Pocket Thoughts - 4/25/25
God * goes before us and levels the mountains * summons us by name and bestows on us a title of honor * is a righteous God and Savior.
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In John 6:29, Jesus said, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He sent.” God is satisfied with that one simple decision – to place our faith and trust in Jesus. But that one simple decision will revolutionize our lives. It will change everything – how we see the world, how we understand and respond to people, how we think about ourselves and order our lives. To believe in Jesus is to align our purpose with His – to seek and save the lost. It demands our loyalty and obedience, but it also ensures our eternity with the Father. Only “believe in the One He sent.” – TV
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Laodicea reeks of self-deception and indifference, and Jesus isn’t having it. Revelation 3:14-22 records the letter Jesus had John record to the church in Laodicea, and His rebuke is harsh and graphic: “I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of My mouth.” The church boasts of its wealth and self-reliance. Jesus reveals its true spiritual condition: “You are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” The people receive a stern rebuke along with a call to repentance – all because Jesus loves them too much to allow them to continue down the deadly path they’re on. Their blindness toward their own condition has them playing into the hands of the deceiver, and Jesus desires that they come to their senses and repent. All believers must fight to stay in step with the truth and to constantly fan the flames of our affections for God. We sheep think more highly of ourselves than we ought, and we’re prone to wander. Find whatever it is that keeps your heart from growing cold, and do it! Accept God’s discipline for the beautiful gift that it is - an expression of His love for you. Endure and submit to the process. Know that under God’s loving hand, your hardships lead to holiness. – TV
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How heavy would the stone in your hand be if you were the witness who’d dragged the adulterous woman before the religious leaders? Jewish law said the witness was to cast the first stone in carrying out capital punishment against those caught in adultery. Jesus put a twist on the scene playing out in front of the Temple. He ordered the one in the crowd who was without sin to cast the first stone. One by one – the oldest most aware of their own sins leaving first – the crowd began to disperse. When only Jesus and the woman were left, Jesus lifted her condemnation – not disregarding her sin, but charging her to live a changed life. God stands ready to help us break away from the chains of our sin. It begins with a changed heart and leads to a changed life. – TV
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Moses saw only his own inadequacies in responding to God’s call on his life. He didn’t take into account the wealth of riches available to him from the storehouses of his great God. That changes everything. Don’t forget all that God offers you, to do all that He calls you to. – TV
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“Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, surrendering, saying you are sorry, realizing that you have been on the wrong track and getting ready to start life over again from the ground-floor – that is the only way out of a ‘hole.’ This process of surrender – this movement full speed astern – is repentance.” – C.S. Lewis
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“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” – 1 Peter 1:8-9
