Latest Thoughts of the Day

Galatians 4:23

5/12/2025

His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

If we are children of God, it is because of a promise. God promised to bless all the nations of the earth through Abraham’s seed. God promised to send a redeemer to bring salvation to a multitude that no man could number. God promised to give us new hearts that loved His word and desired to draw near to Him. God promised to forgive our sins. We were born-again because of a promise, gathered to His people because of a promise. The Jews as a people continue to plod on in the task of obedience, and thus they maintain their identity. The children of the promise hear the message of salvation, genuinely repent of their sins, and embrace the Savior, Jesus.

2 Corinthhians 10:12

5/11/2025

We do not dare to classify ourselves or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

We can all look good if we compare ourselves with the right people. A sliding scale is not very hard to live up to. But how we measure up this way is not really important at all. Are we what we can and should be? is a much safer question. Long distance runners do this all the time—is their time “good” with reference to what they might reasonably expect from themselves at this time? This is a way to run the Christian race. Jesus is our role-model, and He is our present help in time of need. Abandon boasting altogether. Live as one who answers directly to the Lord. Compare ourselves to ourselves and look to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 12:23

5/10/2025

...and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty...

Paul is comparing the church to our natural body, pointing out similarities. Different parts of the body have different functions, but each one is necessary for the whole. Some parts are attractive, and we show them off, but some parts definitely are not, and we modestly cover them. Nevertheless all are necessary and deserve respect. Church members can be like this, and we should value every single one. The cantankerous one I am dealing with right now may be God’s instrument to uncover my pride and impatience. My love for the unlovely may need practice. God is using the other members of my church to help me be what He wants me to be. Help me respond in Your strength, Lord Jesus.

Romans 12:17

5/9/2025

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

“He did it first!” is never to be an excuse for doing evil to any person. “Vengeance is mine”, says the Lord, “I will repay.” God is the only person who knows all the details, keeps all the records, understands all His purposes, and is working in us as well as in the one who had done us wrong. Our bearing injustice bravely may itself be an instrument in God’s hand to accomplish a purpose more important than we can imagine. Jesus getting vengeance from the cross would have utterly undone the purpose for which He died. This is why He did not so much as utter a threat. Openness and honesty is God’s desire for us. Paul challenges us to have the mind that was in Christ Jesus.

Acts 21:30

5/8/2025

The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut.

There were no photographs, but someone recognized Paul, and saw that he was with some Gentiles, and concluded he had brought Gentiles into the temple. And all chaos broke loose. The mob tried to kill him, but word got to the Roman government, and the army came to Paul’s rescue. A years-long process is set in motion that will ultimately bring Paul to Rome to stand before Caesar’s court. A situation that looks out of control to us is the settled purpose of God to bring about His purposes. Paul’s suffering of beatings, injustices, imprisonment and frustration are all ways that Paul brings glory to His Savior. Through everything Paul will know the presence, the help and the comfort of Jesus.

John 16:25

5/7/2025

Though I have been speaking figuratively, the time is coming when I will no longer use this type of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.

The risen Christ will spend forty days in the presence of His disciples, teaching them all they will need to establish the church and build the foundation for the Faith. All of that will be contingent upon His accomplishing the purposes of redemption by His suffering, death, and resurrection. These things must be spoken about as prophecies and must retain the element of mystery in order for God to bring everything to pass. Many things will be plain after the resurrection, and many more evident after the Holy Spirit is granted. From that point on, the Spirit will guide the Apostles into all truth as He brings to their remembrance the things that Jesus taught. Plain words come from Jesus.

Luke 18:32

5/6/2025

He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.

It was important for Jesus to predict these things in order that we may see the more clearly how they all happened exactly according to God’s plan. But it was also important for the disciples not to understand what he was talking about. Verse 34 speaks of their complete confusion. Jesus does not predict these things as an effort to rally rescue. He knows that He came to earth to endure this. He predicts what will come to pass that we might see God’s hand more clearly, even in the evil deeds of sinful men. Jesus came to lay down His life by the hands of sinful men, that He may rise again to accomplish their salvation. He voluntarily endured these dreadful things. Thank You, Jesus.

Mark 13:28

5/5/2025

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out you know that summer is near.

We do not need a special scientist who has studied climate and weather data to tell us that summer is near. The trees tell us. That is how obvious it will be to believers when the signs of the culmination of man’s history on earth is drawing near. It will be impossible to deceive the elect. Their hopes will be set on Jesus’ return, and the signs that point to it will be unmistakable. The state of the world may be chaotic and dangerous, but the evidence of what is happening will be quiet and clear to those who are trusting Jesus. Lord, help us fix our hopes on Your return and await with patience the day when we will see Jesus.