Building the Plane While You're Flying It #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Building the Plane While You're Flying It #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way." — Psalm 37:23

I heard a phrase recently that stopped me cold. Someone said, "You can't build the plane while you're flying it," and I thought, well, that's exactly how most of us are living our lives, isn't it? We're up at 30,000 feet, engine roaring, and we're still looking for the instruction manual.

Now here's the thing. Socrates, that old Greek philosopher, said something that's stuck with people for centuries: "The unexamined life is not worth living." And I think he was onto something, even if he didn't have the whole picture. Because the Bible takes that idea and gives it wings, if you'll pardon the pun.

Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." And Solomon adds in Proverbs 16:9, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." Right there you've got both halves of the equation. We plan, and God directs. We build what we can on the ground before takeoff, and then we trust the Lord to handle the turbulence we never saw coming.

Think about Nehemiah for a moment. Before he ever laid one stone on that broken wall in Jerusalem, he spent time in prayer, he assessed the damage quietly in the night, he counted the cost, and he prepared his request for the king. That man did his homework. But when opposition came, and it came hard and fast, he didn't freeze up because he had already committed his work to God. He just kept building.

I've been too soon old and too late smart about this in my own life. I used to think that trusting God meant you just sort of wandered through life with a smile and waited for lightning to strike. But that's not faith, that's just being unprepared and calling it spiritual. Real biblical faith does the planning it can do, lays it all before the Lord, and then holds the plan loosely enough that God can redirect without it feeling like a disaster.

Here's what I've come to believe: God doesn't ask us to check our brains at the door. He asks us to use them, and then surrender the outcome. You plan the wedding, but you trust God with the marriage. You prepare for the job interview, but you trust God with the outcome. You raise your children with everything you have, but you trust God with who they become.

The plane needs to be built before it flies. Do your part on the ground. But once you're airborne, friend, the Lord is your co-pilot, and He's never lost a passenger yet.

Let's pray: Father, give us the wisdom to plan well and the faith to trust You with what we cannot control. Help us to be diligent with the things in our hands and surrendered about the things that are only in Yours. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #Planning #Trust #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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God's Four-Handed Provision #RTTBROS #Nightlight

God's Four-Handed Provision #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." — Philippians 4:19

You know, I've been thinking about something that keeps coming up when I talk with folks who are worried about their finances, their future, their needs. We live in uncertain times, and it's easy to look at our bank accounts or our circumstances and wonder if God's really going to come through. But here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: God has always been in the providing business, and He uses four different hands to meet our needs.

Man's Hand 

Let me take you back to the book of Exodus for a minute. The children of Israel are about to leave Egypt after 400 years of slavery. Now, you'd think they'd be leaving with nothing but the clothes on their backs, right? But look what happens. God moves the hearts of the Egyptians, and they give the Israelites gold, silver, and clothing. The Bible says they "spoiled the Egyptians" (Exodus 12:36). That's provision through man's hand. Later, Nehemiah needed resources to rebuild Jerusalem's walls, and God moved the heart of King Cyrus to provide everything he needed. Sometimes God provides through the generosity of others, even when we least expect it.

God's Hand

But then there are times when man's hand isn't enough, when no human source can meet the need. That's when God provides directly from His hand. Think about those same Israelites wandering in the wilderness. Every morning, manna covered the ground like dew. Water flowed from a rock. God Himself provided supernaturally what no human could give. Now, we don't live on miracles day to day, but we need to remember they happen in the lives of believers when we need them most.

Your Hand

Then comes the third way, and this is where most of us live most of the time. God provides by your hands. When the Israelites finally crossed into the Promised Land, the manna stopped. They had to plant crops, tend flocks, work the land. The psalmist writes, "thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee" (Psalm 128:2). God blesses the work of our hands. He doesn't call us to sit around waiting for miracles when He's given us the ability to work.

Your Enemy's Hand

But here's the one that really gets me, the fourth way God provides that we almost never think about. God provides by our enemies' hands. When Caleb was looking at the giants in the land, do you remember what he said? Those giants would be "bread for us" (Numbers 14:9). What looked like an obstacle was actually provision. Your greatest challenge might just be God's way of bringing you your greatest blessing.

So when you're worried about how God's going to provide, remember He's got four hands working on your behalf. Sometimes it's through people's generosity. Sometimes it's a flat-out miracle. Sometimes it's through honest work. And sometimes, that very thing you think is going to destroy you is actually going to feed you.

Let's pray: Father, help us trust that You know how to provide for Your children. Whether it's through man's hand, Your hand, our hands, or even through our enemies, we know You will supply all our needs. Give us eyes to see Your provision in every circumstance. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #GodsProvision #Trust #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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At The Cross #RTTBROS #Nightlight

At the Cross: The Amazing Exchange

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." — Romans 5:8

You know, there's a hymn that's been sung in churches for over a hundred and fifty years now, and every time I hear it, I find myself stopped in my tracks by one particular verse. The hymn is "At the Cross," written by Isaac Watts way back in 1707, and the verse goes like this: "Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree!"

When Isaac Watts wrote those words, he was wrestling with a question that should stop all of us dead in our tracks: Why would Jesus do that for me?

