Latest Thoughts of the Day

Matthew 14:18

8/10/2026

"Bring them here to me" he said

This verse tells us nothing about the miracle that is about to be performed. The feeding of the 5000 is an astonishing display of the power of Jesus over what we understand to be the physical world. It displays Jesus’ remarkable concern for the needy and His overwhelming power to meet any physical need. But the verse we focus on today speaks of the necessity of bringing what we can supply to Jesus, that He might do more than anything we could ask or think. “Bring them here to me.” Would we offer the little we have and the little we can do in the face of overwhelming need, trusting Jesus to accomplish His purposes using our resources? All that Jesus required of His followers here was to bring what they had to Him. Help us to do that, Lord Jesus.

Malachi 3:9

8/9/2026

"You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing Me".

It doesn’t make sense. You have a runty lamb or calf that will never amount to anything anyway, and you keep him, while you sacrifice to God a perfect one. Give Him the bad one! What difference does it mean to Him? Malachi declares that it does make a difference to Him. They couldn’t get away with this if they were dealing with a human ruler. They are not taking seriously their relationship with God, and God sees it as robbing Him. And nobody seems to notice that crops have failed, pests have devoured, calamities have destroyed what they have thought to keep for themselves. It does matter and they must deal with it. When we deal with such things, we come to God in repentance and in faith. We look to Jesus.

Zechariah 7:7

8/8/2026

Are these not the words of the Lord proclaiming through the earlier prophets when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at rest and prosperous and the Negev and the western foothills were setled>

Back when Jerusalem was busy and prosperous God had raised up prophets to warn them of the consequences of their disobedience to God. What the prophets had warned had come to pass, and that is where the people of God were today. So recognize this, repent and return to God! Zechariah is wonderfully positive in his challenge to embrace God’s presence and purpose, and to point to the future glory God had for them. “See how God was right in the past. Trust Him for the future. The future will ultimately be glorious.” Zechariah has more pictures of Christ than any other old testament book but Isaiah. Look back, look around, look forward to Jesus.

Haggai 2:4

8/7/2026

"But now, be strong, O Zerubbabel", declares the Lord. "Be strong, all you people of the land, and work. For I am with you." declares the lord Almighty

My present struggle seems to weaken me, and there is real temptation to just give up. What can I accomplish anyway? But the Lord Almighty has said that He is with me. To be sure, the very thing being worked on is small and unimpressive in itself. The enemies seem to be very strong, and they can certainly boast. But the Lord Almighty is with me! He has said to be strong. However unimportant what I am doing may seem to me, He has told me to work at it. He has purposes I do not see and there are implications that escape my notice. Help me trust, Lord Jesus.

Zephaniah 2:8

8/6/2026

I have heard the insults of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who insulted my people and made threats against their land.

In 600 B.C. nations that bordered Israel spoke evil and plotted the destruction of Israel. All those nations ultimately disappeared from significance, and Israel continued, with all her faults, to exist. Not just in real estate, but in physical presence in all nations in the world, there are today those who insult the people of God and speak boldly of the destruction of God’s kingdom. But all these enemies will pass away, and God’s kingdom will prove to be an everlasting kingdom that shall have no end. God may yet have something to do with the nation Israel, but we know that He has everything to do with those who are His people through faith in the One He sent in the Person of Jesus.

Habakkuk 2L10

8/5/2026

You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

The Lord is purposing to use a wicked, lustful nation to chastise His own dear people, and then, in the course of time, to bring that wicked nation down to ruin. He describes that nation’s pride and arrogance and cruelty, pointing out that what they are doing to others will ultimately be done to them. They think they gain something by destroying others, but their actions end up destroying themselves. God will call them to account, and they will not escape. Jesus tells us, “what a man sows he will also reap”. Paul affirms this truth, and history is full of examples of God bringing down the one determined to exalt himself. Work in us the opposite spirit, O Lord. Let that mind be in us that was also in Christ Jesus.

Nahum 2:7

8/4/2026

It is decreed that the city be exiled and carried away. Its slave girls moan like doves and beat upon their breasts.

Spurgeon pointed out that when God used a wicked nation like a stick to punish His people, He always afterwards broke the stick. Nineveh had been used of God to bring to an end the northern kingdom of Israel and to frighten dreadfully the southern kingdom, Judah. But as Nineveh fiercely threatened Judah, God sent His angel of death and slew 36,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. This was the beginning of the end for Nineveh. When God had brought together many strands, He raised up Nahum to pronounce the final doom. The only ones who mourned would be the slave girls who were now out of a job. We do not mourn the destruction of our enemy, but rejoice in our glorious deliverance by Jesus.

Micah 4:7

8/3/2026

I will make the lame a remnsnt, those driven away a strong nation. The Lord will rule over them in Zion from that day and forever.

Micah lived to see Israel removed from the picture of God’s dealings, being utterly dispersed among the nations. He warned of judgment coming upon those who would not seek the Lord. But there are wonderful flashes and glimpses of God’s overflowing mercy to those who draw near to Him. This one promises to the weak and helpless a rescue that makes us not just refugees forever, but a vital part of a strong nation. Not just pity and help, God gives us significance and usefulness. And so He has to those of us who have trusted in Him! God Himself rules over us in Zion. We are part of His people, living in obedience, usefulness, and joy in serving King Jesus.