June 30, 2023

Friday

The Object of Jealousy

2 Corinthians 11:2

¹⁴ For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:”

Exodus 34:14

Sometimes reading the Bible raises questions. For instance, we are warned in Scripture to avoid jealousy and envy—it is “rottenness to the bones” (Proverbs 14:30)—and yet one of God’s names in the Old Testament is “Jealous”—for He is “a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14).

Why is jealousy an attribute for God but a sin for us? Because of the motivation. God is not jealous for us because He envies something we have that He doesn’t have. Instead, think of “jealous” as “zealous”—God loves us so much that He is zealous for us to worship Him alone, to live in close communion with Him. God is jealous for us because He knows we will benefit from our devotion to Him. On the other hand, when we are jealous, it is for selfish reasons. We want something for our own pleasure that another person has. God’s jealousy is others-centered; human jealousy is self-centered.

If you find yourself experiencing jealousy, ask yourself, Who is the object of my feelings? Do I want the best for the other person or the “best” for myself?

A point to ponder…

God is jealous for the good of His redeemed people—but He can never be jealous of anything or anyone. 
John Blanchard

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 86-89

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 29, 2023

Thursday

Faithful Fathers: Joseph

Matthew 1:18-25

¹⁴ When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:”

Matthew 2:14

History is full of unsung heroes—people who were faithful, true, servant-minded, and did it all with no expectation of praise or reward. In our modern era, think of teachers, helpful neighbors, first responders, members of the military, and so many more.

The biblical stories reveal unsung heroes as well; one of the most prominent of which was Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus. We meet Joseph in the early chapters of Matthew and Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ birth—and then he disappears from sight once Jesus begins His ministry. But we are safe in saying that Joseph took upon himself the most difficult task of shepherding the mother of Jesus, and then Jesus Himself, through the perilous days before and after Jesus’ birth. Joseph was a father who took God at His Word (Matthew 1:20-25). Given Jesus’ precocious nature at age twelve (Luke 2:41-52), Joseph must have nurtured Jesus’ spiritual development from an early age.

Faithful fathers don’t worry about rewards or credit. They depend on eternity to reveal the fruit of their faithfulness to their children.

A point to ponder…

Human fatherhood should be molded and modeled on the pattern of the fatherhood of God.
William Barclay

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 80-85

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 28, 2023

Wednesday

Just Rewards

1 Corinthians 3: 1-17

8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”

1 Corinthians 3:8

The techniques of some of history’s greatest teachers—like Solomon, Jesus, and Paul—are illustrated in Scripture. Specifically, we learn from their use of metaphors and illustrations to make their spiritual and practical points.

In the space of seventeen verses (1 Corinthians 3:1-17), Paul uses metaphors to promote unity in the Church and illustrate the basis for eternal rewards. He uses an agricultural metaphor (verses 6-8), and an architectural metaphor (verses 10-17) to talk about rewards. How we plant and how we build will be tested by God. How we have used what God has given will determine our rewards or the lack of them. So, what have we been given with which to serve Christ? Grace, love, spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit, talents and abilities, time, tangible resources—everything we have is given to us to use faithfully for Christ and His Kingdom.

If the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) took place today, how would your works fare in the fire of God’s presence? Purpose that today will be a day of faithfulness.

A point to ponder…

Today, let us rise and go to our work. Tomorrow, we shall rise and go to our reward. 
Richard Fuller

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 78-79

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 27, 2023

Tuesday

Do it Heartily

Colossians 3:22-24

²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

Colossians 3:23

Have you ever seen someone sweep a floor half-heartedly? The result is the opposite of the desired purpose—and it remains half finished. To do something well, you need to put your heart into it. One translation of Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men” (HCSB). True enthusiasm comes from God. The Lord doesn’t want us sulking around, bored, languishing at our tasks. He has a plan for every day; and as we tackle the projects before us—whether doing the laundry or building a skyscraper—we should remember we’re doing His will and fulfilling an agenda He designed for us.

George Matthew Adams wrote, “Enthusiasm is a kind of faith that has been set afire.”
If you’re reading this in the morning, go into the day with enthusiasm. If you’re reading it at night, wake up tomorrow with excitement. Say to yourself—“This is the day the Lord has made!” And whatever you do, do it heartily, excitedly, energetically, cheerfully—and with enthusiasm.