Think about it. The Creator of the universe, hanging on a cross. And for what? For crimes that I have done. My sins "Big" and "Small" (no such thing as small really) the lies I've told. The times I've chosen my way over His.

I'm too soon old and too late smart on this, but one thing I've learned is that we have a tendency to minimize our own sin while we maximize everyone else's. But when we look at that cross, we have to face the truth: it took the death of God's own Son to pay for those "slip-ups."

But here's where it gets really amazing. That verse doesn't stop at the crime. It goes on: "Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree!" The cross isn't just about what we've done, it's about what He's done for us.

When Jesus hung on that cross, He wasn't dying for some abstract concept. He was thinking about you. About me. And He didn't do it because we deserved it. He did it because that's who He is.

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." That's the amazing exchange. He took our sin and gave us His righteousness.

I remember talking to a man once who told me he just couldn't accept that God would forgive him. He'd made too many mistakes. And I asked him, "Do you think your sin is bigger than the cross?"

The cross says that no matter what crimes you and I have done, His grace is enough. His love is beyond degree. It's a love that looked at us in all our mess and said, "I'll die for that one."

History is just HIS story, and the cross is the central chapter. It's where your sin and His grace came face to face, and grace won.

Let's pray: Father, we stand amazed at the cross. Thank You that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Help us never to take for granted the price that was paid. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #TheCross #Grace #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #HymnHistory #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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The Herring Barrel Valentine #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Herring Barrel Valentine #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath punishment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." — 1 John 4:18

You know, I've always been fascinated by love stories, especially the ones that seem absolutely impossible. And let me tell you, the love story of Martin Luther and Katie von Bora is one for the ages.

Picture this: it's 1523, and Katie is a nun trapped in a convent. She's read Luther's writings about the freedom we have in Christ, and she's desperate to escape. So Martin Luther, this bold reformer who's already been excommunicated and declared an outlaw, arranges for her and eleven other nuns to be smuggled out in empty herring barrels. Can you imagine that? The smell alone would have been something fierce.

Now, Luther believed these women deserved a chance at marriage and family, so he set about playing matchmaker. One by one, he found husbands for them all, except Katie. She was a bit particular, you see. She told Luther's friend that she would only marry two men, Luther himself or his friend. Well, that put Luther in quite a position.

Here's the thing though, Luther had convinced himself he would never marry. He was living under a death sentence from the Pope. Every day could have been his last. He figured, why make a woman a widow? But Katie saw something different. She saw a man worth the risk.

In June of 1525, Martin Luther, age 41, married Katharina von Bora, age 26. And you know what? It turned out to be one of the most beautiful marriages in Christian history. Luther, who once said he would never marry, wrote to a friend, "I would not exchange Katie for France or for Venice." He called her "my lord Katie" and said she made him rich beyond measure.

Katie wasn't just a wife, she was a partner. She ran their home, which became a hub for students and reformers. She managed their finances, she brewed beer, she ran a farm, and she gave Luther six children. More than that, she gave him a place of peace in the midst of the storm.

You see, love has a way of casting out fear. Luther was afraid of making Katie a widow, but love said the risk was worth it. Katie was afraid of leaving everything she knew, but love said freedom was worth it.

And here's what I love most about their story: it wasn't perfect. They argued, they struggled, they faced poverty and danger together. But Luther said his marriage taught him more about God's love than all his theology books combined.

History is just HIS story, and God writes the most beautiful love stories in the most unexpected places. Sometimes love means climbing into a herring barrel and trusting God with the outcome. Sometimes it means marrying someone when the whole world says it's foolish.

Because perfect love, the kind that comes from God, casts out fear. It makes impossible things possible. It turns a monk and a nun into a marriage that would inspire millions for centuries to come.

#Faith #Love #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #ChurchHistory #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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Silence is Golden #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Silence is Golden #RTTBROS #Nightlight  

"He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace."

 Proverbs 11:12 (KJV)

There is a quiet strength in knowing when to speak and when to simply be still. Solomon draws a sharp contrast here, the fool rushes to tear down his neighbor with words, but the man of understanding holds his peace. That word holdeth carries weight; it isn't passive silence born of indifference, it is a deliberate, disciplined choice. How often do we mistake the urge to speak our mind for wisdom, when the truly wise response is a closed mouth and a steady heart? The world rewards the loudest voice in the room, but God honors the one who has learned that not every thought needs an audience, not every offense demands a response, and not every conflict is ours to win. Friend, the next time your patience is tested and your tongue is ready to fire, pause. That pause may be the most powerful thing you do all day. A man of understanding holds his peace, because he knows that God's justice is far more reliable than his own reaction.

This Is the Day #RTTBROS #Nightlight

This Is the Day #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." — Psalm 118:24

You know, I was humming a little song this morning that I first learned in children's church, probably six decades ago. Maybe you know it too. "This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord hath made, that the Lord hath made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice, and be glad in it..." I caught myself singing it almost before I was fully awake, and I thought, now isn't that something. Here I am, all these years later, and that little song is still doing its work on my soul.

