The Lire Lie #RTTBROS

 

  The Lire Lie #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." — 1 Peter 1:3-4

You know, I came across a story recently that really got me thinking. Back in 2014, an Italian woman named Claudia Moretti inherited her uncle's house. While cleaning it out, she discovered a safe containing about $70,000 in old Italian lire. Can you imagine? She thought she'd hit the jackpot.

But when she rushed to the bank, her excitement turned to disappointment. Italy had switched to the Euro years earlier, and the deadline to exchange the old currency had passed in 2011. All that money, all that inheritance, was just paper. Worthless. It had an expiration date, and time had run out.

That story struck me because it's a picture of how temporary everything in this world really is. We spend so much time and energy building up treasure here, things we think will last, things we're counting on for security. The stock market, real estate, savings accounts, even family heirlooms. And listen, there's nothing wrong with planning for the future, that's good stewardship. But here's the thing, nothing down here comes with a guarantee.

Jesus put it this way: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal" (Matthew 6:19). Everything here has an expiration date.

But Peter tells us about a different kind of inheritance. One that's incorruptible, undefiled, one that doesn't fade away. This inheritance isn't sitting in some vault where inflation can devalue it or thieves can steal it. It's reserved in heaven, kept by the power of God Himself.

Think about that for a minute. Your eternal inheritance doesn't depend on the economy, on political changes, on whether you picked the right investments. It's guaranteed by the faithfulness of God, and friend, He's never defaulted on a promise. He's never changed the currency on us. What He says is ours, is ours.

I'm too soon old and too late smart on this, but I've learned that the only truly secure investment we can make is in eternity. Everything else might let us down, but God never will.

So here's my question for you today: where are you storing your treasure? Are you building your life around things that fade, or are you investing in the inheritance that lasts forever?

Because when everything else loses its value, when the currency of this world becomes worthless, we'll still have every single thing God promised us. That's a hope worth holding onto.

Let's pray: Father, thank You for an inheritance that never loses its value. Help us to invest our lives in what truly matters, in what lasts forever. Teach us to hold loosely to the temporary and cling tightly to the eternal. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #EternalLife #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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The Danger of Cultural Scripture Twisting #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Danger of Cultural Scripture Twisting #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." — 2 Timothy 3:16-17

You know, I had an experience a few days ago that's been weighing on my heart, and I think it's something we all need to wrestle with in our walk with the Lord. I came across a teaching online about Bathsheba, and it got me thinking about how we handle God's Word when it makes us uncomfortable.

Now, the person teaching was arguing that Bathsheba was completely innocent, just a victim of David's power and manipulation. And I understand where that's coming from, I really do. We live in a time when we're more aware than ever of how people, especially women, have been abused and silenced. That's a good thing. But here's where I got concerned, the argument wasn't based on what Scripture actually says. It was based on what we think should have happened, filtered through our modern understanding of power dynamics and victimhood.

When I pointed out that the Bible doesn't clearly tell us whether Bathsheba went willingly or was coerced, well, let's just say I stirred up a hornet's nest. About thirty or forty people jumped into the comments, some saying I was an idiot for even suggesting she might have had a choice, others agreeing with me. But that's not really my point here.

My concern isn't whether you think Bathsheba was innocent or guilty. My concern is that we're making theological decisions based on conjecture instead of what the text actually says. The Scripture tells us "David sent for her," and then adultery happened. That's what we know. Everything else is us filling in the blanks with our own assumptions, and those assumptions are heavily influenced by the culture we're swimming in right now.

You see, this isn't a new problem. Fifty years ago, the church had its own cultural lens it was looking through, maybe a legalistic one that was too quick to blame and too slow to show grace. Today we've got a different lens, one that's sometimes so concerned with identifying victims that we're unwilling to let Scripture speak uncomfortable truths. Both are wrong because both put culture above Scripture.

Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one, we have to be willing to interpret Scripture exactly as it says, even when it makes us squirm. Even when it doesn't fit our narrative about who the good guys and bad guys are. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." That includes everyone, regardless of their circumstances, regardless of whether they've been victimized or privileged.

Now, don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying we shouldn't have compassion for people who've been hurt. I'm not saying we shouldn't be aware of power imbalances and abuse. What I am saying is that our theology can't be built on what we wish the Bible said. It has to be built on what it actually says.

