Category: Daily Thought

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In the Beginning God

Daily Reading

Genesis 1-3

Daily Thought

God said of Adam, after he ate the forbidden fruit, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:22).

That seems oddly forbidden. What is wrong with knowing good and evil? My children know good and evil because I teach them good and evil (preferring good). Have I been feeding my children the forbidden fruit?

Why was eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil a bad thing?

The answer springs out of the first four words of the Bible, “In the beginning God.” This is the worldview into which Adam and Eve were created. It is where they belong. They did not perceive good and evil, they simply lived in God’s creation in the manner he designed it. They did so without thinking, without choosing. Now they have eaten the fruit and they get to think about it. They get to choose. They want to choose.

Their lust to choose was stronger than their love of living in God’s Eden.

We must teach our children the difference between good and evil because Adam and Eve brought this knowledge inside us, and we must teach our children how to choose. The best way to choose wisely is to follow God closely, the way it was in the beginning before the serpent.

When Jesus prayed, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10), he declared our wonderful future hope that in God’s Kingdom come, evil will be abolished. We will live in a world, not without choice, but without an alternative. God is on the throne and righteousness reigns. We will return to “In the beginning God.”

Daily Prayer

Creator God, loving Father, what a world you created! Awesome and amazing. Thank You for life. It is purely wonderful, meaning it is wonderful when it is pure. I am so sorry for fouling things up, for going my own way, for not following You. Thank You for changing my heart, for pursuing me and teaching me to pursue You, for giving me life anew.

I look forward to Your Kingdom come. Today and everyday, may I live for, may I follow closely my King, my God, Jesus Christ, my Savior.

Amen

Daily Question

What can you do today to bring your desires into alignment with God’s?

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The Alpha and the Omega

Daily Reading

Revelation 20-22

Daily Thought

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” ~Revelation 22:13 

In Genesis, Jesus is the Ram at Abraham’s altar. In Exodus, he is the Passover Lamb. In Leviticus, he is the High Priest. In Numbers, he is the Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire at night. In Deuteronomy, he is the Cities of Refuge. In Joshua, he is the Scarlet Cord in Rahab’s window and the Commander of the Lord’s army. In Judges, he is the true and final Judge of the living and the dead. In Ruth, he is our Kinsman Redeemer. In 1st and 2nd Samuel, he is our Trusted Prophet. In Kings and Chronicles, he is our Reigning King. In Ezra, he is our Faithful Scribe. In Nehemiah, he is the Rebuilder of everything that is broken. In Esther, he is Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate. In Job, he is our Redeemer. In Psalms. he is our Shepherd and I shall not want. In Proverbs, he is the Wisdom from above. In Ecclesiastes, he is the Meaning of life. In the Song of Songs, he is our Lover and Bridegroom. In Isaiah, he is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. In Jeremiah, he is the New Covenant. In Lamentations, it is Jesus who Weeps over His people. In Ezekiel, he is the Fearful and Wonderful Four-Faced Man. In Daniel, he is the Fourth Man in the fiery furnace. In Hosea, he is my Lover, forever faithful. In Joel, he is the Giver of the Holy Spirit. In Amos, he is our Burden Bearer. In Obadiah, he is Mighty to Save. In Jonah, he is the gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. In Micah, he is the Messenger with beautiful feet. In Nahum, he is the Avenger. In Habakkuk, he is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival. In Zephaniah, he is the Lord mighty to save. In Haggai, he is the Restorer of our lost heritage. In Zechariah, he is our Fountain. In Malachi, he is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings. 

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. ~Luke 24:27

In Matthew, he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. In Mark, he is the ServantSavior. In Luke, he is the Son of Man. In John, he is the Living Word. In Acts, he is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the road to Damascus. In Romans, he is our Justifier. In 1st Corinthians, he is our Resurrection. In 2nd Corinthians, Jesus is our Sin Bearer. In Galatians, he is Liberty. In Ephesians, he is Head of the Church. In Philippians, he supplies our every need. In Colossians, he is the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily. In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, he is our Soon Coming King. In 1st and 2nd Timothy, he is the One Mediator between God and man. In Titus, he is our Blessed Hope. In Philemon, he is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. In Hebrews, he is the Author and Finisher of our faith In James, he is the Lord that heals the sick. In 1st and 2nd Peter, he is the Chief Shepherd. In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, He is love. In Jude, he is God our Savior, the one who keeps us from stumbling and presents us blameless in his presence with great joy.. And in Revelation, he is the Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. ~Revelation 22:20-21

Daily Prayer

Jesus, may I start my day with You as my first thought and end my day with you as my last. You are my beginning and end, my first thought and last word, my Lord and Savior forever. 

