April 4, 2023

Tuesday

Undistracted

Hebrews 12: 1-2

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

1 Corinthians 7:35

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

Coach Tom Landry

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 28-31

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

April 3, 2023

Monday

Pleasing God

Hebrews 13: 13-17

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

Matthew 17:5

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

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

It should be our greatest desire to please our Redeemer.

R. C. Sproul, in Pleasing God

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 25-27

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

April 1 – April 2, 2023

Choice Considerations

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

Romans 14:19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Points to ponder…

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

Saturday’s Reading

1 Samuel 18-20

Sunday’s Reading

1 Samuel 21-24

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 31, 2023

Friday

Our Go-Between

1 John 1: 1-2

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

Hebrews 7:25

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

Austin Phelps

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 15-17

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 30, 2023

Thursday

March Madness—A Biblical Course in Anger Management: Maintenance

Colossians 3: 8-17

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

Genesis 4:6

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

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 13-14

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 29, 2023

Wednesday

Steadfast

John 17: 20-23

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

1 Corinthians 15:58

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

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

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

You can place your steadfast trust in Him.

A point to ponder…

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

Dwight L. Moody

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 9-12

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 28, 2023

Tuesday

Tipping the Scale

Ecclesiastes 3: 16-17

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

Proverbs 21:2

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

Max Lucado

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 4-8

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 27, 2023

Monday

Fairweather or Faithful?

Genesis 39: 1-6

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

1 Corinthians 4:2

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

Faithfulness in little things is a big thing.

John Chrysostom

Read the Bible through in a year

1 Samuel 1-3

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

March 25 – March 26, 2023

The Way Up Is Down

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

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

John 13:14–15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Points to ponder…

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

Saturday’s Reading

Judges 19-21

Sunday’s Reading

Ruth 1-4

I love you!!!

© 2000-2021 B. Michael Goerlich

March 24, 2023

Friday

Temple Duty

John 14: 19-25

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

1 Corinthians 6:19

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

Watchman Nee

Read the Bible through in a year

Judges 16-18

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 23, 2023

Thursday

March Madness—A Biblical Course in Anger Management: Forgiveness

Matthew 6:12

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

Matthew 6:12

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

Read the Bible through in a year

Judges 13-15

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 22, 2023

Wednesday

From Success to Significance

Matthew 6: 32-34

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

Daniel 4:37

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

Os Guinness

Read the Bible through in a year

Judges 10-12

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 21, 2023

Tuesday

Resist or Assist?

Matthew 23: 11-12

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

James 4:6

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

God assists the humble but resists the proud.

John Blanchard

Read the Bible through in a year

Judges 8-9

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 20, 2023

Monday

The "Better" Principle

Mark 4: 35-41

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

Daniel 3:25

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

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

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

A point to ponder…

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

William S. Plumer

Read the Bible through in a year

Judges 6-7

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

March 18 – March 19, 2022

The Arm of God

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

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

Isaiah 40:10–11

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Point to ponder…

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

Saturday’s Reading

Judges 1-2

Sunday’s Reading

Judges 3-5

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 17, 2023

Friday

Speak Up for Revival

Ezekiel 2: 1-10

⁷ And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.”

Ezekiel 2:7

After one hundred years of Protestantism and in the wake of the Thirty Years’ War, Philipp Jakob Spener, a German pastor, called people back to regular Bible study, prayer, and piety. The Church had grown cold, and many Christians had become indifferent. Spener exhorted people to trust God completely and to produce good works. He felt pastors should rededicate themselves to ministering the Word of God to their people, and that youth should be well-instructed in Scripture.

For all this, Spener was frequently attacked, yet the revival begun under his ministry—called Pietism—touched Christianity in a way felt to this day.

It seems odd we’d be attacked for calling people back to God, back to Bible study, prayer, faith, and good works. Yet we live in a culture increasingly opposed to spiritual revival. Don’t be intimidated. God is able to protect us when we take a stand for Him. We need revival in our lands, and it won’t come unless it begins in us.