When we are given a task for God, we’re to do it heartily with all our might and strength.

A point to ponder…

You cannot love a thing without wanting to fight for it.
G. K. Chesterton

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 74-77

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 27, 2023

Tuesday

Do it Heartily

Colossians 3:22-24

²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

Colossians 3:23

Have you ever seen someone sweep a floor half-heartedly? The result is the opposite of the desired purpose—and it remains half finished. To do something well, you need to put your heart into it. One translation of Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men” (HCSB). True enthusiasm comes from God. The Lord doesn’t want us sulking around, bored, languishing at our tasks. He has a plan for every day; and as we tackle the projects before us—whether doing the laundry or building a skyscraper—we should remember we’re doing His will and fulfilling an agenda He designed for us.

George Matthew Adams wrote, “Enthusiasm is a kind of faith that has been set afire.”
If you’re reading this in the morning, go into the day with enthusiasm. If you’re reading it at night, wake up tomorrow with excitement. Say to yourself—“This is the day the Lord has made!” And whatever you do, do it heartily, excitedly, energetically, cheerfully—and with enthusiasm.

When we are given a task for God, we’re to do it heartily with all our might and strength.

A point to ponder…

You cannot love a thing without wanting to fight for it.
G. K. Chesterton

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 74-77

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 26, 2023

Monday

That Glorious Day

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11

² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”

1 Thessalonians 5:2

When the apostle Paul planted a church in Thessalonica, he had little time to establish the new believers in their faith. According to Acts 17:2, he was driven from town by a persecuting mob after two or three weeks of teaching. But evidently Paul left the Thessalonians with a deep belief in our Lord’s return. They were so eager to learn more about the Second Coming that Paul wrote two letters to them—1 and 2 Thessalonians—answering questions and stoking their anticipation for the Lord’s soon appearing in the clouds of glory.

Those letters are for us too. They are full of information about the Rapture of the Church, the resurrection of the dead, and the return of Christ.

Imagine how excited those early believers were to receive Paul’s letters and soak in his teaching. We, too, should eagerly digest every word in Scripture about our Lord’s promised return, to better anticipate the moment of His coming for us. How differently we’d live if, like the Thessalonians, our hearts were seized with anticipation for that glorious day!

A point to ponder…

I am waiting for the coming of the Lord who died for me; / Oh, His words have thrilled my spirit, “I will come again for thee.”
S. Trevor Francis, hymnist

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 70-73

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

June 24– June 25, 2023

Trust + Wait

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Psalm 37:3, 7

Rest is such an elusive thing. Our bodies and souls desperately need it, which is why God gave us command #4: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). As our Designer, God knows how much we need a break, and He even modeled it for us on the seventh day of Creation. But some of us act allergic to slowing down. We can hardly manage to stop working and to sit still, and even when our bodies are still, our minds and souls are still frenzied. We need rest.

Psalm 37 is likely the main passage in Scripture that describes rest. David wrote this psalm, but it’s unique. Almost everything David wrote was addressed to God—conversations with God, thoughts about God, worship of God. Psalm 37, however, is written to God’s people. This psalm is for us.

The theme of Psalm 37 is trusting God during a difficult season of perceived injustice. Perceived is a qualifier, because in the end, nothing will remain unjust. God will balance the books of justice. But until then, we have to trust God.

“Fret not,” David tells us repeatedly in this psalm. “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers” (Psalm 37:1)! The word fret literally means don’t get heated up. Don’t kindle yourself. Don’t get worked up about the person who seems to go unpunished and succeeds by doing wrong. We can’t help but think, Look how she acts! Look how he cheats and steals! Look how she slanders and betrays!

Rather than fret—rest. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (37:7a). So what does it mean to be still and rest in the Lord? It means to be at peace without resolution. You may not be able to fix your problems anytime soon, and you can’t put your life on hold. Without tidy solutions, during a seemingly unending season of turmoil, you can be at peace and rest in the Lord.

If you read through the rest of Psalm 37, you could write beside almost every verse one of two words: trust or wait. For example:

“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil” (37:8). Trust.

“For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land” (37:9). Wait.

