Latest Thoughts of the Day

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.

Mark 8:27

11/19/2025

Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way He asked them, "Wo do people say that I am?"

In the midst of all the hubbub Jesus’ popularity has brought about, Jesus wants His disciples to take note of themselves. The ones who know Him best—what do they think about Him? Peter replies for them all, and it is clear that the message of who Christ is has been made clear to them. He is the Christ. But His asking them is like a quickie quiz. The lesson has been taught in many ways, with many examples, and with many explanations. But have they gotten it? They had! Now they need to know that it was God’s will for Him to be crucified. This idea will not come easy to them. But God’s will must necessarily include the death of Jesus.

MATTHEW 14:27

11/18/2025

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Jesus had told them to row to the other shore, even though it was late and the wind was against them. They were tired when they saw movement on the lake, and it seemed an impossible thing, so they were afraid. But it was Jesus coming to them in a totally unexpected way. Could we be exhausted trying to serve Jesus and scared out of our minds by the way He chose to draw near? If this happens, may we hear the quick voice saying, “Take courage! It is I!” Jesus is in every surprising encounter, even though it may be frightening at first. He will be quick to quiet our fears. Surprise and amazement is His specialty. Every new twist in the outworking of our adventure is intervention in our lives by Jesus.

Malachi 3:10

11/17/2025

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that thee may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enought for it."

Looking for ways to cut corners on their offerings to God displayed an attitude that the Lord focuses upon in this passage of Scripture. It is significant that God actually challenges the believer to put God to the test. Stop this attitude of stinginess, and see how un-stingy God can be! This verse has helped many to trust God with their finances in a way that has transformed their lives. God’s way of “opening heaven” is with spiritual blessing greater than a believer has ever known. More than they could imagine, they experience the drawing near of Jesus.

Zechariah 9:4

11/16/2025

But the Lord will take away her possession and destroy her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.

Tyre feels pretty much invincible at the moment, having a very successful sea trade and enjoying wonderful financial success. But the proud will always be humbled. God’s purposes for Tyre will send a ripple effect through all the nations that are at present connected with her. She will be like the first in a line of dominoes to fall. Panic and chaos is here promised by God to a league of nations that want no connection with Him. The way God describes it makes it look a little like a board game being put away after the game is done. Current international events are actually like this today. God knows His purposes. He can dismantle anything whenever He wants. His concern is the glory of Jesus.

Haggai 1:9

11/15/2025

"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the Lord Almighty. "Because of my house which remains a ruin while each of you is busy with his own house."

God has raised up a prophet to challenge them concerning priorities. Pursuing their own personal goals has become very much more important to them than listening to and serving the Lord. They would like to get a little ahead so that they can be more useful to God, but circumstances seem to conspire to keep them running short every month, when take-home pay does not turn out to be enough. Of course, God Himself is conspiring to frustrate their personal plans until they wake up to Him. “Seek first His kingdom and all your personal needs will be met” is the challenge given us by Jesus.

Zephaniah 2:9

11/14/2025

"Therefore, as surely as I live", declares the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, "surely Moab will become like Sodom, the Ammonites like Gomorrah--a place of weeds and salt-pits, a wasteland forever. The remnant of my people will plunder them; the survivors of my nation will inherit their and."

After 2,600 years, who can say which salt pit desert is the remnant of Moab? We know that Sodom was close to the Dead Sea, and we know that it remains a wasteland to this day. The Jews survive in that place, and much of the trouble in the land is over who exactly it is that owns it. Our records are not so good, but God’s sovereign disposal is manifest. God judges the wicked. Lord, we tremble at Your awesome holiness and your mighty power. Use us in this world to magnify the Name of Jesus.

Habakkuk 2:10

11/13/2025

You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

God is going to use Babylon to chastise His people, Israel, but that does not mean that He is oblivious to the evil of which Babylon is guilty. He hates the pride and cruelty of those who promote their own interests at the expense of absolutely everybody else. Those people build an empire, but in so doing they destroy their own lives. They become greedy and hateful people, and set themselves up for inevitable downfall. Babylon has done this. As soon as Babylon has accomplished God’s purpose for them they will face a terrible judgment. And how about us? Have we been determined to prosper, no matter who we have hurt? The only way we can survive God’s terrible judgment is to take refuge in His Son. Our only hope is Jesus.