Latest Thoughts of the Day

Deuteronomy 1:18

12/18/2025

And at that time I told you everything you were to do.

Now, before the Israelites are to enter the promised land, Moses repeats the law that had been given them forty years ago at the beginning of their sojourn in the wilderness. The years of struggle and the gross disobedience of the people did not alter the law that God had given. For as many years as God would preserve His people and press on with the foreordained purposes, the Law would not change. In fact, Jesus would say, some fifteen hundred years hence, “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My word will not pass away.” Paul tells us in I Timothy 3:16, “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable”. God has told us what we are to do and what to do when we have failed. Or hope in all is focused on Jesus.

Numbers 1:15

12/17/2025

From Naphtali Ahira son of Enan

God has called for a census of every fighting man in the Israelite community. He wants them divided by clans and families, and actually delegates the responsibility to individuals whom He appoints by name. God appointed these men to accomplish this task. And He did not speak in generalities—specific men were designated. We sometimes overlook the fact that God deals this way with us, too. He knows who He appoints to any task, and He reckons their reward. To what task has God appointed us this day? Is it a general task that can be done by anyone, or is it determined by God Himself especially for us? We ought to assume the latter. Every day the Lord Himself prepares good works for us to do. However we come to recognize the duty, it is sent for us to glorify Jesus.

Leviticus 1:15

12/16/2025

The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off the head and burn it on the sltar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.

A whole tribe was set aside as religious experts, including the meticulous job of sacrifice. There was a particular way that every sacrifice must be made. In this case it is a sacrifice offered by a poor person who could only afford a dove. This did not exclude him from the rich symbolism of an innocent victim shedding its blood in order that a human sinner may be pardoned by a holy God. As modern, sophisticated people we find ourselves recoiling at the practice and not liking the shedding of blood. But, like it or not, we will perish forever without the shedding of innocent blood. Every innocent victim in the Bible pictures our innocent Sacrifice, even Jesus.

Exodus 1:18

12/15/2025

Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them: "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boy;s live?"

The first thing that Pharaoh tries to do to harm the people of God doesn’t work out. He can’t get people to do what he wants them to do. They get themselves off the hook, so he tries a more general law that will accomplish his wicked purpose. The attention of the Bible turns to a particular case where this does not succeed, and the story of redemption begins to be worked out. And all through the story of redemption there will be warring between God’s purposes and man’s. The human in charge will never be able entirely to succeed. God will use the weak things to shame the things that are strong. Moses’ birth and life will point in a thousand ways to Jesus.

Genesis 1:18

12/14/2025

...to govern the day and the night and to separate light from darkness, And God saw that it was good.

God had both general and specific purposes for the sun and the moon. They were the way He chose to deal with light and darkness. Light itself was created four days before the sun and the moon. But God wanted a predictable pattern for man in the use of light and darkness in his life. Day things would force him to organize himself and night things would force him to rest. Working around the difficulties and establishing the goals would be a big part of the purpose He had for His creature. The sun rules. The moon rules. Thank You, Lord, for challenge and rest. In this milieu, help us to make use of the things You have created. Work day and night to make us like Jesus.

Revelation 11:1

12/13/2025

But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.

Verse four of this chapter suggests that a third of created angels followed Satan in his rebellion. They were no match for omnipotence, and they were cast out of heaven, although all of their power was not destroyed. It is the Devil and his followers who make up the demonic army even today warring against the children of God. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. We are never certain how to interpret the glorious pictures of Revelation, but we love the movement, the action, the immediacy and the glory. In the realm of human government, God sets up one and puts down another. But in the unseen world of spiritual forces invisible to us, Our mighty God is more than equal to the task. All Hail King Jesus.

Jude 14

12/12/2025

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See. tje Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones..."

Jude is writing to warn about ungodly teachers who rise up within the church to lead the godly astray, affirming unflinchingly that they will be judged at the coming of the Lord with an irresistible force. He assures us that this in no new idea by quoting Enoch, the seventh from Adam. We do not have the actual book that Enoch wrote, though there have been writings produced that claim to be genuine. Jude gives us the quote remembered more as a proverb than as a part of an authentic existing work. It is part of his argument displaying the character of those who rise up in opposition to God. Lord, help us see beyond smooth words to the essence of rebellion, holding fast to Jesus.

3 John13

12/11/2025

I have much to write to you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink.

One positive response to this verse is thankfulness for the Apostle Paul’s imprisonment. He was forced to write. The much that he had to say had to be written down and was able to be preserved and copied for the next 2000 years. John’s words of encouragement and instruction were surely a great blessing to those he was able to visit, but those that we have from him for our edification were those he did manage to get down on paper. We certainly identify with John’s preference for the spoken word, but we are deeply thankful for the necessity that put many of his thoughts on paper. Lord, help us to speak in a way that helps your people, but help us use any means to point to Jesus.

2 John 7

12/11/2025

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

People who get the message wrong with regard to Jesus fit into the category of deceiver and antichrist. There are many ways to be wrong concerning Him, and this is the red flag that always alerts us to damnable heresy. Some errors will not land you in Hell. Errors with regard to Jesus will. Help us, Lord, to take everything the Bible says about Jesus into serious consideration when we think about Him, and guide us by Your Holy Spirit, that we get it right. But especially give us grace not to lean on our own understanding. Our safety for all eternity cannot rest upon our intellectual prowess. The certainty of our safety rests in You Yourself, Lord Jesus.