Pocket Thoughts - 5/16/25

God * formed the earth to be inhabited * speaks in all integrity * is bringing His righteousness near – His salvation won’t be delayed.

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As the Israelites were finally leaving slavery in Egypt behind, they looked up to see Pharaoh’s army and charioteers barreling down on them. In front of them lay the Red Sea. This was a people who had witnessed God’s hand send ten miraculous plagues over Egypt. They had seen God transform Pharaoh’s will so that he had actually ordered the Israelites to leave the country. When they found themselves sandwiched between an army and a sea, their first response wasn’t to trust the Lord but to verbally attack Moses. They accused him of leading them into the desert to die. This became a pattern for Israel. Any time the people encountered a challenge, they grumbled and complained against Moses and questioned God. Their stubborn hearts led them to experience many hardships until they learned to trust God. We have their example in Scripture to teach us that God can be trusted the first time! We can look to His faithfulness in our past and count on Him to make a way for us into our future. Let your complaining be replaced by confidence in God. Worship as you walk, knowing He’s already gone before you to make your path straight. – TV

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In Revelation 5, John sees Jesus – the perfect sacrificial Lamb – declared worthy to open the scroll held in the right hand of the Father. The Lamb bears the wounds of sacrifice, displaying His role in God’s redemptive plan for mankind. The scroll contains God’s blueprint for the triumph of the Lamb and for the restoration of His kingdom. Seven seals secure the scroll and represent its authenticity. When the Lamb takes the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders surrounding the throne of God fall down in reverent worship. They recognize that the only One Who could win the war for the souls of men is about to initiate the final steps in the battle, and their only proper response is worship! As the One Who has secured your eternity, Jesus is also worthy of your worship! Give Him His due with a grateful heart full of praise! – TV

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Jesus criticized those who followed Him only for the material, physical benefits He could provide. He charged them to examine themselves and to recognize their spiritual hunger. Only then would their eyes be open to their true need for Jesus – the Bread of Life. Manna given in the days of Moses sustained the people for a day, but this Bread from Heaven – their promised Messiah – would sustain all who believe for eternity. To appropriate this Bread, we must recognize our need and partake daily, inviting Jesus into our lives to sustain and nourish our souls. – TV

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Father, I lift up my song of praise to You – the Sovereign God, holy and above all, knowing all things, and desiring to be known. You are the God of rest – personal, intimate, and trustworthy. You are faithful, tender, and merciful. Thank You for the upcoming weekend. Lord, help me to enjoy You and the provision of a couple of days with a more relaxed schedule. Help me to set aside time to be still in Your presence – mind, soul, and body. Help me to desire to hear from You, to revel in Your goodness, to be sensitive to the needs of others around me, to be obedient to Your voice, and to welcome any changes You desire to make in me and on my calendar. Help me to retreat – and to step out of the weekend with more intentionality and receptivity to the call of Your Spirit. I enter these next couple of days with open hands and an open heart. Pour into me, Lord. I’m your servant. In the beautiful Name of Jesus, amen.

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“Patience is more than endurance. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says, ‘I cannot stand anymore.’ God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God’s hands. Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. ‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.’” – Oswald Chambers

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“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once, they left their nets and followed Him.” – Mark 1:16-18