Among the Bible’s many precepts is the following principle: one man with one woman for life. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). I’m telling you--get this precept right, and your life is headed for joy. Think of all the worldly principles that circulate in our culture which contradict and compromise the rightness of this precept. How many people’s lives testify to the truth that wrong principles, when applied to life, lead to the opposite of joy? In how many ways does each of our experiences prove the assertion--whether by God’s grace or our own folly--that “the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes”?

The Word of God brings light to the darkness in every human heart. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). “Whoever follows me,” Jesus said, “will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). He has given His Word for many valuable reasons. One of the sweetest is that He has promised us through it a path that leads to joy.

Points to ponder…

• Write down any principle from Scripture that you remember as having brought you joy.
• How can you be intentional this week about digging deeper into the treasure of God’s Word?

Saturday’s Reading

Nehemiah 8-9

Sunday’s Reading

Nehemiah 10-11

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 26, 2023

Friday

Eternity's Capital

Revelation 21:22-27

¹⁰ And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

¹¹ Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;”

Revelation 21:10-11

Travel websites offer lists of the most beautiful cities in the world. You’ll usually find Prague high on the list. Paris, of course, makes the cut, as does Florence, Italy. But even the cities with the greatest sites are filled with filth, crime, heartache, and division. It’s ironic that multitudes of people in the most beautiful cities in the world are lonely and miserable.

Revelation 21 and 22 are travel guides for the city whose builder and maker is God. The Bible describes in literal terms the great city that will be eternity’s capital. It’s a city whose architecture is crafted of jewels, whose streets are paved with gold, whose walls are clear as glass, and whose light is generated by the glorious presence of the Lord Jesus. In the center of the city resides the throne of God and issuing from the throne is a river that irrigates the park containing the tree of life.

If you like to travel, investigate what the Bible says about this city. If you don’t like to travel, think of this city as your heavenly home.

A point to ponder…

To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here.

Jonathan Edwards

Read the Bible through in a year

Nehemiah 7

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 25, 2023

Thursday

Chapter Eights: Romans 8—New Life in the Spirit

Romans 8:1-11

⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

Romans 8:5

Our mind is the barometer of our soul. If your mind is filled with lustful fantasies, ambitious schemes, bitter memories, or anxious worries, it’s a sign you are focused on “the things of the flesh.” The Bible tells us to set our mind on the things of the Spirit, which means reading the Bible and meditating about the Lord Jesus.

Scripture memory and biblical meditation are therapeutic. It’s not necessary to memorize a Bible verse to meditate on it. But diligent Christians come across certain passages that are so life-transforming they must be written on the tablets of the heart.

Romans 8 is full of such verses, including the promise in verse 28 about God working all things for our good. Try finding a Bible verse, repeating it several times a day, writing it on sticky notes, and learning it. Train your mind to focus on the things of the Spirit, for He keeps those in perfect peace whose minds are stayed on Him.

A point to ponder…

May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day.
Kate B. Wilkinson

Read the Bible through in a year

Nehemiah 4-6

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 24, 2023

Wednesday

New Earth

Revelation 21:1-2

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

Revelation 21:1

A great misconception carried by many Christians has to do with the location of heaven. The word heaven itself implies that our eternal destiny is somewhere “up there” in the heavens. But the Bible says our eternal destiny is earthly, not heavenly. As Peter wrote, we look for a “new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

In his vision of the future, the apostle John saw that “new heaven and a new earth,” our new domain being pictured as the New Jerusalem “coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:1-2). Somehow, at the end of the age, when Christ has returned to reign and inaugurate the eternal state, this earth will be renovated and a new earth will be the result—a new earth full of righteousness in which pain and sorrow will be absent. The beautiful imagery of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 lets us know that the new earth will be a place that reflects the glory of God throughout.

Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for you if you belong to Him (John 14:1-4). The New Jerusalem, on the new earth, is that place.

A point to ponder…

Let thy hope of heaven master thy fear of death.