Think about it this way. When Scripture wants us to know something clearly, it tells us clearly. When Amnon raped Tamar, David's daughter, Scripture doesn't leave us guessing. It says exactly what happened. But with Bathsheba, we're given limited information, and we need to be honest about that. We can have opinions, we can discuss possibilities, but we can't build doctrine on conjecture.

The real danger here is that when we let culture interpret Scripture instead of letting Scripture interpret culture, we end up with a Bible that has no power to challenge us, no authority to correct us, no ability to transform us. We end up with a God who always agrees with whatever we already believed anyway. And friends, that's not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That's not the God who said through Isaiah, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).

So here's my challenge to you today, when you read Scripture or hear someone teaching from it, ask yourself this question: are they telling me what the text actually says, or are they telling me what our culture says the text should say? Are they using solid principles of biblical interpretation, taking the plain meaning of the text, comparing Scripture with Scripture, looking at context? Or are they reading into the text what they wish was there?

Because history is just HIS story, and if we're going to be part of that story in a way that honors Him, we've got to handle His Word with more care than we handle our own opinions. We've got to be willing to say, "I don't know" when the Scripture doesn't tell us. We've got to be willing to be uncomfortable when the Scripture challenges our assumptions. And we've got to be willing to submit to what God says even when it doesn't fit what our culture says.

Let's pray: Father, give us the courage to handle Your Word honestly, even when it's uncomfortable. Help us not to twist Scripture to fit our cultural moment, but to let Your Word transform our thinking. Give us wisdom to know the difference between what You've clearly said and what we're assuming. And Lord, keep us from the pride that thinks our generation is immune from the same errors that tripped up generations before us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #BiblicalInterpretation #ScriptureTruth #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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Coming Home to His Word #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Coming Home to His Word #RTTBROS #Nightlight

 Coming Home to His Word #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." — Romans 10:17

You know, I came across a story this week that just warmed my heart. There's a podcast called "The Bible Recap" hosted by a woman named Tara Leigh Cobble, and for the third year in a row, it's climbed into Apple's Top 10 podcasts. We're talking about a daily Bible reading podcast competing with true crime and celebrity interviews. Over 500 million downloads worldwide.

But here's what really got me, it's not just numbers. Tara says she's seeing people who walked away from their faith, people who deconstructed everything they once believed, coming back home. Not because someone argued them back, but because they're rediscovering the Word of God.

Tara's own story touches me most. She grew up in a Christian home, knew all the right answers, but didn't have any real hunger for Scripture. Then somebody challenged her to read the Bible more deeply, and something shifted. She fell in love with God through His Word. Here's how she put it: "The Bible isn't about me. It's for me. It's not about me. It's about God. It's about who He is."

That right there is the game changer, friends. We come to the Bible asking, "What does this say about me?" But when we shift our focus to "What does this reveal about God?", everything changes. The Scriptures become less like a self help manual and more like love letters from our Father.

When Tara started this podcast in 2019, she prayed that maybe 300 people would join her. Instead, God did "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think," as Ephesians 3:20 says.

What I love most is her advice to listeners: "If you fall behind, just pick back up. Don't let your perfectionism steal your enthusiasm."

Too soon old and too late smart, I've learned that same lesson. It's not about perfect Bible reading streaks. It's about relationship. It's about showing up, even when we've missed a day or a week or longer.

The fact that half a billion people are downloading a Bible podcast tells me something important. People are hungry for truth. And whether they realize it or not, they're searching for the God who speaks through His Word.

Maybe you've walked away. Maybe you've known about God your whole life but never really fallen in love with Him. Today's the day to come home. Open that Bible. Don't worry about where you left off, just pick it back up. You're right on time.

Because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. And in those pages, you'll find Him. And that changes everything.

Let's pray: Father, thank You that Your Word is alive and active. For those who've walked away, draw them back home. For those who've grown cold, rekindle their love for You through Your Scripture. Help us seek You in the pages, not just information about You, but You Yourself. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #BibleReading #ComingHome #GodsWord #SpiritualRenewal #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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The Unfinished Symphony #RTTBROS #Nightlight

 

The Unfinished Symphony #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." — Philippians 1:6

You know, I came across a story the other day that just wouldn't leave me alone. It's about Franz Schubert, one of the greatest composers who ever lived. In 1822, Schubert started working on a symphony and completed two magnificent movements. But then he just stopped. He never finished it. 

