Our reading today is 2 Corinthians 11-13, which completes the book. Yesterday I got ahead of myself and said we would be starting the book of Galatians today. That’s next Sunday. I’m calling today’s episode “Is It Time For An Audit?” 

Put yourselves through a test. See if you belong to Christ. Then you will know you belong to Christ, unless you do not pass the test.

2 Corinthians 13:5 NLV

The apostle Paul was having some difficulties with some of the people in the church at Corinth, so he gave them this challenge. But it is good for all of us to take stock from time to time. Are we walking with the Lord as we should, or have we drifted away?

It is good to ask God if there is anything in us with which He is unhappy. And we should ask Him to reveal it to us, so that we can confess it and ask for forgiveness. This is one of those times I talked about a few days ago when it is good to be quiet before the Lord, by the way. Listen for His still, small voice.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Now, what is it to have Jesus Christ in you? The true Christian carries the cross in his heart; and a cross inside the heart, my friends, is one of the sweetest cures for a cross on the back. If you have a cross in your heart – Christ crucified in you, the hope of glory – all the crosses of this world’s troubles will seem to you light enough, and you will easily be able to sustain it. Christ in the heart means Christ believed in, Christ beloved, Christ trusted, Christ espoused, Christ communed with, Christ as our daily food, and ourselves as the temple and palace wherein Jesus Christ daily walks.”

Sometimes we find it easy to see shortcomings in the people around us. Perhaps we would be better off if we spent time with the Lord looking for areas in our own lives that don’t measure up. Is it time for an audit?

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 11-12 NIV; Ch. 13 NLV

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Our reading today is Luke 3-4, and I’m calling the episode “How To Resist Temptation.”

Jesus gave us the perfect plan for when we are being tempted. Remember this, beloved. Jesus was fully human, as well as fully God. Jesus was a real man. So the temptations that Satan put before Him were real. These were not theoretical. 

Jesus had flesh. And notice the very first temptation Satan put in front of Jesus. Jesus had been in the desert for forty days and had not eaten. He was hungry. The very first temptation was for Jesus to turn the stones into bread. Satan knew that Jesus was a man, so he went after the needs of His flesh. Some people can’t say NO to their flesh. I don’t think I need to say that the temptations of the flesh are more than just food, do I? The desires of the flesh are some of our most basic urges. Animals are almost completely controlled by this, but humans have the ability to exert control over these urges. And God’s Word is full of exhortations to do just that. We know that when we have the Holy Spirit in us, we can say no to the flesh.

The next temptation was, what some have called the lust of the eyes. I read this more as the lust for power. Satan showed Jesus all the nations of the world at one time, and said He could have power and glory over them all if He would worship Satan. Some people have a ravenous desire for power. I think we have seen a lot of that since the pandemic began. Politicians and bureaucrats around the world have taken a level of control that no one would have believed possible before covid hit. Now they seem to be drunk with power. 

The third temptation was to force God to do a miracle to save him. Or one might say, Satan tempted Jesus to twist Scripture. Some people crave signs and wonders. They’ll follow anyone who claims to have a supernatural power. And, some people do twist Scripture for their own gain, don’t they? The Antichrist will seem to have supernatural powers, and many will be fooled.

So these were the temptations. What did Jesus do in order to overcome each one? He correctly applied and quoted Scripture. Yes, Satan quoted Scripture to Jesus, but he twisted and misapplied it. Jesus did not twist it, and He correctly applied it. 

Beloved, this is why it is so important to know and memorize God’s Word. If you listen to this podcast every day, if it is your aim to go with me all the way through the Bible, that’s a great start. But unless you have a photographic memory, going through the Bible just once will not be enough. I pray that you will develop a life-long habit of reading through the Bible. I have a Bible that my great grandmother owned. There are notes in her Bible that show that she read the Bible through three times. But I have to think that this was not her only Bible. I would be shocked if she hadn’t read the Bible through many, many more times in her lifetime. She passed away before I was really a Bible student, so I won’t know that answer until I see her again in Heaven.

I myself have recorded the entire Bible three times. And do you know what? Even now, I’ll read passages that seem completely new to me. I do not have the best memory, so it is incredibly important for me to keep reading. God gave us His Word so that we could learn it so well that it becomes a part of us.

Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Notice, beloved, that all but one of the items spoken of here as the full armor of God are defensive in nature. The belt, the breastplate, the covering for the feet, the shield and the helmet. The only offensive item, the only weapon spoken of is the sword.