A point to ponder…

If we succeed in getting the people to seek eagerly and diligently in the book of life for their joy, their spiritual life will be wonderfully strengthened and they will become altogether different people.

Philipp Spener

Read the Bible through in a year

Joshua 22-24

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 16, 2023

Thursday

March Madness—A Biblical Course in Anger Management: Actions

Numbers 20: 1-13

¹¹ And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.”

Numbers 20:11

In May 1962 a new comic book showed up on newsstands The Incredible Hulk—about Dr. Bruce Banner, who, when enraged with angry surges of adrenaline, was transformed into a huge, green-skinned humanoid. It is an image we can identify with because strong anger has a way of transforming our personalities for a few moments and making us destructive people.

Psychologist Dr. Joshua Klapow warns, “Anger is a highly physiological emotion. There are so many changes going on when we are angry that we literally become a different person—if only temporarily—if we are angry enough. Adrenaline rushes through our body causing us to feel strong and ready to act. We very much go from ‘normal’ to an ‘Incredible Hulk’ state.”

In Numbers 20, God told Moses to speak to the rock and it would bring forth water, but Moses was so enraged at the people that he struck the rock twice. It was a brief act of anger, but it kept Moses from leading Israel into the Promised Land.

Robert Ingersoll said, “Anger is the wind that blows out the lamp of the mind.” Don’t let the winds of March madness blow across your mind this month.

A point to ponder…

Anger is one letter short of danger.
Anonymous

Read the Bible through in a year

Joshua 19-21

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 15, 2023

Wednesday

A Whole Person

Titus 2: 1-9

⁷ In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,”

Titus 2:7

In mathematics two of the basic kinds of numbers are integers and fractions: 2, 100, and 56 are integers, while ½, ¼, and 2.5 are fractions. Integers, from a Latin root meaning “whole” or “entire.” The word integrity comes from the same root; a person with integrity cannot be divided in beliefs or morality based on varying circumstances.

When the apostle Paul wrote to his young pastoral protégé, Timothy, he told him to show “integrity” in doctrine, to be incorruptible in belief and in actions. Paul wanted Timothy to hold fast to the truth of God, not allowing himself to be divided. A person of integrity obeys the whole counsel of God every day, in every circumstance. Daniel’s three friends in Babylon demonstrated integrity when they were threatened with being burned alive (Daniel 3:16-18). They told the king they would not divide their allegiance, that they would maintain their faith in God and His promises. That is integrity.

Are you a whole person or a fractioned person today? If your beliefs, and therefore your actions, have become divided, gather them back together as you commit to God and His Word.

A point to ponder…

Integrity of heart is indispensable.

John Calvin

Read the Bible through in a year

Joshua 16-18

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 14, 2023

Tuesday

Labor Pains

Romans 8: 22-25

²⁰ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Revelation 22:20

Have you seen videos of labor pain simulation? Electric currents to the abdomen of men cause muscle contractions that approximate the pain a woman feels during childbirth. Most childbirths are prolonged and painful. So it’s no surprise that Paul used labor pain as a way to illustrate the “groans and labors” that “the whole creation” is experiencing as it waits for the birth of the new earth (Romans 8:22-25).

But it’s not just “creation” that is groaning and laboring; “we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for . . . the redemption of our body.” It is painfully obvious that things are not right with the world. And if we are honest with ourselves, things are not always right with us either. We know the world needs to be fixed, and we long for the day when there will be no more tears, death, sin, or pain (Revelation 21:4).

But Jesus did not tell us when He would return (Mark 13:32; Acts 1:6-7). What to do in the interim? Pray as the apostle John prayed: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20) And live in a manner that proves our longing for His appearing (1 Timothy 6:11-16).

A point to ponder…

God’s people may groan, but they may not grumble.

Charles H. Spurgeon

Read the Bible through in a year

Joshua 12-15

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 13, 2023

Monday

The Cornerstone

Ephesians 2: 19-22

¹⁷ And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?”

