Pocket Thoughts - 5/2/25

God * gives us hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that we may know that He is the Lord * commands the heavens to rain down His righteousness * is our source of deliverance and strength.

*****

The God of eternity was your God long before you were born and will be your God through the ages. He reaches before and after your earthly existence. You can trust a God Whose love is so encompassing! He is your sure help and hope. - TV

*****

In John 7:45-52, two paths are laid out – the way of humility and the way of pride. Nicodemus was willing to defend Jesus at the expense of his reputation and high position among the religious leaders. The religious leaders sought only to defend themselves and the power they held over the people. Nicodemus submitted to Jesus as the higher Authority. The Pharisees refused to yield to Him. Their opposition to Him fueled their pride until they could no longer recognize righteousness but only their own selfish motives. Pride is a dangerous weed that chokes out reason and truth. Ask God to help you recognize and root it out quickly and thoroughly. Pray for a humble spirit that seeks to bow to the Lord’s rightful authority over your life. - TV

*****

There is no man-made solution to the brokenness of this sin-infiltrated world. We rightly grieve and long for God to step in and make things whole – as they were in the beginning. His perfect plan for removal of sin, healing of hearts, and restoration of creation will come to pass through the ultimate victory of the One Who is worthy – His Son Jesus Christ. Only Jesus is worthy to fulfill the Father’s mission to rescue the repentant and to perfectly judge the wicked. Only Jesus – the Lion of the Tribe of Judah – is worthy and able to triumph over everything that has ever come against the people of God. Only Jesus – God’s faithful Son and Servant – will safely deliver us into the Kingdom. Let us grieve with godly sorrow the sad state of this world as we know it. Let us use the time we have to call the lost to repentance. Above all, let us look to the future with sure hope for the establishment of God’s righteous reign of peace. - TV

*****

When Pharaoh realized he’d just released Egypt’s workforce to freedom, he and the Egyptian army began hot pursuit of the Israelites. Pharaoh had no idea what was in store for him and his troops. God was about to confirm to them what He was capable of doing. “And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” (Exodus 14:4b) The Egyptian chariots were the most sophisticated war machines of the day. The charioteers and horsemen were strong and bloodthirsty. All of them would soon find themselves overcome by the waters of the Red Sea. But first God would jam the wheels of their chariots and throw them into confusion. He would release the walls of water on the right and left sides of the dry path used by Israel to cross the sea. The entire army would be covered, and Moses’ words to Israel would come true: “The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.” (Exodus 14:13) When you face people who are malicious or against you, know that the righteous God is your Advocate. He is greater and stronger than anything they may bring against you. He loves you, He is for you, and He “will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14) Run to Him for help and refuge. As He works in your situation, even your enemies will know that He is the Lord. - TV

*****

“The spiritual man habitually makes eternity-judgments instead of time-judgments. By faith he rises above the tug of earth and the flow of time and learns to think and feel as one who has already left the world and gone to join the innumerable company of angels and the general assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in heaven. Such a man would rather be useful than famous and would rather serve than be served. And all this must be by the operation of the Holy Spirit within him. No man can become spiritual by himself. Only the free Spirit can make a man spiritual.” – A.W. Tozer

*****

“May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” – Ruth 2:12