A warrior’s primary method to overcome the enemy is with his weapon. The weapon in this passage from Ephesians is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” A warrior must learn how to use his weapon if he wants to be victorious. If he doesn’t train with it, not only will he not be able to use it effectively, but the enemy can actually use it against him, as Satan tried to do with Jesus.

Beloved, we are in a spiritual battle. More-so now, I think, than in any time in my lifetime. Spiritual battles are not fought with physical might. They are primarily fought on our knees, in prayer, wielding the Sword of the Spirit. 

This podcast is one way to prepare you for the fight. I’m really very honored to be just a very small part of the process. Thank you for allowing me into your life in this way. But you need to learn to handle the Sword of the Spirit on you own.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 3 NLT, Ch. 4 NLV

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Our reading today is Jeremiah 37-41, and I’m calling the episode “The Cowardly Mob.” 

In chapter 38, Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal and Pashhur, who were princes of Judah, did not like the message that Jeremiah was preaching: 

 “The Lord says, ‘Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives.’” 3 They had also heard him say, “The Lord says, ‘This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon. They will capture it.’”

They told king Zedekiah, “This man must be de-platformed, for he is spreading misinformation.”

Okay. That’s a very loose translation. Actually, what they said is even worse: “This man must be put to death. For he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in the city as well as all the other people there by these things he is saying. This man is not seeking to help these people but is trying to harm them.”

Was Jeremiah trying to harm them? Of course not. First off, Jeremiah was telling the people exactly what God told him to say. And the message God gave Jeremiah was their only hope of survival! How is this message harmful? It isn’t.

And then, these princes, these paragons of truth, so full of courage, when the king wimped out and gave in to them, saying, “Very well, you can do what you want with him. For I cannot do anything to stop you”, didn’t even have the guts to shed Jeremiah’s blood. They wanted him dead, but they were too cowardly to do the deed. So they had him lowered into an abandoned cistern, where he would die of exposure, starvation or disease. 

This is how the mob often works. Cowards.

And what of Jeremiah? He was following God’s will implicitly, yet he was put in this terrible place. Yes, we heard that the Ethiopian official ultimately rescued him, but let’s not negate Jeremiah’s time in the pit. This was no picnic. It was dark, it was miserable. He was standing in a foul, disgusting muck for some period of time.

Beloved, just because we are doing God’s will does not mean that we won’t have to stand in the slime from time to time. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re out of God’s will when the situation is hard. I can tell you from personal experience that when you are doing your best to follow God’s leading, that is the time that the enemy attacks. That’s when friends will turn against you. That’s when your health might fail. That’s when finances go in the dumper. That’s when the most unexpected things happen. If you’re seeking God, fear not! Don’t be discouraged. Hang on to God. He is always faithful when circumstances look bleak. 

In Jeremiah’s case, the Ethiopian, Ebed Melech come to the rescue and pulled him out. I can’t promise you’ll be rescued in the same way. But I do know that God is sovereign, and your circumstances are not beyond His control. He knows what you are going through, and He does use difficulties to strengthen you and shape you into the man or woman He wants you to be. Just because things get hard does not mean it’s time to give up. When things get hard, it’s time too look up!

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 37-41 NET

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Our reading today is  Job 39-40, and I’m calling the episode “The Voice of God.”

It’s easy to think of this scene with God’s awesome, booming voice rumbling and shaking everything around for miles as He speaks out of the storm. And maybe it did happen that way. He can be a fearsome God. 

But I like what the commentator F. B. Meyer wrote: “Divine power and human ignorance. When the storm had ceased and the thunder was hushed, a voice spoke out of the golden splendor of the sky. Job had challenged God to answer him and now he is taken at his word. We recall Horeb’s ancient cave, where, after wind and earthquake, there came a sound of gentle stillness. “Gird up now thy loins,” said the Eternal to Job. In later years, under similar circumstances, the Spirit entered Ezekiel to strengthen him. Surely some such strengthening was forthwith given the patriarch!

“A sublime series of questions is now addressed to him, not by a God of judgement and wrath, but by a Father arguing and pleading with his child and pointing out two things: first, the inability of mortal man to understand the way of God; and second, the minuteness and tenderness of God’s providence. Job had thought of him as remote, but he is near and is ordering all things wisely and lovingly. Can he forget his child?”