That simple round was written by Les Garrett, a New Zealand worship leader, back in 1967. He wasn't writing for Carnegie Hall or a great cathedral choir. He was writing something children could sing, something simple enough to wrap a young heart around. And yet that little melody has been circling the globe ever since, showing up in hymnals and children's programs and, apparently, in the early mornings of old preachers who need to be reminded of something important.

Because here's what Psalm 118:24 is actually doing. It isn't a gentle suggestion. It's a declaration. "This is the day which the LORD hath made." Not tomorrow, not the day things get easier, not the day the bills get paid or the diagnosis comes back clean. This day. The one you woke up to this morning, with all its uncertainty and its ordinary Tuesday-ness. God made this day on purpose, and He handed it to you.

The Psalm was written in a context of real deliverance. The writer had been through the fire, through rejection, through the kind of circumstances where it would have been very easy to greet the morning with dread instead of praise. And yet, right in the middle of all of that, he plants a flag and says, "We will rejoice and be glad in it." That "we will" is a choice, not a feeling.

I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one, but I've learned that some of the most powerful spiritual habits are the ones we learned when we were small. That little round I learned in children's church wasn't just a song. It was a posture of the heart being built into me before I even knew I needed it.

So let me ask you this morning, what are you doing with the day God handed you today? It is His gift. It won't come around again. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Let's pray. Lord, thank You for this day, this specific, unrepeatable day that You made and gave to us. Help us not to sleepwalk through it or spend it dreading tomorrow. Teach us to receive it as the gift it is, and to rejoice, genuinely rejoice, in it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#ThisIsTheDay #Psalm118 #MorningDevotion #ChristianLiving #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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To Speak or Not to Speak #NK #NormanKissinger #RTTBROS #Nightlight

To Speak or Not to Speak #NK #NormanKissinger #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." — Proverbs 31:8-9

You know, I've been wrestling with something lately, and I bet some of you have too. It's this question that keeps coming up in my mind: when do we speak up, and when do we stay silent? In this age of the internet where you can post that you love apples and somebody's going to insult you for it, that's become a real dilemma for followers of Christ. There's so much noise out there, so many voices, and the stakes feel higher than they've ever been because thousands of people can see what we say in an instant.

For years, I pretty much stayed quiet online except for official ministry work, wishing people happy birthday, or thanking folks from my past. I'd see posts that were way off biblically, things that grieved my spirit, but I'd just assume somebody else would address it. I'd think to myself, "It's a slippery slope. You can hurt the kingdom by saying the wrong thing or saying the right thing the wrong way." And that's true, it is a slippery slope. But lately, the Holy Spirit's been convicting me that silence has its own cost.

Here's what I've been learning, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: when we stay silent in the face of error, especially doctrinal error that's being spread by people who claim Christ, we're not just being careful, we're letting people slip into beliefs that aren't even close to biblical. Weak Christians, and let's be honest, even mature Christians sometimes, will hear stuff and believe it without questioning whether it lines up with what God actually says in His Word.

The problem isn't that Christians disagree on things, there's always been healthy debate about secondary issues. Arminian or Calvinist, charismatic gifts or not, end times views, all of that, good godly people can land in different places and still love Jesus and hold to the fundamentals. But when somebody starts building entire theologies on conjecture, making heroes out of people the Scripture doesn't even clearly vindicate, or worse, when they start chipping away at the virgin birth, the inerrancy of Scripture, the deity of Christ, the necessity of holy living, that's when we've got to find our voice.

I think about the Apostle Paul. That man didn't stay quiet when error crept into the church. He wrote whole letters confronting false teaching. He stood up to Peter's face when Peter was being a hypocrite in Galatians. He warned Timothy, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2). Paul understood that truth doesn't defend itself, it needs voices willing to speak it clearly and boldly.

But here's the balance, and this is where we need the Holy Spirit's wisdom. Jesus himself stayed silent sometimes. He didn't answer every accusation, didn't engage every critic. There were moments when silence was the most powerful thing He could do. So we've got to be Spirit-led in this. We can't just respond to everything, we'd consume ourselves with arguing on the internet and accomplish nothing for the kingdom. But we also can't be so silent that error goes unchallenged and people drift into heresy.

What I'm finding is that we've lost something critical in our culture, we've lost the ability to think critically. People don't question what they read anymore. They see a post, it sounds good, it feels right, and they accept it without ever opening their Bibles to see if it's actually true. That's dangerous ground, because that's exactly how you slip from minor doctrinal error into full-blown heresy, one unchallenged assumption at a time.

So I've decided I'm going to speak up a little more. Not to every fool on the internet who just wants to argue, but when I see something that needs a biblical response, when I see teaching that could lead people astray, I'm planning to write something solid, something thought out, something that points people back to what Scripture actually says. Not because I'm right about everything, I'm certainly not, but because the gospel needs to stay clear and the foundations need to stay solid.

The question isn't really whether we should speak, it's when and how. When do we let something go because engaging would do no good? When do we speak up because silence would be being ashamed of Christ? These have always been questions for believers, but now with the internet, the whole world is watching. We need to be lighthouses in the ocean of this world, pointing people to solid ground. We need to stand on the inerrancy of Scripture and the traditional, conservative teaching of God's Word, and we need to communicate it effectively.