Luke 20:17

In the ancient world, when a new stone building was to be constructed, the first stone set in place was the cornerstone. Great care was taken with the carving of the cornerstone since it determined the direction of the walls that were built out from it. The cornerstone was the most important stone in the building.

To the religious leaders of His day, Jesus intimated that He was the “chief cornerstone.” But of what? To what building was Jesus referring when He declared Himself to be the chief cornerstone? He didn’t say, but the apostle Paul did in Ephesians 2:19-22. Jesus initiated the building of what is becoming “a holy temple in the Lord”—that is, the Church of all true believers, also called “the household of God.” Jesus is the chief cornerstone, “the apostles and prophets” are the foundation, and we are the “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5) God is using to build the temple in which His presence dwells.

Everything depends on Jesus; He is the cornerstone that provides direction and structure to the Church. Our faith begins and ends with Him.

A point to ponder…

Christ is our temple, in whom by faith all believers meet.

Matthew Henry

Read the Bible through in a year

Joshua 9-11

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

March 11 – March 12, 2023

Strength in Weakness

⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

How do people do it? How do they withstand the Hurricane Katrina–like blows that pummel their lives? The wind, the waves, the surges of heartbreak, crashing one after another, unrelenting in their destruction. How do these people survive . . . and still lift their faces to the Lord? How can they be so strong when they are at their weakest?

I know the answer. I know it because I’ve lived it. Over the course of my life, some violent storms have hit me. But somewhere in the middle of each storm, God’s voice reminds me that He provides sufficient grace for this trial. And when I am weak, He is always very strong. “Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Note that connection between my weakness and Christ’s power. “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” It’s the hard times and the unhealthy times and the hurting times that reveal my weaknesses. And it’s also during those times that God shows up strong.

We often treat suffering like a game of dodgeball. When anything hard comes at us, we jump out of the way. We duck, dive, and hide. We spend our whole lives trying to avoid anything painful or hard. But there’s a better kind of life—a deeper, more fulfilling kind of life—that isn’t about avoiding pain. It’s about finding God faithful and sufficient in the midst of whatever trials or thorns He allows. There’s something about our weakness that opens the flow of God’s strength. In the midst of a trial, there’s a power coming into your life that you’ve never experienced before, because you never needed it so desperately before. Only when you’re personally weak can you experience this supernatural strength.

When you see a hard thing coming your way, try a different reaction: I may not want this, I certainly didn’t choose it, but I can accept it and be content even now. I know God’s grace is sufficient to get me through it. I’m going to see the power of Christ in my life in an incredible way. I’m weak, but He’s strong.

God never allows a thorn without providing sufficient grace and strength in our weaknesses. Sufficient grace is not just enough to survive, but enough so that we can have supernatural joy in the midst of anything He allows us to go through. That’s strength.

Points to ponder…

• “My grace is sufficient for you,” God promises. What does grace look like? Describe how you’ve received God’s grace during a trial.
• “For when I am weak, then I am strong,” Paul admitted. How are you weak? How does this actually make you strong?

Saturday’s Reading

Joshua 1-4

Sunday’s Reading

 Joshua 5-8

 I love you!!!

© 2000-2021 B. Michael Goerlich

March 10, 2023

Friday

Knowing the Future

Isaiah 46: 8-13

⁹ Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”

Isaiah 46:9-10

In the fall of 2018, Business Insider ran an article on books that have predicted the future. For example, Gulliver’s Travels described a planet with two moons, and 150 years later astronomers noticed Mars had two moons. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea anticipated the invention of the submarine. H. G. Wells predicted the atomic bomb in his 1914 novel The World Set Free. Martin Caidin’s Cyborg envisioned bionic limbs. Science fiction writers use their imaginations to create scenarios that may later match reality.

But only one book predicts the future unfailingly, far in advance, and with a proven track record of total accuracy. God’s quality of omniscience (He is all-knowing) includes every future contingency and event. And He has revealed those future events for our preparation and anticipation. God has foretold the future because He knows it—and He controls it.