Job had surely been through the wringer. He was weak of body, mind and spirit. I don’t see God coming at him with anger or judgement. He certainly didn’t need to intimidate Job with awesome displays of power. I agree with Meyer. I think He talked to Job as a loving Father, pointing out that the questions Job asked had answers that were beyond his understanding. This is an oversimplification, to be sure, but God’s answer, in its essence is, “I am God. You are not. Trust me.”

God is saying, “Job, do you have faith in me? Then trust me.”

Dark and painful times come to each of our lives. Sometimes we raise our eyes to Heaven and ask, “Why, God? Why?” And more often than not, all we get in reply is silence. ….  There is no revelation, no sudden insight that offers an answer. Just silence. And then, if you linger with God a while longer, you might hear His still, small voice say, “Do you trust me?”

What do you say? I have learned to say, “With all my heart, Lord.”

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 39-40 CEV

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Why does God conceal some things instead of explaining everything? Proverbs 25:2 answers that question in a surprising way. Rather than eliminating mystery, the verse reveals that divine mystery is part of God’s glory. At the same time, it invites believers to search the Scriptures with humility and curiosity.

In this episode of Verses We Missed, we explore Proverbs 25:2 and a question many believers whisper in seasons of uncertainty: why doesn’t God explain more? Although the verse doesn’t remove the fog entirely, it does reveal something beautiful—mystery is not a flaw in the Christian life. Instead, it can be part of the glory of God, and our response to that mystery reveals something about us. You can explore more episodes in the series at Recent Episodes. This is a mid-week breath of Scripture and grace.

Have you ever come to a passage of Scripture and thought, “Why didn’t God just say more?” Or have you walked through a season of life and found yourself saying, “Lord, I don’t understand what You’re doing”?

There are moments when faith feels less like standing on solid ground and more like standing in fog. And yet, Proverbs 25:2 reminds us that the fog is not always a sign of God’s absence. Sometimes it is a reminder of His greatness.

You can read this verse in other translations at ESV.org here:

Proverbs 25:2 (ESV)

One sentence. Two glories.

God’s glory is seen in concealing. A king’s glory is seen in searching. However, these two are not at odds. Rather, they are designed to work together.

This is a mid-week breath of Scripture and grace.

Proverbs 25 begins a new section of the book. Verse 1 tells us these were proverbs of Solomon that were copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah. In other words, this wisdom was preserved for leadership—for rulers, for responsibility, and for those who needed discernment.

Therefore, it makes sense that the first proverb in this section sets the tone. It teaches that God’s glory is seen in concealing, while the glory of kings is seen in searching. As a result, the verse invites us to see wisdom as both received and pursued.

The meaning of Proverbs 25:2 is built around a beautiful tension: God is infinite, and we are not. Because God is the Creator, His wisdom is not merely larger than ours—it is of a different order. Consequently, there will always be truths that remain beyond our ability to fully comprehend.

And yet, that does not mean God is unknowable.

Instead, it means He is not exhaustively knowable. Therefore, we can know Him truly, even if we cannot know Him fully. Moreover, what He has revealed is enough for faith, obedience, and worship.

So when Proverbs 25:2 says it is the glory of God to conceal things, it is not accusing God of being unclear. Rather, it is proclaiming that His greatness cannot be reduced to what we can immediately grasp.

The word “glory” speaks of weight, honor, splendor—the visible expression of greatness. And Proverbs 25:2 says something that may surprise us: God’s glory is seen not only in what He reveals, but also in what He conceals.

That does not mean God hides truth to play games with His people. Instead, His concealment highlights His infinite wisdom and reminds us that He is God and we are not. In fact, this is what theologians have long called the incomprehensibility of God—not that God cannot be known, but that He cannot be fully known.

As Romans 11:33 puts it, God’s judgments are “unsearchable” and His ways are “inscrutable.” However, unsearchable does not mean irrational, and inscrutable does not mean arbitrary. Rather, it means infinite.

Therefore, mystery can steady us instead of unsettling us, because the God whose ways are beyond us is also the God who has clearly revealed His goodness in Christ.

The second half of Proverbs 25:2 says, “but the glory of kings is to search things out.” In ancient Israel, kings were responsible for justice, discernment, and wise governance. As a result, they could not rule by impulse. They had to investigate, examine, and weigh matters carefully.

This creates a beautiful truth for the Christian life: divine incomprehensibility does not cancel human responsibility. Because while God is infinite, He has also revealed real truth. Therefore, searching is not presumption—it is obedience.

When you open your Bible and linger over a difficult passage, when you compare Scripture with Scripture, when you look up cross-references and ask honest questions, you are not putting God on trial. Rather, you are sitting at His feet.

