Latest Thoughts of the Day

Numbers 18:16

7/4/2026

When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs.

Because of the final plague in Egypt, which fell upon each first-born male, each first-born male of the descendants of Israel belonged to the Lord. Families were allowed to keep them if they were redeemed by a price. In their place, the tribe of Judah was dedicated as the official servants of Yahweh. The practice would descend into being just a tax, but the priest would be careful to help the people appreciate the spiritual significance of it all. Babies are born with a need for redemption. Serving God with our lives is part of being descendants if Abraham . The goal was to lift the vision of each family to the One who would visit them as Jesus.

Leviticus 14:29

7/3/2026

The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the Lord.

The book of Leviticus is the instruction manual that must be mastered by those who serve as priests in the nation of Israel. They are called to flesh out the religion of Yahweh in careful and sometimes meticulous rituals that teach visibly what they are to instruct formally the nation they serve. At this point, what must happen with the person who has been cleansed of leprosy? How can he be received back from his dreadful alienation? What must the people see him do? The people depend on well-trained experts as they gradually form in their own minds a concept of who Yahweh is. Into the future such details will help them to ponder and understand our Savior, Jesus.

Exodus 30:13

7/2/2026

You shall not murder.

The sixth commandment speaks of one human taking the life of another for personal reasons. Issues of war are addressed elsewhere in scripture. Man’s relationship with animals is clearly addressed in other passages. God is addressing here the personal enmity that rises up in our heart against another person which moves us to want them not to exist. Jesus points out that we have broken the commandment when we hate another person enough to want them dead. God regards every life as sacred, and He reserves for Himself the prerogative of ending life for any person. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay!” is helpful to us as we deal with our struggle. But we must take as a settled issue that it is not a matter for us. Our life is in God’s hands. He has put the issue into the hands of Jesus.

Genesis 25:17

7/1/2026

Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven yeard. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.

God had promised Hagar, Ishmael’s mother, and also Abraham his father that He would make a great nation of the child, even though he were not included in the primary covenant of the Bible. Here we see God’s faithfulness to that promise, as God’s focus of attention is turned to Isaac, to Jacob, to his twelve sons and to the movement of scripture to the coming of the Messiah. Abraham was to be the father of many nations, even as the focus of attention will be Israel and ultimately Judah. Even now, God is ruling and reigning in all the nations of the world, but His primary focus is the gathering from all the other nations to assemble the dwelling-place of the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus.

Revelation 1:7

6/30/2026

Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.

Many who lived oblivious to Christ will mourn for the judgment that has arrived. The solemn certainty of judgment will cause the redeemed to mourn for the terrible loss and grief that the unbelievers are about to experience. Joy will overtake the believer as he anticipates the experience of drawing near to His Savior. But what the sad world lost will sober us. We mourn along with those who are soon to perish forever. The judgment of a holy God is a sad and evident reality, and with all the world we will feel this truth. The sadness of many will be turned to joy as the redeemed draw near to welcome Jesus.

Jude 7

6/29/2026

In a similar way Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

When Lot made his choice to settle in Sodom and Gomorrah the region resembled the Garden of Eden for its beauty. Now it remains one of the most desolate places on earth. Jude tells us that that is meant to be an example of the eternal punishment God has in store for the sexually immoral and perverted. Jude sees other men in his own day who have put themselves on the same road and are seeking to teach others also, and he feels compelled to communicate a warning. Woe to them! They could have forgiveness in Christ, but they cling to their sin. Lord, open the eyes of the blind and bring many to Jesus!

3 John 7

6/28/2026

It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.

It seemed very wrong to John for those who present the Gospel to the world of unbelievers should wrangle financial support from unbelievers to do so. The confusion this generates can only undermine the message of Christ to an unbelieving world. The relative importance of the Gospel is diminished in the unbeliever’s mind, and the value of the good works the unbeliever can do is fundamentally confused. There are social organizations in our day that want to say they are seeking the salvation of people, but who make it clear that they are speaking of some kind of social salvation and not at all the salvation offered by Jesus. Historically Christian organizations do appeal to unbelievers for support. John’s words challenge us as Christians to support the work of Jesus.

2 John 7

6/27/2026

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.

Interest in Jesus Christ goes beyond the bounds of the church itself and captures the attention of outsiders on a social or intellectual or philosophical level. The devil is always interested in spreading ignorance and confusion in society at large. Teachers who have been utterly discredited as authorities in the church still gain a following and cultivate their support among hangers-on and associates of true believers. John denounces them for what they are and challenges true Christians to hold fast to the Lord. Help us, Lord, to discern who should be answered and who should simply be ignored. Opposition and ignorance are everywhere in the world. Help us draw near by Your Spirit and keep our focus upon Jesus.