For years, music scholars debated why. Some said he got distracted by other projects. Others thought he lost inspiration. But here's the beautiful part, the part that got me thinking: that "unfinished" symphony wasn't really unfinished at all. Those two movements were so complete, so perfect, so breathtakingly beautiful that they stand as one of the most beloved pieces of classical music ever written.

And isn't that just like us? We look at our lives, all the rough edges and unfinished places, and we think, "Lord, I'm not done yet. I'm still a mess." And you know what? You're absolutely right. But here's the thing, God isn't finished with you either.

Paul writes to the Philippians with such confidence: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." God is the one who began the work, and God is the one who will complete it.

We're all walking around like Schubert's unfinished symphony. We've got movements that are complete and beautiful, and we've got sections that are still being written. But God doesn't see a mistake or a failure. He sees a masterpiece in progress.

I'm too soon old and too late smart about this, but I've learned that God isn't in a hurry with us. He's patient. He's thorough. He's committed to the work He started in you the day you came to Him.

Maybe you're feeling incomplete today. Friend, don't lose heart. God's not done composing your symphony. The Master Composer is still at work, and what He's creating in you is going to be beautiful.

Let's pray: Father, thank You that You don't give up on us. Thank You that You're still working, still creating something beautiful out of our lives. Help us trust Your timing and Your process. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #GodsWork #BiblicalWisdom #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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Famous Last Words #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." — Proverbs 27:1You know, history is full of ironic moments, but few are as sobering as the story of Major General John Sedgwick. He came from a family with a long military tradition, graduated from West Point, and served with distinction in the Mexican-American War. During the Civil War, he was twice wounded in battle, recovered, and was placed in charge of the VI Corps of the Army of the Potomac.In May of 1864, during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Sedgwick was directing artillery placements when his troops came under fire from Confederate lines. The men began ducking for cover, and Sedgwick scolded them. "What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? I am ashamed of you. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance."Those were the last words Sedgwick ever spoke. Just seconds later, he was hit in the head and killed by a bullet. He became the highest-ranking Union officer to die during the Civil War.Now, I don't share that story to be morbid, but because it illustrates something we all struggle with. Sedgwick's confidence became presumption, and presumption is a dangerous thing.Solomon writes in Proverbs, "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." That's not pessimism, friend, that's wisdom. There's a world of difference between confidence and presumption. Confidence trusts in God's sovereignty. Presumption assumes we're in control.We make plans, and we should. We set goals, and that's good. But the moment we start talking like we know what tomorrow holds, we've crossed a line. James puts it this way: "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow" (James 4:13-14).I'm too soon old and too late smart about this one, but I've learned that life can change in a heartbeat. The job you thought was secure, the health you took for granted, the relationships you assumed would always be there, they can all shift before sunset.So what do we do? We hold our plans loosely and hold onto God tightly. We make our decisions with wisdom but recognize that ultimately, "a man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).Don't boast about tomorrow. Instead, trust the One who holds tomorrow in His hands.Let's pray: Father, forgive us when we presume to know what only You know. Help us walk humbly, plan wisely, but trust completely in Your sovereignty. Teach us to number our days and live with grateful hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Wisdom #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #Humility #BiblicalWisdom #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

 

 Famous Last Words #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." — Proverbs 27:1

You know, history is full of ironic moments, but few are as sobering as the story of Major General John Sedgwick. He came from a family with a long military tradition, graduated from West Point, and served with distinction in the Mexican-American War. During the Civil War, he was twice wounded in battle, recovered, and was placed in charge of the VI Corps of the Army of the Potomac.

In May of 1864, during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Sedgwick was directing artillery placements when his troops came under fire from Confederate lines. The men began ducking for cover, and Sedgwick scolded them. "What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? I am ashamed of you. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance."

Those were the last words Sedgwick ever spoke. Just seconds later, he was hit in the head and killed by a bullet. He became the highest-ranking Union officer to die during the Civil War.

Now, I don't share that story to be morbid, but because it illustrates something we all struggle with. Sedgwick's confidence became presumption, and presumption is a dangerous thing.

Solomon writes in Proverbs, "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." That's not pessimism, friend, that's wisdom. There's a world of difference between confidence and presumption. Confidence trusts in God's sovereignty. Presumption assumes we're in control.