In your time with the Lord this week, you could go through the whole psalm and write these words, trust and wait, right in your Bible. It’s the refrain of this psalm: trust and wait, trust and wait, trust and wait.

Trusting is leaning on God. Specifically, during a season of injustice, trusting means confidently expecting that at the right time, God will act, and you will have a front row seat to your own vindication (see Psalm 23:5, 27:13).

Waiting is accepting God’s timing, knowing that you have to go through this season of hardship. You have to stay in this difficult place and feel this pain. You can’t go around trials, only through them.

Sometimes we don’t experience rest in life because we’re trusting but not waiting, or waiting but not trusting. Trusting without waiting is striving. Do everything you can do, and then trust that God will come through. Waiting without trusting is worrying. Yet God reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6a). Trusting and waiting have to go together. Combine them, and you’ll have peace even without resolution. You’ll have rest.

Points to ponder…

• In your life, what does it look like when you trust but don’t wait? What does it look like when you wait but don’t trust?
• In what hardship in your life do you need to experience God’s peace and rest?

Saturday’s Reading

Psalm 58-65

Sunday’s Reading

Psalm 66-69

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 23, 2023

Friday

At What Cost?

Lamentations 5: 19-22

²¹ Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.”

Lamentations 5:21

When King Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered in 1922, it instantly became a famous tourist destination with thousands of people coming every day, year after year. Carbon dioxide from the visitors’ breath and all the dust they stirred up had a dulling influence on the stunning gold walls of the tomb. The site was closed for years while the Getty Conservation Institute restored the images and installed new ventilation systems and walkways. Now King Tut’s tomb is open again, but when asked how much the restoration cost, the institute says it was so expensive they won’t disclose the cost.

We live in a dusty world, and the devil is always breathing down our backs. It’s easy to become spiritually dull and stained. Sometimes we lose the golden glow of God’s energy in our hearts. We often need for Him to do as He said in Psalm 23—to restore our souls.

But we shouldn’t forget the great cost that gained all our blessings for us at Calvary, for He gave us Himself.

Let Jesus revive your heart today, then thank Him for the cleansing power of His blood.

A point to ponder…

When Satan deplores us and the world ignores us, God restores us.
Anonymous

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 51-57

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 22, 2023

Thursday

Faithful Fathers: Zacharias

Luke 1: 5-25

⁶ And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;”

Mark 1:6

In the 1950s, American churches were full of prosperous, buttoned-down, middle-class families. And then came the sixties and the countercultural revolution. Many of the children of those fifties Christian parents joined the “Jesus People Movement,” showing up at church with long hair and beards, wearing sandals and beads. Lots of fathers found it hard to accept their children’s choices.

A father in the first century wrestled with his son’s countercultural approach to life—and made some serious adjustments. Zacharias was a priest in Jerusalem when the angel Gabriel appeared and announced that Zacharias and his wife would have a son. That was fine, but their son turned out to be John the Baptist—a man who lived in the wilderness, wore a garment made of camel’s hair, a leather belt, and subsisted on locusts and wild honey. And his message to Israel was no less unique: Repent, for the Messiah is coming!

When God’s call on a child’s life is unexpected or out of the ordinary, a faithful father will do whatever he can to encourage that calling.

A point to ponder…

The more a child becomes aware of a father’s willingness to listen, the more a father will begin to hear.
Gordon MacDonald

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 46-50

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© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 21, 2023

Wednesday

God of Second Chances

Joel 2: 12-27

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

Jonah 3:1-2

It was not uncommon in the Old Testament for “the word of the Lord” to come to God’s prophets again and again. It happened to Samuel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah, and others. And it also happened to Jonah: The word of the Lord came to Jonah the first time (Jonah 1:1) and then the second time (Jonah 3:1). With the other prophets, the “second time” meant additional prophetic utterances they were to deliver. But with Jonah, the “second time” was because Jonah had failed to speak God’s word the first time. Jonah was a disobedient prophet.

God commissioned Jonah to go east to Assyria, to the capital of Nineveh and deliver a message of judgment. But Jonah fled west toward Spain because he feared the Assyrians. You know the story—Jonah ended up in the sea where he was swallowed by a great fish. Jonah repented and called on the Lord and was delivered. God gave him a second chance.