William Gurnall

Read the Bible through in a year

Nehemiah 1-3

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 23, 2023

Tuesday

Creation Care

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Genesis 1:28

Marine litter is a huge ecological problem. Many countries’ coastlines are littered with plastic and debris, and there is an “island” of plastic more than the twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean where currents have accumulated the debris. Fish become entangled in discarded fishing nets and lines, with bellies full of plastic debris they have swallowed.

Such images are in stark contrast to the pristine beauty and glory of Eden as presented in Genesis. Though mankind was given the mandate to “have dominion over” (that is, to care for) all of creation, we have not done a good job. When God’s mandates go unfulfilled on earth, God’s glory is diminished. And that mandate extends to our personal life as well. Paul writes that we belong to God and we are to glorify Him with our care and use of our body.

When you see opportunities to care for creation—nature or your own body—do so as a way of glorifying the Creator.

A point to ponder…

The creation is both a monument of God’s power, and a looking-glass in which we may see his wisdom.

Thomas Watson

Read the Bible through in a year

Ezra 8-10

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 22, 2023

Monday

Hello Heaven!

2 Corinthians 5:1-8

¹³ Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

¹⁴ Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.”

2 Peter 1:13-14

Peter wrote his final letter shortly before his execution. He wasn’t discouraged; he was looking forward to the future. He spoke of “looking forward to these things.” and “[looking] for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13-14).

Life is full of hardships and heaviness. We have the promises of God to help us in difficult days, and we have the Holy Spirit within us. We have a purpose for being here—to refresh the memory of others regarding the things of the Lord. But we’ll soon put aside the tent of our earthly body, and what a relief! Goodbye hardship and heaviness. Goodbye trials and troubles. Hello Jesus! Hello heaven! Hello golden streets, glorified bodies, endless days, and the fresh air of New Jerusalem!

During difficult times, the hope of eternity gives us strength. If you’re prone to worry yourself to sleep each night, turn your thoughts upward and close your eyes thinking of heaven and its eternal throne.

A point to ponder…

A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there.

Harriet Buell, in her hymn “A Child of the King”

Read the Bible through in a year

Ezra 4-7

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

May 20– May 21, 2023

Pointed Attack

¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

I’ve never been in a sword fight and I don’t expect to be. But if I ever were, I’d want my sword to be the sharpest one in the match, wouldn’t you? I mean, swords in battle are meant to be sharp. That’s basically the whole “point,” right? It’s also why this biblical “two-edged sword” metaphor works as well as it does, because God’s Word is so sharp that it never fails to cut to the heart of the matter.

You’ve probably noticed that. Haven’t you had one of those experiences--whether you were sitting in a small group Bible study, or hearing the Scripture taught in a public setting--where you wondered how the messenger knew exactly what was going on in your life? But here’s the reality: they didn’t know. That’s the living, active Word of God in operation, “piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow”--a physical analogy that illustrates a spiritual truth.

And here’s why this quality of the Bible is so absolutely vital in our lives.

Most of us are dealing with fruit problems rather than root problems. We don’t like digging deep down inside, where the real sources of our problems lie--exposing our true selves, being convicted of sin, receiving what’s truly needed to motivate us to change. So without the Word in action, we’re left managing life unproductively on a fruit level instead of more effectively on a root level. And as long as we stay there on the surface, avoiding the “sword,” it just means another failing crop will always grow up to replace the one we picked off.

Take substance abuse, for example, or any addictive behavior. That’s a fruit problem. The root problem is the emptiness that’s inevitably created by attempting to live without God at the center. Only the truth of God’s Word can help expose that.

Or consider poor financial habits, such as maxed-out credit cards. That’s a fruit problem. The root problem is idolatry, thinking that something material or experiential can satisfy you in a way that only a surrendered life to the Lord actually can.

Think about conflict, whether in your marriage, your workplace, or anywhere else. That’s a fruit problem. The root problem may reside in any number of underlying areas, such as anger, hurt, selfishness, bitterness, pride, unforgiveness, rebellion, etc.

See the difference?