We make plans, and we should. We set goals, and that's good. But the moment we start talking like we know what tomorrow holds, we've crossed a line. James puts it this way: "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow" (James 4:13-14).

I'm too soon old and too late smart about this one, but I've learned that life can change in a heartbeat. The job you thought was secure, the health you took for granted, the relationships you assumed would always be there, they can all shift before sunset.

So what do we do? We hold our plans loosely and hold onto God tightly. We make our decisions with wisdom but recognize that ultimately, "a man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).

Don't boast about tomorrow. Instead, trust the One who holds tomorrow in His hands.

Let's pray: Father, forgive us when we presume to know what only You know. Help us walk humbly, plan wisely, but trust completely in Your sovereignty. Teach us to number our days and live with grateful hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #Wisdom #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #Humility #BiblicalWisdom #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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The Right Weapons #RTTBROS #Nightlight #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Right Weapons #RTTBROS #Nightlight #RTTBROS 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." — 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

I still remember the Christmas morning when I was about seven years old and unwrapped a shiny new cap gun. Man, I thought I was something special. I'd load up those little red rolls of caps, and every time I pulled that trigger, there'd be a satisfying pop and a tiny puff of smoke. I'd play Cowboys and Indians in the backyard, imagining epic battles and heroic victories.

But here's the thing, even at seven years old, I knew that cap gun wasn't real. It made noise and looked impressive, but if I'd tried to take that toy into an actual battle against a real enemy with real weapons, well, that would have been downright foolish.

Yet that's exactly what we do in our spiritual lives more often than we'd like to admit. We're in a real war, but we keep showing up with cap guns, trying to fight spiritual battles with our own strength, our own reasoning, our own strategies.

George Whitefield understood this truth. He said, "Since then Christ is praying for us, whom should we fear? And since He has promised to make us more than conquerors, of whom should we be afraid? No, though an host of demons are lined up against us, let us not be afraid; though the hottest persecution should rise up against us, yet let us put our trust in God. Even though Satan, and the rest of his apostate spirits, are powerful, when compared with us; yet, if put in competition with the Almighty, they are as weak as the smallest worms."

The reason we yield to temptation isn't that the enemy is overpowering. It's that we're not using the mighty weapons God has made available to us. Prayer isn't just a good idea, it's our direct line to the Commander. The Bible isn't just a book, it's our sword. The Holy Spirit isn't just a concept, He's our power source.

Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: spiritual battles can never be fought and won with our own resources. When we finally put down our toy weapons and pick up what God has given us, the victory is already ours.

Let's pray: Father, forgive us for trying to fight Your battles with our own strength. Help us to put down our cap guns and pick up the mighty weapons You've provided. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #SpiritualWarfare #Prayer #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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talking stones #greenscreen #Nightlight #RTTBROS #Anxiety #witness

 

Talking Stones #RTTBROS #Nightlight

When Stones Tell Stories

I drove out past Hollister today and came across the crumbling remains of an old lava rock building standing alone in a winter field. The walls have mostly fallen, the roof is long gone, and frost clings to the dark stones. It's a ruin now, but somebody once built that structure with intention and effort. Somebody had a story there.

It made me think of an old question from Scripture. In Joshua 4, after God miraculously stopped the Jordan River so Israel could cross on dry ground, He told them to take twelve stones from the riverbed and set them up as a memorial. Then He said this would happen:

"When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over... That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever." (Joshua 4:21-24)

What mean these stones? It's a question meant to spark remembrance, to keep alive the testimony of God's faithfulness for the next generation.

Those lava rock ruins out in that frozen field don't tell me about Israel crossing Jordan, but they do remind me that every believer has stones of remembrance in their own life. Moments when God showed up. Times when He made a way. Seasons when His faithfulness held you together when everything else was falling apart.

Don't let those memories crumble into forgotten ruins. Rehearse them. Tell them to your children. Speak them to yourself when doubt creeps in. Let the stones testify: God was faithful then. He is faithful now. He will be faithful tomorrow.

"Hitherto hath the LORD helped us."(1 Samuel 7:12)

Prayer: Lord, help me remember Your faithfulness. Let my life be a testimony to the next generation that You are mighty to save and faithful to keep. Amen.

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