There is a difference between demanding, “Explain Yourself,” and praying, “Lord, teach me.” Proverbs 25:2 commends the second.

If God revealed everything instantly and effortlessly, what would become of our growth? There would be no wrestling, no meditation, and no returning to the text again and again. However, Scripture repeatedly calls us to seek wisdom like treasure.

And treasure is hidden.

Therefore, the search shapes the seeker. As we study, we are formed. Our minds are renewed. Our humility deepens. Our awe increases. Moreover, the very act of searching glorifies God—not because we solve every mystery, but because the pursuit draws us into deeper reverence.

Searching is not complicated, but it is deliberate. It is slower than scrolling and more thoughtful than skimming. So the next time you study a passage, try asking a simple set of questions:

Therefore, we can search with confidence, even when we cannot resolve every question, because we are anchored in what God has clearly revealed: He is holy, He is good, Christ has died, He is risen, and salvation is by grace.

Proverbs 25:2 does not promise that the fog will always lift. However, it does tell us how to live faithfully in the fog.

Do not be discouraged by what you don’t understand.

Lean in. Open the Word. Ask questions. Search carefully.

Because the mystery is not a wall.

It’s an invitation to grow.

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Our reading today is Psalms 57-59, and I’m calling the episode “On the Run.”

The title of this psalm is To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.

Regarding “Do not Destroy”, Bible commentator Derek Kidner said: “This may well be a tune-indication: cf. Isaiah 65:8, where the phrase is identified as a popular saying (perhaps a snatch of vintage song), and borrowed to become a reassuring word from God. Yet notice also David’s instructions about Saul, ‘Destroy him not’ (1 Samuel 26:9).” So “Do Not Destroy” might be merely a notation giving the tune of the psalm, or a plea to God to protect David, or a statement of David’s intention to not destroy Saul.

This psalm is another michtam, or golden psalm, indicating that this was a special, highly regarded psalm. But the word “michtam” literally means “an engraving, or sculpture,” so it could be that David actually engraved this psalm on the walls of the cave. 

The cave was probably the one mentioned in 1 Samuel 22:1, when David was fleeing Saul.

The title of this psalm is “To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David.”

The title of this psalm is “To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him.”

We read of this time in 1 Samuel 19:11-12 when Saul’s intention to kill David was revealed, and David had to run for his life.

When I read Psalm 58, I can’t help but think of politicians, and how they haven’t changed since David’s time. 

David is most likely writing about the rulers or judges who were under King Saul and had passed judgement on him as a fugitive. But I’m pretty sure a politician is a politician, no matter what year it is. Unfortunately, humans are rarely able to wield power and influence without succumbing to the temptations dangled in front of them. There’s a reason term limits are good. In my opinion, EVERY public office should have term limits, elected and non-elected. 

Humans are just so frail, in terms of the integrity needed to deal with power. 

I am so glad that our true citizenship is a heavenly one. Sure, I am proud to be an American, as you should be proud to be a citizen of whatever country you are in. However, I am very much looking forward to the day when we no longer have to deal with earthly rulers, aren’t you? 

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 57 HCSB; Ch. 58 NCV; Ch. 59 CEB

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Our reading today is 2 Samuel 15-19, and I’m calling the episode “A House Divided.”

Reading chapters 15-19 is like reading an adventure novel, isn’t it? There’s the dysfunctional family, where the son of the king leads a national revolt, there’s raw ambition, betrayal, loyalty, sex, spies, murder, revenge and heartbreak. It’s all there. And it’s all real. These events really happened. 

Where to begin? I think we need to talk about David. There are so many characters in these five chapters that we could talk about at length, but we have limited time, and David is the central character. He is the man God called, “…a man after my own heart…”.

In chapter 15, after David had been told that Absalom was leading a conspiracy against him, David decided that it would be best for everyone in Jerusalem if he and his household fled the city. In this exodus, Zadok the priest and all the Levites joined David, bringing the Ark of the Covenant with them. 

Did you notice that? What was the significance of the Ark? To these people, the Ark was the very presence of God. It stands to reason that when David found out that they had brought the Ark out of Jerusalem to be with him, he would be pleased to have it. 

But that is not what happened. Verses 25-26: Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. “If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. 26But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”

David had learned to trust God. He had also learned from the way God removed King Saul and put David in his place, that it would be foolish of him to try to hold onto the throne if God had decided that David should be replaced. 