Don’t let your past keep you from trusting God for a second (or third, or fourth) chance. The God of grace loves to forgive.

A point to ponder…

Forgiveness is to be set loose from sins. 
G. Campbell Morgan

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 40-45

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 20, 2023

Tuesday

Stand Firm

2 Timothy 3: 1-9

³ And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

Matthew 16:3

Jesus called out the religious leaders of His day who asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. He rebuked them, saying they could read the signs of the weather but could not read the signs of the times (Matthew 16:1-4).

That wasn’t all Jesus said about signs of the times. When His disciples asked Him what would be the signs (indicators) of the end of the age, He gave them many (Matthew 24; Luke 21). And the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy about the signs of godlessness in the last days prior to Christ’s return—things like loving pleasure more than loving God and a long list of others (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Given the signs that Paul mentions, all of which have to do with personal character and behavior, the world seems headed for a downward crisis.

Keep your eyes on culture and on Christ at the same time. As the one deteriorates, the nearness of the Other increases. Prepare to stand firm and faithful until the end.

A point to ponder…

We are not to require “signs,” but we are to regard signs. 
Ian MacPherson

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 36-39

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 19, 2023

Monday

God’s Will for You

Ephesians 3: 7-9

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Romans 12:3

When the Israelites traveled from Mount Sinai to the edge of Canaan, the Kohathites—descendants of the second son of Levi—had the privilege of carrying the Ark of the Covenant and other holy vessels (Numbers 4:1-15). By contrast, someone—we don’t know who—was responsible for tent pegs, ropes, poles, and the like.

How did those with the menial tasks feel about those with the most holy tasks? Paul’s words in Romans 12:3 would have been good advice: Don’t think too highly (or too lowly) of yourself. Rather, think realistically about the role God has given you to play in building up the Body of Christ. God gives grace and faith to each one; we must discern the purpose of God’s grace to us and fulfill His calling. Some carry the Ark; some carry the tent pegs; all move the purpose of God into the future.

What grace has God given you? Step out in faith to prove what is His good and perfect will for you (Romans 12:1-2).

A point to ponder…

To obey God’s will is to find the fulfillment of our lives. 
David Watson

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 32-35

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

June 17– June 18, 2023

Within Your Jurisdiction

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

Matthew 7:1–2

Doesn’t it seem like everybody knows this verse? Especially that first phrase. People who don’t even believe in God’s Word quote this one little sentence with all the authority of an Old Testament prophet. Doesn’t the Bible say, “Judge not, that you be not judged”? Yes, it does, they’re quick to remind you. As if nobody ever has any right to comment on another’s behavior or confront them with biblical truth, even for the purpose of trying to be caring and helpful.

Because that would be “judgmental,” right?

Wrong.

 “PART OF BEING AUTHENTIC AS BELIEVERS IS ADMITTING WE’RE STILL IN PROCESS.”

 These words of Jesus do not amount to a categorical ban on evaluating people’s actions. Instead, the context makes it abundantly clear—He was decrying the double standard where we expect behavior from others that we don’t expect from ourselves. He was condemning the practice of picking at slivers in other people’s eyes when obvious logs are protruding from ours. “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). But He wasn’t saying we can’t make discerning judgments based on others’ actions. We just need to be sure the first person whose actions we’re judging—by the same or even a more rigid standard—is ourselves.

Actually, a person’s actions are among the few things we can judge. As Jesus said, “Each tree is known by its own fruit” (Luke 6:44).

The things we can’t judge are these things the Bible says we have no business or capability judging:

1. Motives. We can never really know why people do what they do. Only God knows a person’s heart. We don’t even fully know our own hearts, much less somebody else’s. Paul warned, “Do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5). God doesn’t want us barging into territory that is His alone to monitor. Judging people’s heart motives is His job, not ours, and He doesn’t need any help with it.

2. Appearances. We also can’t make accurate judgments of people based solely on things like the clothes they wear, the car they drive, the job they hold, or the place where they live. As God said to Samuel in the Old Testament, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Forming quick opinions of others based on surface judgments of their appearance is how we allow false, incomplete information to determine how we treat people.