We have hope because God is in control of the future, and His every promise anticipates a fulfillment that will eventually culminate in His glorious return. Our hearts should overflow with gladness.

A point to ponder…

God, the architect of the ages, has seen fit to take us into His confidence concerning His plan for the future and has revealed His purpose and program in detail in the Word.

J. Dwight Pentecost

Read the Bible through in a year

Deuteronomy 32-34

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 9, 2023

Thursday

A Biblical Course in Anger Management: Words

Proverbs 15: 1-4

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1

Roger Dawson is known as “America’s Premier Business Negotiator.” He’s spent his life training business executives to negotiate good deals in tense settings. His advice: “Be careful what you say at the beginning. If the other person takes a position with which you totally disagree, don’t argue. Arguing always intensifies the other person’s desire to prove himself or herself right.”

Solomon said something similar nearly three thousand years ago. Never has society so needed this advice! Our world is filled with angry words between heads of state, between political leaders, between politicians, between newscasters and commentators. Our electronic media doesn’t help; it often amplifies the anger. If we aren’t careful, the world’s angry spirit can seep into our marriages, homes, and churches.

Proverbs 15:1 teaches us to underreact. If someone approaches you in an angry spirit, you gain the advantage over them by remaining calm. When you argue with someone, it makes them defensive and locks them into their position. That’s not a winning strategy.

It takes the Holy Spirit’s calmness within us, but we should take Proverbs 15:1 as our guide: “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”

A point to ponder…

Hot heads and cold hearts never solved anything.
Billy Graham

Read the Bible through in a year

Deuteronomy 30-31

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 8, 2023

Wednesday

First Responses

Psalm 107: 1-8

¹⁹ Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”

Daniel 2:19

Sadly, “first responders” is a term we know all too well today. They are the trained technicians who are the first on the scene of a tragedy or disaster: police, medical personnel, fire fighters, wilderness and water rescuers, various military units, humanitarian teams, and others. What is the first response of the first responders? It is to save, to help, to give aid and comfort wherever needed.

Christians might be considered “first responders” in the world as well, offering whatever practical help we can to those in need. But what about our “first response”? Paul gives three good ones in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: rejoice, pray, give thanks. Specifically, how often do we couple prayer and thanksgiving together? When we pray, and God answers, what is our first response? In Scripture, it is often praise before anything else. When Daniel and his three friends prayed for God’s intervention in Babylon, the answer came and Daniel’s first response was to praise God (Daniel 2:17-23).

God is to be praised and thanked in all things, as Paul wrote—but especially when He answers our prayers.

A point to ponder…

When all Thy mercies, O my God, my rising soul surveys, transported with the view, I’m lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Joseph Addison

Read the Bible through in a year

Deuteronomy 28-29

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich

March 7, 2023

Tuesday

The Need for Prayer

Daniel 2: 16-18

¹² And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

Luke 6:12

Officially, church historians recognize seven ecumenical church councils held between A.D. 325 and A.D. 787. The first, the First Council of Nicaea, met to agree on the nature of Jesus of Nazareth as both Son of God and Son of Man, as both fully divine and fully human.

The humanity of Christ, while at the same time divine, is hard to understand. But thankfully, Scripture gives us illustrations: Like us, Jesus suffered, experienced hunger, required sleep, ate food, and had limits on His knowledge (Mark 13:32). One of the most striking and helpful illustrations of Jesus’ humanity was His prayer life. We might think that, if Jesus was truly divine, He would have had no need to pray for knowledge, guidance, or help. Yet He did, following the example of godly men like Daniel in Babylon (Daniel 2:16-18). Jesus repeatedly said that He only did what the Father showed Him to do (John 5:19), and prayer was His means.

If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to go to His Father in prayer for strengthening and guidance, how much more do we (Psalm 32:6)?

A point to ponder…

Prayer and a holy life are one.

E. M. Bounds

Read the Bible through in a year

Deuteronomy 24-27

I love you!!!

© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich