Latest Thoughts of the Day

2 Peter 3:1

7/24/2014

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

Peter is conscious that much of what he has written in both his letters was already known by those to whom he wrote. There have been enlargements of concepts and focusing of details and particular applications which have all served to fill out what they had already received by faith, but the fundamental truths have been things already known and believed. Wholesome thinking for us today will be on the same pattern. We learn, we meditate, we deepen in our knowledge, but it is all an opening out and an application of the Truth, of Jesus, Whom we have received in all His fullness. Lord, help us this day to learn more of You. You are the Truth we long better to know.

1 Peter 3:1

7/23/2014

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without talk by the behavior of their wives,

“In the same way” is reminding women of the way Jesus bore reproach and misunderstanding and rejection and ridicule by quietly living out His commitment to do the will of God. Our own lives have been moved to trust in Him because of what He bore in silent witness as much as by what He said. There is a time for speaking, and there is a time for living out what we have said, even unto physical death. Being married to an unsaved man provides that wonderful opportunity and may be wonderfully used by God to bring him to faith. But whether or not, quiet trust in Jesus Christ is the appropriate response.

James 1:12

7/22/2014

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive te crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

The gold medal that the athlete wins in the Olympics is not just valuable for itself, but for what it represents. A life of dedication and hard work, of self-discipline and self-denial because of a higher goal for life comes to a wonderful focus and fills the medal with significance and satisfaction. The crown of life for us will be an honor because of what it cost us to get it. All who are trusting in Jesus will feel it an honor and a privilege to be in Heaven with Him. But those who have struggled to get there will feel it a tremendous confirmation of the worth of what they have given their lives to attain.

Hebrews 8:13

7/21/2014

By calling this covenant "new", he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

God relating to man on the basis of sacrifices which pointed to a Savior has become obsolete and has disappeared. The Savior has completed what the sacrifices pointed to, and the new covenant has come. It is remarkable that the message of salvation in Christ is always new. It comes as news to those who think they are working for their salvation. It comes as news to those who had lost all hope. It is ever a new way of looking at life. All attempts to supplant the Gospel have come to naught, but the message of salvation is ever new. Lord, help us to live rejoicing in Your Good News! Help us bring the new message to all around us who are perishing in their sins.

Philemon 9 ff

7/20/2014

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love.

Paul knew his authority as one inspired by God with the message of salvation. He knew that those who have believed in Jesus have recognized their responsibility to obey whatsoever the Lord commands. He could get the right response through command, but he did not want to do so. This is not the way the Lord Himself gets results from His people. Jesus reminds us of what He in love has done for us, and He touches our hearts with the desire to do what is pleasing to Him. Just knowing what He desires is enough for the Christian. Responding before any command is given brings joy to our hearts. Lord Jesus, give us a hint what You would like!

Titus 2:9-10

7/19/2014

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they cn be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Paul’s challenge to slaves is immediately applicable to employees (wage slaves). Employees of this character are as rare in our day as they were in Paul’s. The attitude that a worker is doing his boss a favor by being there is very common today. The sense that he deserves to be treated a certain way by his boss is clearly implied. Wasting company time is not considered stealing. When professing Christians behave the way the world does, it does not make what we believe very attractive. Lord, help us to show what knowing You does in us.

2 Timothy 3:1

7/18/2014

But mark this:There will be tterible times in the last days.

Every generation of the Christian church has found reason to think they were in the last days. Things always seem worse than they were in the “Good Old Days”. We can always pick out elements of the list Paul goes on to give that definitely line up with what we see around us in our day. Paul’s warning, essentially, is a “heads up!” Be aware that the direction of history is downward. The entropy we see in the physical realm infects society, as well, and change will always mean movement toward dissolution. Set your hopes on something better than this world. Jesus Christ is yet in control of this decaying world. He calls us to turn men’s eyes to Him. Everything will end up bad, apart from Jesus Christ. Lord, help us live for You!

1 Timothy 1:2

7/17/2014

To Timothy my true son in the faith:

The literary device of exaggeration for the sake of emphasis is permitted in the revelation of God’s literal truth. Believing that the Bible is inerrant doesn’t mean that poetry is out, because poetry is often the only way to say what God wants to say to us. Paul calls Timothy his “true son in the faith” We remember that a true relationship with another person is not limited to blood. Often our deeper relationships with people have nothing to do with blood at all. Timothy reflected Paul’s image. He shared his values and wanted the things that his “father in the faith” wanted. They were kindred spirits, closer than fathers and sons usually are. Jesus is our older brother, and the relationship is much deeper than blood. Thank You, Lord for making us true brothers of Your Son, Jesus.