3. Harsh judgments. Even when we do need to make a judgment call on someone’s actions, our desire shouldn’t be to bring the hammer down. “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God” (Romans 14:10). Every delicate matter must be approached with maximum humility.

Part of being authentic as believers is admitting we’re still in process. All of us. Nobody has arrived. And though living responsibly with each other does require making judgments at times, back and forth, based on the fruit of our actions, humility grows by keeping ourselves under the scrutiny of God.

The life you spend the most time judging should be yours, always remembering that “with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” Being real about the awesome weight of your own sin will temper the tone you take with others.

Points to ponder…

• What would you identify as your main motives behind the judgments you make about other people?
• In what ways do action-based judgments of others (and ourselves) serve a helpful function for all of us?

Saturday’s Reading

Psalm 21-25

Sunday’s Reading

Psalm 26-31

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 16, 2023

Friday

God Loves When We Don’t

Psalm 25:1-10

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

Luke 15:20

Many Christians know John Newton wrote “Amazing Grace,” but not all know how the hymn reflects Newton’s own story. Newton was the “wretch” who “was lost” and then “found” by God.

John Newton served on a slave-trading ship as a young man, having turned his back on the God of his youth. As a 23-year-old, the ship he was on was nearly destroyed in a violent storm, during which Newton called out to God to save him—it was the beginning of his conversion to Christ. John Newton is a good example of how God continues to love even those who don’t love Him—just as Jesus illustrated in the famous story of the prodigal son. That rebellious young man turned his back on his father yet found that his father’s love for him had never ceased.

John 3:16 says that God so loved the world—some of whom have rejected Him—that He sent Christ to show the world His love. Whether you love God today or not, He loves you.

A point to ponder…

The true measure of God’s love is that He loves without measure.

Anonymous

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 17-20

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 15, 2023

Thursday

Faithful Fathers: Israelite Fathers

Deuteronomy 6: 1-9

⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Deuteronomy 6:7

When it was time for the second generation of post-Exodus Israelites to enter the Promised Land, Moses made sure they understood the covenant God had instituted with their parents at Sinai. Central to the preservation of the covenant was passing it from one generation to the next—from fathers to their children.

Religion wasn’t a compartmentalized affair in Israel—observance of the Sabbath, bedtime prayers, and special festivals only. God intended for His covenant commands to permeate every aspect of Israelite life. Fathers were to incorporate God’s Word into their children’s lives at every opportunity: in the house, in the byways, upon rising, upon retiring—and all the times in between. If we translate that idea to our day, our faith should not be a “Sunday-only” affair, but a 24/7 reality in the life of the Christian family. Fathers should take the lead in training and instructing their children in the Lord at every opportunity (Ephesians 6:4).

Faithful fathers are those who show their children the relevance of God’s Word to all of life.

A point to ponder…

A father’s holy life is a rich legacy for his sons.
Charles H. Spurgeon

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 9-16

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 14, 2023

Wednesday

Trust in God

Luke 16:13

⁴ Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.”

Psalm 40:4

The word binary has gained popular credence in the digital age. Binary can mean “one or the other” or “on or off.” The first transistors were binary switches, either “open or closed.” The notion of binary decisions has given rise in the computer age to phrases like, “You can’t be a little bit pregnant/bankrupt/honest.” You either are or you aren’t.

Jesus made a binary statement in Luke 16:13 when He said it is impossible for a servant to serve two masters: God and money. If you are serving God, your heart can’t be set on money, and vice versa. Blessing comes to the one who chooses to trust and serve God instead of trusting in himself, in money, or in worldly wisdom. Blessed is the man who trusts in God (Psalm 40:4) and in His Word (Psalm 1:1-3). Our daily challenge is to weigh our trust: Is our trust in God or in ourselves?

If you are facing a faith-challenge today, make sure you aren’t trusting in two things at the same time. Trust in God and be blessed.

A point to ponder…

As long as we continue to trust to our own abilities and activities we shall avail nothing.

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 1-8

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 13, 2023

Tuesday

The Cleft of the Rock

1 Peter 2:4-10

³ For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.”

