Pocket Thoughts - 9/5/25
God * brings good news and proclaims peace and salvation through His messengers * comforts and redeems His people * goes before us and is our rear guard.
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When the man born blind was healed by Jesus, there were a variety of responses. Some believed, some questioned, and some denied what had happened right before their eyes. The same dynamic exists in today’s world. God is still active, and there are different responses to clear evidence of His presence and activity. What is your response? Do you accept that He is the Lord? Are you intrigued and wanting to know more? Or do you refuse to believe? The Bible says a day is coming when the opportunity to turn to God in repentance for forgiveness of sins will be past. At that time, justice will come to those who’ve refused the mercy and grace purchased for us by the blood of God’s own Son. But 2 Peter 3:9 says, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Please – don’t delay. If you’re questioning or in denial, soften your heart and turn to the Lord. Let today be your day of salvation. – TV
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It can be easy to criticize the Israelites for their grumbling and complaining after they had just witnessed the plagues in Egypt and God’s miraculous rescue through the Red Sea. But we, too, experience God’s incredible kindness and mercy in countless ways and still manage to be disgruntled by the smallest inconveniences. In every situation, we have a choice. When God sees into our hearts, does He find the waters of Marah – “bitterness” – or does He find the waters of Elim – pure and life-giving? Does he find impatience and entitlement or trust and gratitude? Let’s be patient for God’s provision, remembering all that He’s done for us in the past and thanking Him for His kindness and help on our journey. – TV
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Jesus Christ is the clear revelation of God to humanity. He speaks of what He’s seen in heaven. His words are God’s words. He is God the Son and the Savior of the world. Jesus invites us to begin a new life – an eternal life – now. He invites us to join the family of God. He invites us to make the greatest decision we’ll ever make – to follow Him all the way to heaven. Don’t procrastinate in choosing the way of Christ. “Night cometh” (John 9:4), and the hour is unknown. – TV
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Father, today I thank You for the gift of delight! Eyes wide, smile bright, heart warmed – all because of blessings from Your hands! I delight in every good thing intended to draw me closer to the Giver. Precious signs of Your intimate knowledge of me, works of creation that draw my attention to Your beauty and power, faithful saints encouraging me by their joyful obedience – these draw my face upwards to gaze upon Your goodness. And wonder of wonders, You even give delight in the darkest valleys as I sing of Your presence, recite Your promises, and “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which (You have) called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” My delight is in You, Father. I praise You in Jesus’ beautiful Name. Amen.
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“A servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to go to martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a merely mortal man or woman comes in contact with baseness and immorality and treachery, the recoil is so desperately offensive to human goodness that the heart shuts up in despair. The marvel of the Redemptive Reality of God is that the worst and the vilest can never get to the bottom of His love.” – Oswald Chambers
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“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.” – Isaiah 61:10-11