Let me ask you today: is the Holy Spirit nudging you to speak up about something? Or is He telling you to be silent and pray? Either way, let's not be people who just drift along accepting everything we hear. Let's be thinkers. Let's open our Bibles. Let's stand for truth with grace and boldness, knowing that history is just HIS story, and we're honored to be a part of it.

Let's pray: Father, give us wisdom to know when to speak and when to be silent. Help us stand for truth without being unloving, and help us love people without compromising Your Word. Make us bold when we need to be bold, and humble when we need to be humble. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #Truth #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #StandForTruth #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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The Great Exchange #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Great Exchange #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." — 2 Corinthians 5:21

You know, there's a quote from Martin Luther that's been rattling around in my head lately. He said, "Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You took on you what was mine; yet set on me what was yours. You became what you were not, that I might become what I was not."

Now, preachers never say anything short, but Luther managed to capture the entire Gospel in one beautiful sentence. This is what theologians call "The Great Exchange," and friend, if you can wrap your heart around this truth, it'll change everything.

Here's what happened at the cross. Jesus, who never sinned, not even once, took on all of my sin, all of your sin, every dark thought, every harsh word, every broken promise, every failure. He became what He was not so that we could become what we were not. Think about that for a minute. The sinless Son of God became sin itself so that sinful people like you and me could become righteous before a holy God.

It's like the ultimate trade, except it was completely one-sided. I brought nothing to the table but my mess, my brokenness, my rebellion. And Jesus said, "I'll take that. And here, take my righteousness, my holiness, my perfect record before the Father."

Paul puts it this way in Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

See, this isn't just theological talk. This is the exchanged life. When you come to Christ, you give Him your sin and He gives you His righteousness and His life. You died with Him on that cross, but you also rose with Him. Now Christ lives in you, and the life you're living isn't really yours anymore. It's His life, lived through you, by faith.

I'm too soon old and too late smart to have figured this out on my own. But here's what I know now: I don't have to work up righteousness. I don't have to earn God's approval. Jesus already did that. He took my place on the cross, and when God looks at me, He sees Jesus' righteousness, not my failures.

That's the cornerstone of the Gospel, friend. That's the foundation everything else is built on. Jesus became what He was not, that you and I might become what we were not. He became sin so we could become righteous. He died so we could live.

History is just HIS story, and this is the greatest exchange in all of history. Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness. That's the Gospel in a nutshell.

Let's pray: Father, thank You for the great exchange. Thank You that Jesus took our sin upon Himself so that we could receive His righteousness. Help us live in the freedom and joy of this truth every single day. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #Gospel #Salvation #TheGreatExchange #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #BiblicalTruth #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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The Plank in Our Own Eye #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Plank in Our Own Eye #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" — Matthew 7:3

You know, there's something I've been catching myself doing lately, and I bet you do it too. It's what the psychologists call the fundamental attribution error, but Jesus talked about it a couple thousand years before they gave it that fancy name.

Here's how it works: when I'm running late to church, well, I've got a whole list of reasons. The alarm didn't go off, one of the kids couldn't find their shoes, there was unexpected traffic, I had a rough week. I'm a complex person dealing with complex circumstances, right? But when you show up late? Well, that's because you're just not very organized. You don't manage your time well. You don't take commitments seriously.

See what I did there? I judge myself by my intentions and my circumstances, but I judge you by your actions. I give myself grace, but I give you a label.

The really convicting part is that Jesus addressed this head-on in the Sermon on the Mount. He painted this absurd picture of someone with a two-by-four sticking out of their eye trying to help someone else with a speck of sawdust in theirs. It would be funny if it wasn't so close to home.

Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this: I don't know your story. I don't know what you're carrying. I don't know what kept you up last night or what phone call you got this morning. I don't know the burdens you're bearing that nobody else can see.

But God does. He knows all of it. And He looks at both of us with the same grace and patience.

Paul wrote in Romans 2:1, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." Ouch. Every time I rush to judgment about you, I'm setting the standard by which I'll be judged.

The truth is, we're all doing the best we can with what we've got. We're all carrying more than anyone else can see. We're all complex people in complex circumstances, trying to navigate this broken world and honor God in the process.

So maybe today, when someone cuts you off in traffic or snaps at you in the hallway or shows up late or forgets that thing they promised, maybe we could pause. Maybe we could choose to see them the way we see ourselves, with complexity and grace. Better yet, maybe we could see them the way God sees them, with love and compassion and patience.

Because the measure we use for others, that's the measure that's going to be used for us. And I don't know about you, but I need all the grace I can get.

Let's pray: Father, forgive us for the way we so quickly judge others while making excuses for ourselves. Help us see people the way You see them, with compassion and understanding. Teach us to remove the beam from our own eye before we worry about the speck in someone else's. Give us Your heart for the people around us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Grace #Judgment #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #GoldenRule #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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The Right Table #RTTBROS #Nightlight

 The Right Table #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." — Matthew 23:27

You know, I saw something on social media the other day that really stopped me in my tracks: "Don't beg for a seat at a table Jesus would flip over." Now that'll preach, won't it?