Thank You for coming for me, for loving me, for dying for me, and for conquering death. I look forward to Your coming again and wish it was soon! I love You with all my heart and soul and mind and strength,

Amen

Daily Question

How would you describe Jesus to a friend?

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And They Lived Happily Ever After

Daily Reading

Revelation 17-19

Daily Thought

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons.” ~Revelation 18:2

Babylon is the last battle and Satan’s last stand, and as God’s wrath finishes its destruction, all the people who had placed all their hope in this world watch the smoke rise, “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste” (Revelation 18:16-17). The great city was Babylon, representing the commerce and culture of this world, and the Bible calls her “the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality” (Revelation 19:2). She is rightly destroyed, for none is less welcome at a wedding than the prostitute, and it is time now for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready. ~Revelation 19:6-7

The Lamb is Jesus Christ and his bride is the church. She has purchased her gown, but rather than Babylonian purple and scarlet, her fine linen is heavenly, “bright and pure, for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints” (Revelation 19:8). The world began with a wedding, “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). God called it very good. Now, as one world ends, there is a new beginning and another wedding, and it is even better and forever.

“And they lived happily ever after” is no mere fairy tale ending, but the promise of God to those who enter his Story.

Daily Prayer

My God Eternal, You have given me a glimpse of the future and it fills me with anticipation–a world pure and good, filled with Your love and holiness. I live now in preparation for an everlasting Kingdom with Your Son on the throne reigning in righteousness.

May my life reflect now what is to come, displaying the goodness and godliness of eternity with You, and may it attract others to believe in You and enter Your story, full of grace and truth.

Amen

Daily Question

What do you look forward to most about eternity in God’s Kingdom?

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Truth Wins

Daily Reading

Revelation 13-16

Daily Thought

In the end, Satan gives us his best. Or worst. He launches his big guns against God and goodness:

“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.” ~Revelation 13:1-2

The force of Satan appears ominous and terrible and issues a challenge: “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” (Revelation 13:4). This is the deception. Satan would have us look for someone “like the beast” because he would have us become like him, but he is a liar. Our Savior is nothing like the beast for Jesus is truth, and unlike the beast, he is “the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 13:8). The power of God is in the sacrifice of the Lamb who conquered death, setting us free from sin and Satan, and rose again, the Lion of Judah, to call out a warning:

If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

If anyone is to be taken captive,
to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
with the sword must he be slain. ~Revelation 13:9-10

To fear the power of Satan is to follow a liar into captivity and death. The faithful follow the Truth, “and they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!

Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.” ~Revelation 15:3-4

Truth wins.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. ~Revelation 13:10

Daily Prayer

God, I love You completely. I hate evil completely.

May I live my life cherishing You and despising Satan. May I rid myself of all that he touches. Give me discernment to hear when it is his voice speaking, and I will reject what he says, for it is a lie. I will love truth and goodness, because all that is true and all that is good comes from You.

I love You. Completely.

Amen

Daily Question

What are the most powerful lies of Satan?

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The Wrath of God

Daily Reading

Revelation 9-12

Daily Thought

The judgment and wrath of God stand out in the book of Revelation, but only for a time and a measure. When angels sound their trumpets, locust are released and “allowed to torment for five months, but not to kill” (Revelation 9:5), and plagues “prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind” (Revelation 9:15). The torment, though terrible, is limited, but the righteous reign of God is forever.

There are those who shame God for his wrath, yet stand unashamed in their sin. God is our King and Creator, “who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it” (Revelation 10:6), yet he presents himself to us with a choice, and despite the majesty that should lead us to worship, or the wrath that should drive us from sin, we may yet choose poorly, and many do. 