But David did not just resign himself to whatever the circumstances would bring. He made plans to counter Absalom’s attack, and God ultimately showed that he was not finished with David. 

Through these five chapters, we see several examples of David’s humility. He told Ittai that since he and his kinsmen were guests in Israel they should not feel like they had to follow him, he publicly wept over Abasalom’s betrayal and told his army that they should deal gently with Absalom, he let Shimei harass him, he mourned Absalom’s death even to the point that his general, Joab, chastised him for making it seem that he cared more for this dead son than the ones who had fought so hard for him, plus several other acts of kindness.

David knew that it was God’s grace that kept him on the throne. He truly was a man after God’s own heart.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 15 NLT, Ch. 16-17 ERV, Ch. 18-19 CEV

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Our reading today is Exodus 25-28, and I’m calling the episode “The God of Details.”

The first time I read these chapters, I was struck by the detail of God’s instructions. Nothing was left out. Everything that was to go into the tabernacle was intricately laid out, from the materials to use, to the measurements, to the design, to the placement of the items. 

But of course, that God thought of every detail is not at all surprising, right? He is a God of details. Think of creation itself. Think of our solar system. If it were not for the details of how our solar system is laid out, life as we know it on Earth could not exist. If we were just a little closer to the sun, or just a little further, the temperature would not support life. If the Earth was not the size it is, gravity would be too great or not great enough. The examples I could give go on and on. Think of the incredible detail of our bodies. The way the cells work, the way our nervous system works, our brains, our muscles. Think of the details in a snowflake, and how, supposedly, no two snowflakes are alike. Details. There are nearly an infinite amount of details in our universe. And all of them work together. 

Beloved, there is no way in the world that anyone could convince me that creation happened by chance. There are too many details for that. And I am not speaking as just a religious fanatic. I have a degree in biology. I know some science. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I’m not completely ignorant about these things. 

Let me switch gears for just a moment. I got to wondering about the materials that God told Moses to collect as offerings. What I found was interesting to me, so hopefully you’ll find this interesting, too.

Gold: This represents deity. Gold cannot be made by man. It can only be made by God. The gold refers to the fact that Jesus is divine.

Silver: Represents redemption. In Scripture, silver was always the money used for redemption. Joseph was sold for silver, as was Jesus. Silver speaks of the redemption that comes only through Jesus. 

Bronze: Represents judgement. It has an extremely high melting point, so it was used in the altar where burnt offerings were made. Bronze speaks of the judgement that Jesus took upon Himself to atone for the sin of mankind. 

The blue yarn represents Heaven, because it is the color of the sky. 

The purple yarn is symbolic of Royalty. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. To make purple, you mix blue and red. The blue, as I said, speaks of Heaven, and red represents Sacrifice, blood and death. Thus, the purple speaks of the deity of Jesus and the sacrifice He made as man. He is, after all, God and Man.

And as I said, the scarlet, or red yarn, is symbolic of the Sacrifice. 

Fine linen is symbolic of the Purity and righteousness of Jesus, the spotless, pure, sinless sacrifice.

Goat’s hair represents the sin offering. Goats were very common and were used for many things, including food, and dairy, their skins were used for clothing and carrying water, and their hair was used to make yarn for clothing. Goats were sacrificial animals, too. The yarn made from their hair was coarse and drab, which speaks of the humanity of Jesus.

Rams skins, dyed red symbolize the substitutionary sacrifice. God provided a ram as the substitute for Isaac when God tested Abraham’s faith. And the ram’s skin was died red to show the sacrifice of the substitute.

In the translation we read today, the next item required by God is manatee skins. The KJV says badger skins. Another translation says “another type of durable leather.” In other words, we don’t know exactly what the original Hebrew means. But we can surmise the meaning. It was to be an outer covering of a skin that was very durable and probably looked very nondescript, which speaks of Jesus’ humanity.  We are told in Isaiah 53:2 that “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”

I’m going to speed things up here and just tell you the symbolism, and not go into detail.

Not that the details aren’t interesting, to me anyway, but in the interest of time.

So next on the list is Acacia wood. This speaks of the incorruptible humanity of Jesus.

The Oil represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

The Spices for the oil and incense represent a sweet smelling fragrance to God.

So many details, with so much meaning. And you can be sure, we just scratched the surface. Our God is infinite in so many ways, isn’t He, beloved?

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 25-28 HCSB

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Our reading today is  2 Corinthians 9-10, and I’m calling the episode “Take Control of Your Thoughts.”