It got me thinking about all the times we exhaust ourselves trying to earn approval from systems and people that Jesus Himself would challenge. We bend ourselves into pretzels, compromise our convictions, water down our witness, all to get a seat at some table that looks impressive from the outside but is spiritually bankrupt on the inside.

Jesus had zero patience for religious performance. When He walked into the temple and saw the money changers turning His Father's house into a marketplace, He didn't politely ask for a seat at their table. He flipped the whole thing over. "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:13).

Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this: the tables that demand the most from us often offer the least in return. They want our conformity, our silence, our willingness to play the game. But Jesus came to flip those tables, not franchise them.

Think about the religious leaders of Jesus' day. They had the best seats, the longest robes, the public recognition. People were literally begging for their approval. But Jesus looked past all that religious window dressing and called it exactly what it was: dead men's bones dressed up to look alive.

The truth is, we spend so much energy trying to impress people who are impressed by all the wrong things. We're hustling for validation from systems that value appearance over authenticity, position over character, performance over transformation.

But here's the beautiful part of the story: while the religious elite were guarding their exclusive tables, Jesus was eating with tax collectors and sinners. He was pulling up chairs for the outcasts, the broken, the ones who knew they needed a Savior. "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick" (Matthew 9:12).

Jesus isn't asking you to beg for a seat anywhere. He's already prepared a place for you at His table. And let me tell you, that table is set with grace, mercy, and unconditional love. No performance required. No games to play. Just come as you are.

So maybe it's time to stop exhausting yourself trying to earn approval from tables Jesus would flip over. Maybe it's time to walk away from systems that demand you shrink yourself to fit in. Maybe it's time to remember that you already have a seat at the only table that truly matters.

History is just His story, and in His story, there's always room at the table for broken people who know they need a Savior.

Let's pray: Father, give us the courage to walk away from tables that require us to compromise our convictions. Help us find our worth not in the approval of man, but in Your unconditional love. Remind us that we already have a seat at Your table. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight #Authenticity #Grace

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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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Standing Together #RTTBROS #Nightlight #Bible #BodyofChrist #bettertogether

Standing Together #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

You know, I watched an old movie the other night called "Support Your Local Sheriff." James Garner plays this stranger who rides into a lawless mining town where chaos rules and everybody's looking out for themselves. He becomes the sheriff and slowly brings order to the place.

But here's what caught my attention: when the final confrontation with the bad guys comes, it's not just the sheriff standing alone. The whole town has to come together, stand shoulder to shoulder, or they're going to lose everything.

That made me think of something Henry Ford once said: "Coming together is a beginning; staying together is progress; working together is success." And friends, I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one.

See, God's work was never meant to be done by lone rangers. When Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, every family worked on the section in front of their own house. Moses had Aaron and Hur holding up his arms. Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, never alone.

Here's what I've noticed over the years: the enemy loves isolation. He wants you thinking you're the only one fighting, the only one struggling. But that's a lie. Scripture says, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is" (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Every church needs the people of the church, not just the pastor or a few staff workers, but everyone, active and involved for the ministry to have the impact it should. When we come together, stay together, and work together, that's when we see God do amazing things.

When one person is weak, another is strong. When one is discouraged, another brings hope. When the battle gets intense, we lock shields and stand together.

So let me ask you: are you trying to fight your battles alone? You weren't meant to do this alone. The lawless town needed everybody standing together. And in our spiritual battles, we need each other too.

Let's pray: Father, help us remember we're not alone in this fight. Draw us together as Your people. Help us stand shoulder to shoulder and labor together for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #Unity #ChurchFamily #SpiritualWarfare #TogetherInChrist #BiblicalWisdom #StrongerTogether #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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Don't Burn Down Your Life #greenscreen #Nightlight #RTTBROS #Bible #alcohol

Burning Down Your Own House #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." — Proverbs 20:1

You know, sometimes the stories that teach us the most are the ones that make us shake our heads and think, "How in the world did that happen?" Let me share one with you that's almost too wild to believe.

Have you heard the story of Waylon Prendergast? This Tampa, Florida, man had been out drinking when he decided to rob a house on his way home. The drunken man forced his way into the house, filled a suitcase he found there with the valuables he discovered, and made his way to the living room. In his stupor he decided it would be a good idea to set a fire to cover his tracks, so he ignited a blaze before making his way out the back door. Thinking he was home free, he continued on to his house, only to find three fire trucks parked outside fighting the blaze he had set to cover his theft from his own home.

I wish I could say that was just a made-up story to prove a point, but it really happened. And here's what strikes me about it: Waylon's story is a perfect picture of what sin does in our lives, especially when we're under the influence of something that clouds our judgment.

The Bible doesn't pull any punches about alcohol. It says wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging. Those aren't just poetic words, they're a warning. When we're deceived by drink, we can't trust our own decision-making. We end up doing things that hurt the very life we're trying to live.

