April 28, 2023

Friday

Don’t Be Conformed

Psalm 119:11

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

Romans 12:2

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

D. L. Moody

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 20-22

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 27, 2023

Thursday

Emmaus Sunday

Luke 24:13-35

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

Luke 24:32

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 18-19

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 26, 2023

Wednesday

Permanent Joy

Acts 5:40-42

¹⁶ Rejoice evermore.

¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.

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

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

C. H. Spurgeon

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 15-17

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 25, 2023

Tuesday

Joy of Discovery

1 John 1: 3-4

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

Psalm 119:162

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

Matthew Henry

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 12-14

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 24, 2023

Monday

In the Presence of Royalty

Psalm 73: 25-28

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

Philippians 4:5

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

St. Patrick

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 9-11

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

April 22 – April 23, 2023

The Way God Wins

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

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

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

Colossians 2:13–15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Points to ponder…

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

Saturday’s Reading

2 Kings 4-5

Sunday’s Reading

2 Kings 6-8

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 21, 2023

Friday

Are Your Pots Holy?

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

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

Zechariah 14:21a

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

Jerry Bridges, in The Pursuit of Holiness

Read the Bible through in a year

2 Kings 1-3

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 20, 2023

Thursday

Win-Win

Philippians 2: 1-4

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

John 17:11

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Kings 21-22

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 19, 2023

Wednesday

The Stranger of Galilee

Psalm 5: 11-12

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

Luke 24:17

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

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

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Kings 18-20

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 18, 2023

Tuesday

Since We Have Hope

2 Corinthians 3: 12-18

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

2 Corinthians 3:12

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

John Maxwell

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Kings 15-17

I love you!!!

2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

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