If you wonder why you keep going round and round with the same struggles but rarely see any lasting change--if you wonder why you keep having the same frustrating conversations with the same people, over and over--the reason could come from the difference between fruit and root. But the answer comes from embracing your need for the Word--“living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword”--penetrating deeply enough inside until corrupted roots can be pulled up and replanted, and a steady crop of new fruit can be produced.

Take up this gift of the Sword, and let it do its powerful work in you.

Points to ponder…

• When was the last time you felt the work of the Sword, and how did you follow up on it?
• Think of one new way you can engage with the Word beyond what you’re already doing. Write it down, and prayerfully commit to it for thirty days.

Saturday’s Reading

2 Chronicles 35-36

Sunday’s Reading

Ezra 1-3

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 19, 2023

Friday

Your Spiritual Family Tree

2 Timothy 1:3-5

⁵ For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.”

Psalm 61:5

When Joe Tarakjian’s surgery left him in a wheelchair, he kept occupied by exploring his family tree. Joe studied genealogical sites, found relatives online, and followed every lead. He learned his great-grandparents had fled genocide by traveling from Armenia to Syria, then to France and America. “It was so gratifying to meet a 90-plus-year-old relative who you never spoke to before and you hear them light up when talking about your own mother,” he said.

Those who know Christ have another family tree—the lineage of people who led us to faith. We’re spiritual descendants of the message of the apostles and of the Pentecost converts in the book of Acts. The testimony of Jesus has crossed the generations to reach us.

Perhaps we can’t trace this spiritual lineage very far until we can inspect the archives in heaven, but maybe you know who led you to Christ. Maybe you can find out who led that person and the one before. We have two thousand years of martyrs, heroes, and servants behind us and future generations before us. What a heritage and what a blessing! Let’s rejoice in that today.

A point to ponder…

I am deeply indebted for the godly heritage I receive, and I pray that it will be passed on.

James Draper

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Chronicles 32-34

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 18, 2023

Thursday

Chapter Eights: Matthew 8—New Opportunities

Matthew 8: 23-27

²⁷ But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”

Matthew 8:27

Matthew 8 describes a day in the life of the Savior. Having preached His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, Jesus came down the hill to find a leper needing healing (Matthew 8:1-4). He entered Capernaum where a centurion approached Him about a paralyzed servant (verses 5-13). He ducked into a house to find Peter’s mother-in-law suffering a fever, which He healed (verses 14-15). The whole town turned out with their sick and possessed (verses 16-17), and Jesus used the occasion to talk about the cost of discipleship (verses 18-22). He got into a boat so tired He fell asleep. When a storm arose, the disciples awoke Him and He stilled the winds and sea (verses 23-27). Arriving on the other side, He cast demons from two men in the Gergesenes (verses 28-34), and the whole city came out to meet Him.

And you think you’ve had a busy day!

Every day brings new opportunities to serve Jesus. It’s possible to be too busy, but better busy than bored. There’s nothing more exhilarating than giving each day to the Lord and waiting to see what He will do with it.

A point to ponder…

Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Frances Havergal

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Chronicles 28-31

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

May 17, 2023

Wednesday

Promises Kept

2 Peter 1:4

⁵⁶ Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.”

1 Kings 8:56

In golf, a do-over shot is called a mulligan. And the initial stroke doesn’t count on the scorecard. Oh, how we wish there were mulligans in life! Especially when it comes to broken promises—ones we made or ones that were made to us. Broken promises are painful and regrettable. We would give anything to make those promises come true.

One thing we never have to worry about with God is broken promises. The Bible is filled with testimonies of the dependability of His words to us. His words are true and eternal; they reflect His own character. After Solomon finished dedicating the temple in Jerusalem, he declared to the people that not one word of God’s promises had gone unfulfilled. God had established His people in their land as He promised He would. All of God’s “exceedingly great and precious promises” to us will be kept—everyone (2 Peter 1:4).

Is there a promise of God to which you are clinging? Don’t let go. His Word is true and sure.

A point to ponder…

God promises to keep His people, and He will keep His promises.

C. H. Spurgeon

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Chronicles 25-27

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

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