“The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.” ~Revelation 9:20

It’s astounding. People choose to follow the one who “knows that his time is short” (Revelation 12:12) rather than bow “to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13).

Why?

Daily Prayer

Almighty God, You had to shout loudly for me to hear, but I did hear, and I am Yours. You keep turning my heart toward You. I long to have that deep desire to listen to You, so You can speak with the still soft voice and I will pay attention. But please, shout when You need to, when I’m distracted by the noise and the clutter that I surround myself with in this world.

Your eternity has changed my life today. I can bear the trials, because I know You, and in You my heart finds peace.

Amen

Daily Question

Why do people reject God?

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Forewarned

Daily Reading

Revelation 4-8

Daily Thought

The reign of Rome was trying times for the persecuted churches, and lest they wonder where is God and what is he doing, the apostle John is given a “revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place” (Revelation 1:1). John enters “a door standing open in heaven” (Revelation 4:1) to discover a throne cascading “flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God” (Revelation 4:5). Upon the throne sits God, holding a scroll “sealed with seven seals” (Revelation 5:1), each unfolding a certain future, “what must take place after this” (Revelation 4:1), and Jesus alone, at the same time the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God, is able to open the scroll and usher forward what is to come.

Enter now the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, the white horse of conquest leading the bright red of war, the black of famine, and the pale horse of death. The imagery is wild and wonderful, promising both wrath and redemption; and redemption arrives first. Twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel and “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” stand before the throne, clothed in white, and cry out, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10). Then follows wrath upon the rest, a proper wrath from a righteous God upon a rebellious humanity. Seven angels blow seven trumpets of destruction, and this book of Revelation is a forewarning, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 8:13). 

There is a Latin proverb, Praemonitus praemunitus, and it means “to be forewarned is to be forearmed,” and we are to be armed, but not for battle against the Lion of Judah and the coming wrath of God, for that battle we would lose. We are to be armed for peace, prepared to kneel in devotion before the Lamb of God and enter eternity in the kingdom of God.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. ~Jude 24-25

Daily Prayer

Jesus, Almighty God, Savior and Lord, conquering Lion, redeeming Lamb, you are worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! Open my eyes to see Your wonder. I kneel before You, and in Your amazing grace, You lift me up. You give me what I need to live confidently now, preparing for eternity. I know You hold the future, so I know the future holds righteousness and peace for those who belong to You. 

Thank You, Jesus.

Amen

Daily Question

Are you ready for Jesus to return anytime?

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All In

Daily Reading

Revelation 1-3

Daily Thought

Jim was a high school senior, a nice kid who decided to ask the most popular girl in the school to Prom. He wasn’t sure, however, she knew who he was. Undeterred, he picked up the phone, “Hi Shari, this is Jim.” It was silent for a moment. “I sit behind you in History.” She remembered. “Would you like to go to Senior Prom?” Silence. “With me?” he added. More silence. Then, finally, “Sure, why not.” The most popular girl said she would go.

But that wasn’t good enough, and Jim knew it. “I’m sorry Shari,” Jim insisted, “‘Sure, why not,’ won’t do. It has to be either, ‘Jim, I want nothing more than to be your date to Senior Prom,’ or ‘Jim, you’re the last person on earth I’d want to be seen with.’”

Jesus said to the church at Laodicea, “Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). “Sure, why not,” won’t do.

It was silent again. A longer silence. And then, “Jim, I want nothing more than to be your date to Senior Prom.” 

They had a fabulous evening.

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” ~John 10:10

Jesus is standing at the door of our heart, knocking, and think about how we respond. In the first place, he’s not some nice kid, he is “the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). “Sure, why not,” won’t do. But open the door and let him in, all in, and it is time for a banquet.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” ~Revelation 3:20

Daily Prayer

Jesus, since You are all in for me, ought not I be all in for You! You are worth my everything and more. All that I have is from You and for You.

Forgive me for and protect me from my half-hearted efforts. I want You to be with me in everything in my life, and I want everything in my life to point to You and give You pleasure. You are my God, Lord, and Savior. And my friend. I want nothing more than to be with You.

Amen

Daily Question

Would you describe the life you live as abundant? Why or why not?