But here's the thing, and I've learned this too soon old and too late smart, it's not just alcohol that makes us burn down our own houses. It's any sin we think we can control, any habit we think we can manage, any compromise we think won't really hurt us. We tell ourselves we're in control, that we're just having a little fun, that we deserve this, that nobody will know. And before we realize it, we've set fire to our own peace, our own family, our own walk with God.

According to a study published in The Washington Post a few years ago, almost one-third of adults in America admit they either have now or have had in the past a problem with drinking. None of these people started out intending to become alcoholics or dependent on their next drink to make it through the day. But that is where the path they set out on leads.

The good news is this: God's grace is stronger than any chain that binds us. But we have to be honest about what's holding us. We have to stop pretending we're robbing someone else's house when we're actually destroying our own. The first step to freedom is recognizing the deception for what it is.

So let me ask you today: what are you playing with that's actually playing with you? What habit are you protecting that's slowly destroying what you love? God's Word gives us wisdom not to rob us of joy, but to keep us from burning down our own lives.

Let's pray: Father, give us the courage to see the truth about the things we've been deceived by. Help us release whatever is clouding our judgment and destroying what we love. Thank You that Your grace is bigger than our mistakes, and Your truth sets us free. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #Wisdom #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #Freedom #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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Amazing Love #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Love That Wouldn't Let Go #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." — John 15:13

Yesterday in church, my pastor, James Hardy, prayed something that stopped me in my tracks. He said, "Thank you for loving us so much that you would rather die than live without us." I had to write that down because it captured something about the heart of God that we too often miss.

We talk about Christ's sacrifice, and we should. We sing about the old rugged cross, and rightly so. But sometimes I wonder if we really grasp what was going on in the heart of God when Jesus went to Calvary. This wasn't just a transaction, some cosmic deal to satisfy divine justice. This was love, desperate love, the kind of love that would rather suffer unimaginable agony than spend eternity without you and me.

Think about that for a minute. God looked at humanity, looked at all our mess and rebellion and brokenness, and instead of walking away, He said, "I'd rather die than lose them." That's not the picture of an angry God reluctantly appeasing His own wrath. That's the picture of a Father who loves His children so much that He gave everything to bring them home.

You know, when you really love someone, you can't imagine life without them. Their absence would leave a hole nothing else could fill. That's what Pastor Hardy's prayer reminded me of. God loves us like that. He looked at the cost of redemption, the humiliation, the suffering, the separation from the Father that Jesus would endure on that cross, and He said, "It's worth it. They're worth it."

The Bible tells us in Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." While we were still sinners. Not after we cleaned up our act. Not when we finally got it together. He died for us when we were at our worst because He couldn't bear the thought of eternity without us.

I'm too soon old and too late smart about a lot of things, but this truth keeps getting deeper the longer I walk with Jesus. His love isn't just powerful, it's personal. It's not just sacrificial, it's passionate. He would rather die than live without you.

So when you're feeling unworthy today, when you're wondering if God really cares about your struggles, remember this: He already proved how much you matter to Him. The cross wasn't Plan B. It was love's first choice.

Let's pray: Father, thank You for loving us so much that You would rather die than live without us. Help us grasp the depth of that love and live in the light of it today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #GodsLove #CrossOfChrist #DailyDevotion #ChristianLiving #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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Choosing Sides #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Choosing Sides #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:8

You know, I heard an old story the other day that got me thinking. During the Civil War, there was this fellow who just couldn't decide which side to fight for. So he came up with what he thought was a brilliant solution, he put on a blue Union army jacket and gray Confederate army pants. Figured that way, he'd be accepted by both sides.

Well, you can probably guess how that worked out. Instead of being welcomed by everyone, he found himself getting shot at by both armies. Neither side could trust a man who wouldn't commit.

Now, that story might sound a bit far fetched, but it sure does paint a picture of how many of us try to live our spiritual lives. We want to follow Jesus, but we also want to keep one foot in the world. We show up on Sunday morning wearing our Christian jacket, but come Monday, we've got our worldly pants on, trying to fit in with the culture around us.

The thing is, God's not interested in our half-hearted attempts at fence-sitting. Jesus made it pretty clear: "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24).

I remember as a teen, when I was trying to have it both ways myself. I wanted the blessings of following God, but I also wanted to hold onto some habits and attitudes that I knew weren't pleasing to Him. Talk about being unstable in all my ways! I was that Civil War soldier, getting shot at from both directions, and wondering why life was so hard.

The prophet Elijah asked a question that still echoes today: "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). That word "halt" means to limp along, hobbling between two choices. Ever tried to walk with one foot on the sidewalk and one in the gutter? That's what spiritual fence-sitting feels like.

Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: when we try to serve both God and the world, we end up serving neither well. The peace, the joy, the purpose we're looking for, it only comes when we go all in with Jesus.

So today, which uniform are you wearing? Are you trying to mix and match, hoping nobody notices? Friend, it's time to choose a side. And let me tell you, God's side is the only one worth being on.

