Latest Thoughts of the Day

Ephesians 4:27

11/27/2025

...and do not give the devil a foothold.

Among the practical lessons for everyday living, Paul includes a challenge not to let anger fester all night in our minds, because this is an example of giving a special advantage to the enemy of our souls. Bitterness, hatred, believing falsehood, jumping to conclusions, misjudging motives, questioning the reality of a person’s conversion, harboring a hatred and plotting a revenge all take place in our minds as we take into account a wrong suffered and let ourselves meditate on it as we lay awake at night. These are the things within us that the devil loves to use, and the tools he is most adept in manipulating. And it is possible for us just to say,”no”. Help us to do this, Lord. Help us to recognize these wiles as from the enemy and find personal refuge in our Lord Jesus.

Galatians 4:27

11/26/2025

For it is written, "Be glad, O barren woman who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains, because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."

Jewish Christians are trying to influence Gentile believers to bring their faith back under the canopy of Jewish ceremonies and traditions, as if doing so will enrich their Christian experience. But how could it do so? The Jewish traditions were designed to keep a people separate from other nations. God’s design is to transform people from every other nation and to create an impact that will change the world. The children of God born in this way will immeasurably outnumber those who lock step with Jewish tradition. Paul quotes from Isaiah chapter 54 to show that this is what God intended from the beginning through His Son, Jesus.

2 Corinthians 8:11

11/25/2025

Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to you means.

Believers at Corinth had made known their eagerness to support a contribution toward the needs of Christians in Jerusalem. Paul had spoken of their example in encouraging generosity in other churches he had visited. Now that the money was being gathered, Paul wanted to make sure that the Corinthian pledge would be forthcoming. It is important that such vows be kept as a regular part of our Christian testimony. Life as a whole should be lived decently and in order. Personal responsibility should flow from our commitment to Jesus as Savior and Lord. And Paul is an example for us in challenging others to be faithful. It is important to all of us that all of us are faithful to our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:14

11/24/2025

In the same way, the lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Through Moses, God set apart the tribe of Levi to be experts in the religion of Israel, that all detail would be remembered and everything done decently and in order. The other eleven tribes were to provide for Levi’s needs through offerings and sacrifices. Paul reminds us that this arrangement was a reflection of what God purposed in His church. Those leaders that He raises up with gifts for teaching and organization are to give themselves to that task, being supported financially and otherwise by those who benefit from their ministries. Paul clearly maintains that it is the right of preachers to live off the gifts of those who benefit. We thank You, Lord, for our ministers. Help us support them to the glory of Jesus.

Romans 9:27

11/23/2025

Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number o f the Israelites be like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved."

Paul began the chapter expressing his deep desire that salvation extend to his people, the Jews. Nevertheless, he realizes that God’s eternal purpose includes the blinding of Israel, the inclusion of the Gentile nations, the outworking of all of history to the conclusion of glory in Jesus Christ. A remnant from Israel will fulfill every promise to Abraham’s physical seed, but all the rest completes the picture that God is working out. Isaiah spoke his part. All of Scripture and all of history speaks the rest. Paul is teaching us how to view the world in which we live, but his teaching is itself a deep act of worship. How unsearchable are His purposes, and His ways past finding out! All hail King Jesus!

Acts 15:27

11/22/2025

Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.

The gathered church under the leadership of James, had extensively discussed issues concerning Gentile believers and had come up with a unanimous articulation of the position of the church on these important issues. They are sending messengers to all the churches to deliver a letter from the counsel of leaders, and they choose two men who are well-known and highly respected to give spoken testimony to the validity of the letter that will be read. No one of the leaders who had attended the meeting had compromised his personal opinions on these matters. From different angles, all had entirely agreed. Since this was the first such general meeting, James was concerned that all the churches know that this agreement reflected the Spirit of God guiding the followers of the Lord Jesus.

John 11:27

11/21/2025

"Yes, Lord," she told Him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

Martha had been rebuked by the Lord a few days before, when she did not appreciate her sister Mary’s devotion to Him. In her own way she kept on serving, and because she was who she was, she had come out to meet Him when He arrived too late to keep her brother Lazarus from dying. Actually, in the most gentle and submissive way, she had rebuked Jesus for not being there. She was disappointed and terribly sad. But she believed that Jesus was who He said He was. When faced by this clear unambiguous question, she declared that she did believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. Notwithstanding personal disappointment and grief, her trust was still centered in her Lord Jesus.

Luke 13:27

11/20/2025

But he will reply, "I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers."

The disciples have asked Jesus if only a few will be saved, and He does not directly answer their question. His answer is “you make very sure that you are among them!” The issue is very serious and the stakes are very high. There are issues involved that are far beyond their understanding at this time. The answer to those issues is not anywhere near as important as their personal relationship with the Lord. Have they come to know Him? Superficial association with His people and occasional good works will not keep anyone from Hell. Weeping and gnashing of teeth is no joke. Don’t bother with intellectual speculations. Answers to theological curiosities are worth nothing at all. Turn from your sin and seek mercy at the hands of Jesus.