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Bibles Well-Torn and Tattered

Daily Reading

2John 1; 3John 1; Jude 1

Daily Thought

Mr. Hooper taught Sunday School, 6th grade boys. They were not in the habit of bringing Bibles, but Mr. Hooper thought they should. “Bring your Bibles next Sunday.”

The next week, all had obeyed. “Okay, hold your Bibles up,” commanded Mr. Hooper. Nine obeyed. Their Bibles were very nice, cool covers, white clean pages. They looked almost new, almost unread, except Billy’s. Billy’s was still hidden in his backpack. His was old and tattered, rabbit-eared pages with lots of writing and underlining, and a frayed cover. 

Billy was embarrassed.

Mr. Hooper said, “Billy, what about yours? Let’s see it. Every one look at Billy’s Bible.”

Now he was really embarrassed!

“Boys, that’s what a Bible should look like. That’s the best Bible, well worn and well used. When it falls apart, buy a new one and start all over again. Well done, Billy.”

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” ~3John 1:4

If there is any book should be found at a Used Book Store, it is the Bible.

Daily Prayer

God, I love Your Word. It is the Word of life. In it, I see what You are like. I also see what I am like and what I should be like. Keep me in Your Word, God. The devil will keep me from Your Word, but Your Word will keep me from the devil. It is the Truth.

May I not only know Your Word, but live it, too. May my life be Your Word to others, leading them to Your Word, the Bible, leading them to Your Word, the Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Daily Question

Do you read the Bible often enough?

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I’m Sure

Daily Reading

1John 1-5

Daily Thought

Theologians call it eternal security, and the idea is, once saved, always saved–you cannot lose your salvation because God will never let you go. Growing up, that’s what I was taught, so I began college secure that I could do anything I desired without jeopardizing my eternity. And so I did anything. 

One day, however, I came across 2Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” What was the test? I didn’t know; I only knew I failed it. I discovered there is a difference between being secure in my faith, which is God’s business, and being sure of my faith, which is mine; and I was no longer sure.

Fortunately, I found a test. It was in the first letter written by the apostle John, and it came in three parts.

“This is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” ~1John 5:11-12

A question for my head, do I trust Jesus is the Son of God, my Savior? 

“By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” ~1John 2:3-4

A question for my feet, do I follow God’s ways? 

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” ~1John 4:7-8

And a question for my heart, do I love? 

I trust, I follow, I love, and I’m sure.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. ~1John 5:13

Daily Prayer

God, Your Son came to this world and endured the shame of the cross for my sake. May I endure its shame, as well. I would gladly boast of Your sacrifice, no matter the cost, because Your shame is the power of my salvation. You took my sin and bore its penalty by dying on the cross. The cross of a criminal. The cross I deserved.

This is Your glory, the glory of love so strong that You suffered the cross for me, a sinner. I will lift up Your Name, no matter the consequences, because it is Your Name, and Your Name alone, by which I am saved.

What a wonderful cross. What a wonderful Savior.

Amen

Daily Question

Are you sure you are saved? Why or why not?

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Some Assembly Required

Daily Reading

2Peter 1-3

Daily Thought

There is lots of gift-giving at Christmas, but no one out-gives God, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and it doesn’t stop there. When Jesus enters our life, he gives us everything needed to follow him forever, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (1Peter 1:3). 

That’s quite a Christmas. 

There are, of course, three words that often come with a gift: “Some Assembly Required.” God gave us everything we need, explains Peter, now start putting it together–“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (2Peter 1:5-7).

“Some Assembly Required” is part of the joy of Christmas as we build our faith and become the person God made us to be.  Fortunately, it comes with instructions–God’s Word–”we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place” (2Peter 1:19).

And our Father always helps.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” ~Philippians 1:6

Daily Prayer

Father God, thank You for all You’ve done, and You did everything. You have given me all I need, salvation in Your Son, power to live a godly life through Your Spirit, and You promise to bring Your work in me to completion. Someday, I will live in perfect holiness with You forever. I look forward to that day.

In the meantime, I will follow wherever You lead. Whatever You ask, my answer is Yes. You have my heart, all of it, and my mind and soul and strength. I am Yours. And You are mine!

Amen

Daily Question

What are you working on in your life right now to make yourself more like Christ?