Let's pray: Father, forgive us for our double mindedness. Help us to choose You completely, not just on Sundays but every day. Give us the courage to wear Your uniform proudly, no matter who's watching. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Faith #Commitment #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #AllIn #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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rubber duck debugging #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Rubber Duck and the Real Counselor

"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety." — Proverbs 11:14

There's this interesting practice in the computer programming world that caught my attention. Programmers keep rubber ducks on their desks, and not just for decoration. When they get stuck on a coding problem, they explain their code to that little yellow duck, line by line. They call it "rubber duck debugging."

Here's the amazing thing: just by talking through the problem out loud, even to an inanimate object, programmers often spot their own mistakes. The duck doesn't say a word, doesn't offer advice, just sits there with that painted smile. But somehow, the act of explaining helps clear the fog.

Now, that got me thinking. If talking to a rubber duck can help solve computer problems, how much more powerful is it when we bring our life problems to the living God?

You see, we all get stuck sometimes. Life throws us these complicated situations where we can't see our way through. Maybe it's a relationship that's gone sideways, a decision about a job, or just feeling lost in the daily grind. And here's where a lot of us make our mistake, we either keep it all bottled up inside, or worse, we find our own version of a rubber duck, something that listens but can't really help.

I knew a man who'd spend hours at the local bar, talking through his problems with whoever would listen. The bartender nodded, the beer bottles didn't judge, but come morning, his problems were still there, plus a headache. That's rubber duck debugging for life, talking to something that can't talk back with wisdom.

But God offers us something so much better. David knew this secret. He wrote, "I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons" (Psalm 16:7). See, David didn't just talk at God like a rubber duck. He received counsel back. Real wisdom, real guidance, real comfort.

And it doesn't stop there. God's given us His Word, which "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). That's not a one-way conversation. When we read Scripture while praying about our problems, the Holy Spirit illuminates truth we need to hear.

Then there's the body of Christ, our fellow believers. James tells us, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed" (James 5:16). These aren't rubber ducks. These are brothers and sisters who can pray with us, share wisdom from their own walks, and sometimes tell us hard truths we need to hear.

I learned this the hard way, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one. For years, I tried to sort out my problems on my own, maybe throwing up a quick prayer here and there, but mostly just spinning my wheels. It wasn't until I learned to be transparent before God, to dig into His Word for specific guidance, and to humble myself enough to seek godly counsel that I started finding real solutions.

The programmer's rubber duck works because it forces him to slow down and articulate his problem. But we have access to the Creator of the universe, the Living Word, and a family of faith. Why settle for a one-way conversation when we can have genuine dialogue with divine wisdom?

Let's pray: Father, help us to bring our problems to You with transparency and faith. Thank You for Your Word that guides us and Your people who support us. Teach us to seek Your counsel above all else. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#RTTBROS #Nightlight #Prayer #ChristianCommunity #BiblicalWisdom #Faith #SpiritualGrowth #DailyDevotion

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The Egress #RTTBROS #nightlight

The Egress #RTTBROS #nightlight

The Way to the Egress

"And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words." — Colossians 2:4

You know, P.T. Barnum was quite the character. Back in 1842, he opened his American Museum in New York City, and folks just couldn't get enough of it. The place was so packed that new customers couldn't get in because nobody wanted to leave. So old Barnum, clever as he was, put up a big fancy sign that said, "This way to the Egress!" People rushed through that door, thinking they were about to see some exotic creature, maybe something like a cross between an eagle and an egret. But you know what? "Egress" is just a fancy word for "exit," and those poor folks found themselves standing in the back alley, looking foolish.

Now, before we get too judgmental about those museum goers, let me tell you, we all get fooled by fancy words sometimes. The Apostle Paul knew this was coming. That's why he warned the church at Colossae about being beguiled, or deceived, by enticing words.

So many people get taken in by one of these prosperity preachers. They'd send their last hundred dollars to this television ministry because the man promises them a "hundredfold return." The preacher uses all the right Bible verses, quotes them out of context, wraps them up in smooth talk, and these dear people think they'd found the way to financial breakthrough. Instead, like those museum visitors, they find themselves out in the cold.

The truth is, false teaching often comes dressed up in religious language. It sounds spiritual, it feels exciting, and it promises what our hearts desperately want to hear. But Paul says we need to be on guard against these enticing words that lead us away from the simple truth of the Gospel.

So how do we protect ourselves? Well, the same way you'd avoid Barnum's trick. You learn what "egress" means. You get familiar with the real thing so you can spot the counterfeit. That means staying grounded in God's Word, not just the parts that make us feel good, but the whole counsel of God.

When someone comes along with enticing words, promising easy answers to life's hard questions, remember old P.T. Barnum and his egress sign. Ask yourself: is this leading me closer to Jesus, or is it just leading me out the back door with an empty pocket and a red face?

The Gospel doesn't need to be dressed up in fancy words. Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and offers us eternal life through faith in Him. That's not complicated, but it's powerful. And it's free, no twenty-five cents required.

Let's pray: Father, give us discernment to recognize truth from error. Help us not to be swayed by smooth talk or fancy presentations, but to stay anchored in Your Word. Keep us from following signs that lead nowhere, and guide us always toward Jesus. In His name, Amen.

