First Light

Isaiah 2:5 “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.”

Have you ever thought about what Heaven will be like? I think about a real place with real people that we know. In addition, I think of all the things we will have and will not have in Heaven. For example, there are streets of gold (as opposed to asphalt) and mansions (as opposed to my house), but there is no pain, death, worry, or disappointment. Of course, there is no sin! Heaven will be an amazing place! Read more »

Isaiah 1:11 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.”

Have you ever forgotten something and run back into the room to grab it, only to completely forget what you were getting? You can make great strides but forget why! Israel was doing exactly that when Isaiah chapter 1 begins. They were doing great things but had forgotten why. Read more »

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

The Bible often speaks about direction and destination. Sometimes we can see one and forget the other, but direction and destination are tied together. One is right in front of you, while the other is off in the distance. However, if you are going to end up at the right spot, you have to go in the right direction! The direction you are heading is important because it determines your destination. Read more »

Proverbs 11:5-6 “The righteousness of the upright shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.”

I visited a home several years ago in which there were boxes everywhere, stacked floor to ceiling. It was a sight to behold! At some point, the dear folks who lived there started collecting things which in time owned them. Read more »

II Thessalonians 3:9 “Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.”

Do you know your rights? “I know my rights!” is a phrase you often hear in our day. People can become so wrapped up in their rights that they fail to examine if something is actually right or wrong. You can actually do a lot of wrong things with your legal rights! The truth is, you can either follow your rights or you can lead by example. Those are your two choices, and you cannot do both at the same time. Read more »

II Thessalonians 1:4 “So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:”

Do you have a plan for better health this year? You may be planning to run, to lift weights, or to exercise a set amount of time each day, but improving your physical health requires resistance. It doesn’t feel good to your body, but straining your muscles in a good way helps to strengthen them. The same is true of Christian virtues that should grow in your life. The good things that God wants to build in your life will come with some resistance and straining! Read more »

Acts 1:7-8 “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

What happens when someone has a question for which you do not have an answer? The questions can come from a child, a co-worker, a complete stranger, or even yourself, but questions without answers can keep you up at night! The Bible reminds us in Acts that you do not need to have the answer to every question if you have the power for every day. Read more »

Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.”

For how much can you ask God? For how much do you ask God? Psalm 143 teaches us that the more God owns, the more you can ask. Now, God owns everything that we have or could ask for, but often we fail to see what God owns. If you do not see God as owning everything that you need and are asking for, then you are not going to ask for what you should. You can miss out on asking because you never see God as owning! The more God owns, the more you can ask. Read more »

Psalm 139:17 “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!”

We often judge our greatness, to some extent, by the things we have done and the places we have been. You can sound pretty impressive until you find out how little you have actually accomplished! I feel like I am quite a traveler, but I can feel insignificant when meeting someone who has traveled around the world. In a similar way, Psalm 139 highlights God’s greatness and our insignificance. Read more »

Psalm 131:1 “Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.”

In our modern society, we are so caught up in being busy that we often “bite off more than we can chew.” Everyone is so busy these days! It is almost a badge of honor to be busy, regardless of what you are accomplishing or what consequences may come. That is why I love Psalm 131. It gives perspective to people who do more than they can or should. Read more »