Psalm 31:3

Northern General Robert McAllister is chiefly remembered for the nine hundred letters he wrote home describing his experiences in the American Civil War. On April 11, 1864, he wrote his wife, Ellen: “One day I was riding out to hunt a safe place to fire at a target. I rode up on a little bluff; and as I reached the summit, I heard a voice. On looking down into a stone quarry I saw two of our boys earnestly engaged in prayer. I turned away as quietly as possible, thinking how delightful it was to find such deep religious feeling in my regiment.”

We’re in a spiritual battle every day, but nothing is more powerful than a quiet faith that finds a stone quarry in which to pray, perhaps with a fellow believer. The Bible says: “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).

A point to ponder…

I bowed down by the root of a tree and thanked God for His protecting care over me and my regiment that day and asked continuance of it through the day that was about to dawn upon us.

General Robert McAllister at Chancellorsville

Read the Bible through in a year

Job 40-42

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 12, 2023

Monday

Tribulation Now

Romans 5: 1-5

² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”

Romans 5:2-3

When the Bible speaks of tribulation, it isn’t always talking about the coming Great Tribulation. The English term tribulation comes from a Latin word meaning “to press or squeeze.” Jesus warned all His followers, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

We also find this word in Paul’s writings. In Romans 5, he tells us that when we are justified by faith, we have: (1) peace with God—verse 1; (2) access to grace—verse 2; (3) assurance of glory—verse 2; (4) and reversal of grief—verses 3-4. Paul wrote, “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (verses 3-4).

That doesn’t mean we’re glad when tribulation comes. It means we’re glad for the knowledge that whenever we find ourselves in trouble, God knows how to manage it and redeem the circumstances. Whenever we face troubles, we’re in the zone of grace. Trust God and let Him use trouble to produce perseverance, character, and hope in your heart.

A point to ponder…

f we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.

Warren Wiersbe

Read the Bible through in a year

Job 38-39

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

June 10– June 11, 2023

3 Guidance for Knowing God’s Will

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.”

Psalm 119:105-107

How can you know God’s will? How can you get on the right path and stay on it? There is a lot of confusion about this. Here are three, absolutely guaranteed, you-will-be-on-the-right-path guidelines. Because God wants His will to light your way every day.

First, God’s will is found in His Word. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The Bible lights up your path. It helps you navigate the way ahead.

When you are uncertain or feel like you’re in a really dark place, turn on the light of God’s Word. Pick it up and open it. Make this your daily practice, so you’re not just randomly reading, but beginning to know where the answers are. Keep a list of particular passages that have given you direction. The Scriptures help you see where your feet are standing, and perhaps more importantly, where you’re heading on the path in front of you.

Here’s the second guideline. Along with spending regular time in God’s Word, you can find further light on His will through godly counsel. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” People often think, I don’t want to ask anyone for their input. I know what I want to do. If I ask someone for advice, they might tell me my plan is a bad idea! The Bible says a foolish person doesn’t get counsel from others before they make an important decision. Don’t be indecisive—or decisive on your own. Seek the wise input of those who have proven to be trustworthy.

Third, the Spirit of God leads us. Philippians 2:13 says, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Many people want the Holy Spirit’s guidance, but they don’t seek godly counsel or the Word. Yet these are the very tools the Spirit of God uses to guide you.

If you don’t fill up on the Word and wise counsel, you’re not giving the Spirit much to work with. You’re left with only a subjective sense of “the-Lord-told-me-to-do-this.” God will not tell you to do something contrary to His Word and contrary to the godly wisdom of others. If you insist on deciding against God’s Word and wise counsel, the results will be entirely your own fault.

These three guidelines together are a powerful decision-making combination. You can say, “I’ve been in the Word, and I’m getting counsel from wise, godly people. The Spirit Himself is bearing witness with my spirit” (see Romans 8:16).

Start with Scripture, include wise counsel and reliance on God’s Spirit, and your testimony will be, “He guides me.” When life is difficult, you want to know you have sought God’s guidance every step of the way.

Points to ponder…

• When do you most struggle with living your life under the will of God?
• Which of these three: the Word, wise counsel, and God’s Spirit, do you need to include more consistently when making decisions?

Saturday’s Reading

Job 32-34

Sunday’s Reading

Job 35-37

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 9, 2023

Friday

Treasure!