#RTTBROS #Nightlight #Faith #Discernment #ChristianLiving #BiblicalTruth #DailyDevotion #SpiritualGrowth

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GOD'S REP #RTTBROS #Nightlight

GOD'S REP #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy." - Psalm 99:3 (KJV)

In the annals of Scripture, we find a common thread woven through the stories of David and Goliath, Daniel's refusal of the king's portion, and our Lord Jesus Christ cleansing the temple. This thread is the unwavering commitment to uphold God's holiness and reputation above all else.

Consider David, a young shepherd who faced the mighty Goliath. His motivation was not personal glory, but rather a zeal for the Lord's name. As we read in 1 Samuel 17:45, David declared, "I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."

Similarly, Daniel, when presented with the king's rich fare, "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank" (Daniel 1:8). His primary concern was not his own comfort or advancement, but maintaining his purity before God.

Lastly, we see our Saviour, Jesus Christ, cleansing the temple with righteous indignation. As recorded in Mark 11:17, He proclaimed, "Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves." His actions were not driven by personal gain, but by a fervent desire to preserve the sanctity of His Father's house.

These examples teach us a profound lesson in discipleship. As followers of Christ, our primary mission is to glorify God and uphold His reputation in all circumstances. This may often require us to set aside our own desires, comforts, and even our personal reputations for the sake of God's name.

In our daily walk, let us continually ask ourselves: Does this action, word, or decision bring glory to God? Are we more concerned with our own agenda or with advancing God's kingdom? By aligning our hearts with this divine priority, we can become more effective disciples, shining the light of Christ in a world that desperately needs it.

May we, like David, Daniel, and our Lord Jesus, be found faithful in upholding God's holy name, for as the Psalmist declares, "Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy" (Psalm 99:3).

 

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When God Holds What We Cannot

 When God Holds What We Cannot

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." - Psalm 46:1-2 (KJV)

Sometimes the ground falls out from under us without warning. One moment we're standing on solid ground, and the next, everything we counted on suddenly feels uncertain. The mountains we thought were unmovable begin to shake. In those terrible moments when our hearts break in ways we didn't know they could, we discover something profound: God is not sometimes our refuge, not eventually our strength, but a very present help in trouble. Present. Right here. Right now.

I think of a young Scottish boy who worked in a Glasgow factory at age twelve. Each week he'd walk home through a deep, narrow gorge that howled with wind. The locals believed it was haunted. During daylight it was manageable, but one evening after a long shift, darkness was falling as he approached that terrifying valley. He stood frozen, not knowing what to do. Then he saw the head and shoulders of the greatest man he knew his father coming up out of that valley to walk him home. His father knew his son would be scared. That's the picture of God meeting us in our darkest valleys.

David knew this truth when he wrote, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4, KJV). Notice he doesn't say "if" - he says "though." The valley is certain in this broken world. But even in the darkest valley, we are not walking alone. "Thou art with me" changes everything. God doesn't meet us after we make it through. He meets us in the middle of it.

The older I get, the more I understand that apart from God's mercy and grace, none of us can stand before a holy God. I've been a pastor for over thirty years. I've sat with people in their best moments and their worst. Here's what I've learned: the ground at the foot of the cross is absolutely level. We all come the same way broken, needing mercy. And mercy is exactly what we find there.

Jeremiah wrote from the ruins of Jerusalem, "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23, KJV). He penned these words not from a hilltop but from the dark valley of total devastation. Yet right in the middle of grief, he planted a flag: God's mercies are new every morning. Not because everything is okay, but because God's nature doesn't change even when our circumstances do.

When loneliness whispers that we're forgotten, when failure suggests we've exhausted God's patience, when circumstances scream that we've been abandoned, this ancient promise speaks louder: "My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him" (Psalm 89:28, KJV). The word "keep" means more than passive maintenance. It carries the sense of actively guarding, carefully preserving, faithfully watching over. Like a shepherd who counts his sheep each night, God actively tends His covenant promises.

The covenant stands fast not because of our grip on God, but because of His grip on us. I taught my little girls to roller skate when they were tiny. They didn't know how to keep their feet it was like watching the river dance. But I was holding their hands. Their grip on me was too weak to keep them standing, but my grip on them was strong enough to hold them up. That's the picture of God with us. Our walk with God doesn't depend on our grip on Him. It depends on His grip on us.

Paul declared, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39, KJV). He said, "I am persuaded." I am convinced. Nothing not your worst day, not your darkest struggle, not your biggest failure, not even death itself can break God's grip on those He loves.

Sometimes we have to let go of hands we love so that God can take them. We don't release them into darkness - we release them into Light. We release them into stronger hands. Hands scarred by nails. Hands that reached down from heaven to earth to rescue us. Hands that will never, ever let go. The same hands that actively kept David, that raised Jesus from the dead, that uphold the universe by the word of His power - these same hands keep us. And what He keeps, no power in heaven or earth can snatch away.

Prayer:

Father, when the ground falls out from under us, remind us that You are our refuge and strength. When we walk through valleys we never expected, meet us there. When our grip weakens, hold us tighter. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning, that Your grip is stronger than our failures, and that nothing can separate us from Your love. Help us trust what we cannot see and rest in hands that will never let go. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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