Pocket Thoughts - 8/15/25

God * chases away sorrow and sighing and overtakes His people with gladness and joy * comforts us in our distress – we who are but grass * defends His people and pours out His wrath on those who come against them.

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Jesus describes Himself as the “gate” into the sheepfold in His metaphor of the good shepherd. (To prevent the sheep from wandering away in the night and to prevent predators from coming into the sheepfold and attacking the flock, a shepherd always slept lying across the entrance to the sheepfold – making a “gate” using his body.) The shepherd welcomes the sheep into a place of safety and rest. He provides a good life for the sheep, seeking out green pastures for them and watching over them. Jesus is the only “gate” into the kingdom of God. While other religious figures may claim to be “another way,” God’s sheep don’t recognize their voices because they only know the voice of the Good Shepherd. Do you know His voice? There’s room in His flock for those willing to submit to His care and leadership. – TV

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After enraptured songs of worship to the Lord are recorded in Revelation 7, the next chapter opens with half an hour of silence in heaven. In the stillness, only one activity is happening. The prayers of God’s people are rising to Him in the incense of a censer held by an angel. God is hearing their cries for justice and vindication against those who’ve oppressed them. The drama of the silence is broken when the angel fills the censer with fire from the altar and hurls it to the earth. God’s judgment begins. Seemingly silent moments in our lives when we feel that God isn’t hearing or responding to our prayers are actually opportunities for our faith and trust in Him to grow. God is never inactive. We can be confident in our waiting, knowing that He’s providing the strength we need to persevere. We can also take this quiet time to remember that access to the holy, sovereign God was purchased for us by the blood of His Son on the cross. Our relationship to the Father as His beloved children ensures that He hears and acts according to His perfect will for our good. We can also trust that when we’ve been wronged or harmed, it hasn’t escaped our Father’s notice. We can rest, knowing His perfect justice will be executed in His perfect measure at the perfect time. In the silence, may our prayers rise up to the One Who will soon act out of His perfect love. – TV

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In Exodus 13, the Israelites are still taking in all that God has done for them: ten plagues that eventually persuaded Pharaoh to give them their freedom; the Passover and the sparing of their firstborn sons; their hasty packing and leaving with no resistance from the Egyptians; God’s guidance in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. And there’s more to come. God knows His people. He knows this venture will be arduous. So, as always, He does what’s best for them. Rather than lead them to the Promised Land by the most direct route, He leads them the long way. The direct route sends them through Philistine-occupied country and certain conflict. God knows this resistance will send them running back to Egypt – and back to slavery. Remember – God knows His people. He knows you. He sees your journey from beginning to end – the snares, the opposition, the danger. He leads you on the safest, most beneficial path, and you’ll be wise to follow Him. Your Father leads out of love. Trust Him. – TV

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Father, I feel in my bones the resolve in Paul’s words as he speaks to the Corinthians: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2) Thank You for providing Paul’s example of total submission to You in the pages of Scripture. Thank You for the reminder that the close-knit relationship You and he shared and his clear sense of purpose are just as much for me and they were for Paul. Paul chose to submit and commit. Help me to be just as devoted to Jesus – so that every thought, word, attitude, deed, and motive bring honor to You – the focus of my heart’s affection. I love You, Lord. In the beautiful Name of Jesus, amen.

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“The cross is proof of both the immense love of God and the profound wickedness of sin.” – John MacArthur

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“Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” – Deuteronomy 11:18-21