Psalm 119:161-168

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

Psalm 119:162

A few years ago, a volunteer for a charity in Arizona was going through books donated for a sale. One was an old copy of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. The volunteer decided the dilapidated volume wasn’t worth saving and was about to throw it away when she thumbed through it and found a hidden chamber. Someone had used a knife to cut a hole in the middle of the book. Inside was $4,000!

That’s nothing compared to the treasure you’ll find when opening the covers of the Bible. Perhaps it would help to think of it in those terms. Use your imagination to see every word of Scripture turning to gold as you read it. Think of every promise as a precious stone. See the words about Jesus in the Gospels as sparkling like diamonds. Visualize your daily Bible study time like a miser running his hands through a chest of gold.

The treasury of Scripture will enrich your mind, refocus your goals, replace your doubts, and redirect your path—but only if you read it and heed it. Start today!

A point to ponder…

To get the best use out of [the Bible] for daily life.… Give it the best and freshest, not the most tired and dull, hour of the day.

M. S. Kimber in The Sunday School World, 1893

Read the Bible through in a year

Job 29-31

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 8, 2023

Thursday

Faithful Fathers: David

Psalm 51: 1-12

¹³ And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”

2 Samuel 12:13

It is not a matter of “if,” but of “when”—that moment when a father realizes he has sinned against his child. Perhaps it’s a moment of anger or a promise not kept, or a prolonged occupation with other things besides fatherhood leading to a loss of intimacy. Regardless of the reason, the failure brings a need for one thing, perhaps the hardest in a father’s life: confessing sin to a child and seeking forgiveness.

King David was far from a perfect father. Two of his sons, Amnon and Absalom, called David’s fatherhood into question by their acts. But the one thing David learned to do in perhaps his hardest moment was confess his sins. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and was complicit in the death of her husband, his sins were found out. To his credit, David confessed his sins to Nathan, the prophet, and to God in the heartfelt words of Psalm 51. David had many sons, most of whom we know little about. But we know they had a father who learned, painfully, to say, “I’m sorry.”

If you need to confess a failure to your child today, follow David’s example as a faithful father.

A point to ponder…

The way to cover our sin is to uncover it by confession.
Richard Sibbes

Read the Bible through in a year

Job 24-28

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 7, 2023

Wednesday

What If?

Psalm 19: 7-11

⁶⁸ Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

John 6:68

In 1994, Dr. D. James Kennedy co-authored a book with an arresting title: What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? The book detailed how Christianity has changed the world: mercy and compassion; education; government; sexuality; work ethic; healthcare; the arts; and more.

We can also ask, “What if the Bible had never been written?” After all, Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God (John 1:1-2) and Scripture is the written Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). It is the revelation of God to man through the Living Word and the written Word that has changed the course of history. The Bible is the best-selling book of all time. By 1975, more than five billion copies were in print. As of October 2017, the whole Bible has been translated into 670 languages, the New Testament into 1,521 languages, and Bible portions into 1,121 other languages. What would the world be like today if the Bible hadn’t been written and compiled under God’s direction?

What would your life be like without the Bible? Thank God today for the written Word of God that is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105).

A point to ponder…

The Bible is God’s book, not man’s book.

J. Gresham Machen

Read the Bible through in a year

Job 21-23

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

June 6, 2023

Tuesday

Create an Anti-Fear File

Deuteronomy 31: 1-8

⁶ Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

Did you hear about the little boy with two lines in a play? He was supposed to say, “It is I. Be not afraid.” But when he got on stage, he blurted out, “It’s me. And I’m scared!”

God doesn’t want us to go through life scared. He gives us tools for living confidently in the world. He gives His Word. The Bible is filled with verses designed to assist us in combating personal fear and worry.

If your mind is anxious and fearful, try something like this. Grab a stack of 3” x 5” cards and search God’s Word for verses of assurance. Create your own Anti-Fear File. Write down the words of Scripture that speak most to you and keep them close. Read them aloud. Choose a fresh verse each day and keep it where you can see it. Begin memorizing the verses one by one, sharing them with others.

Oh, yes—you might include this one: “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid’” (Matthew 14:27).

A point to ponder…

If fear dominates your life, ultimately it destroys everything God wants to do for you.

David Jeremiah

Read the Bible through in a year

Job 17-20

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

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