As we have mentioned before, there are those in the church at Corinth who did not recognize Paul’s authority as an apostle. Much of this chapter has Paul defending that authority. Not for his own benefit, but for theirs. What he has to say is important. After all, as an apostle he is bringing God’s message…and they should receive it as from God.

In the first five verses of chapter 10, Paul is introducing this concept, and he mentions that this is a spiritual matter, a spiritual battle even. 

“1By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10:1-5 NIV

For today’s discussion, I want to focus on the last part of that last sentence: 

“…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Is that even possible? Can we really take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ? 

Before I begin to answer the question, let’s remember what Paul the apostle, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote to his young protege Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16:  16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Beloved, I believe that. I believe what Paul said there. I do believe that *all* scripture is the God-breathed Word of God. So if Paul was able to “…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”, I believe you and I can do it, too.

First let’s understand why we would even want to do this. Paul was doing battle with worldly ideas…ideas that were counter to his mission. And this was a spiritual battle. Beloved, *we* are in a spiritual battle today. There are forces of darkness all around us that literally want to silence us, and even kill us. If you don’t believe that, then you’re not paying attention. The last thing Jesus did before He ascended to Heaven was to give the disciples (and by extension, us) a mission…a job. He said, “… go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Perhaps more than at any time in human history, certainly more than any time in my lifetime, people need to know the Lord. Freedoms are being eroded around the world. Globalists want to bring every person under subjection. But there is freedom in Christ. Kings and Prime Ministers and Presidents can subjugate our bodies, but they cannot control our minds and souls. When we belong to Christ, we are free. And the powers of this world hate that fact. They want to stop the Gospel. Don’t believe me? Just wait. You’ll see. The spiritual battle we are in is ramping up. It’s already in full swing in some parts of the world, with Christians literally being killed for their faith. According to OpenDoorsUSA.com, in 2021 4,761 Christians were martyred. And persecution against Christians has risen for 15 consecutive years. With the speed at which changes are happening in the world today, do you doubt that it can come to any nation? I don’t.

Yes, we are in a spiritual battle, and each of us is called to engage. On yesterday’s show, I talked about putting on the full armor of God when we discussed resisting temptation. Obviously, that is an aspect of spiritual warfare which goes hand in hand with what Paul is saying in today’s scripture…”tak(ing) captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

So how do we do it? How do we take control of our thoughts? 

First, we must be aware of when our thoughts are out of bounds, and then stop them. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” This cannot be done only through a mere act of will, but it can be done through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Our minds are wonderful things, but they can only focus on one thing at a time. You’ve certainly heard the example of the pink elephant. If I tell you not to think of a herd of pink elephants, of course, that’s exactly what you see in your mind’s eye. Right? You just saw a herd of pink elephants. 

So if your mind goes where it shouldn’t go, ask the Holy Spirit to take it somewhere else. Meditate on Scripture, pray for your family, listen to this show. 

By all means, separate yourself from the triggers that cause you to go places in your mind that you shouldn’t. I’m not necessarily talking about sinful thoughts. I’m talking about angry thoughts, too. Anything that separates you from God. Get off social media. Turn off the TV. Get away from these triggers and pursue things that draw you closer to Him.

Philippians 4:6-9 gives us some excellent suggestions: 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Listen, we are not powerless when it comes to our thoughts. We are not at their mercy. We are not just passive antennae that pick thoughts out of the air. We can choose to stop the bad inputs and replace them with spiritual inputs. We do not have to be at the mercy of thoughts of fear, lust, anger, greed and bitterness. We can take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.

The brain, where our thoughts reside, is physical…part of our body. Obviously. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “19Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

As believers, we belong to Jesus. We are not our own. Even my thoughts are subject to His Lordship. How is this possible? 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us that when the Holy Spirit is in us, “…we have the mind of Christ.”

How can this be? 2 Corinthians 5:17 gives us the answer: “17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Beloved, if you have put your faith in Jesus, you have everything you need to fight this spiritual battle, and win! You can take your thoughts captive, through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in you. I know, it sounds crazy, but next time you find your mind going places it shouldn’t, take control and think on Godly things.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 9-10 NIV

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Our reading today is Luke 1-2, and I’m calling the episode “The Child’s Answers.”

We’re obviously just a couple weeks past Christmas, but it’s always good to read the account of Jesus’ birth. But in reading such familiar chapters as these first two of Luke, we run the risk of not really hearing them, don’t you think? Every Christmas season, we hear these verses read. So can we find anything new? Is it important to see something new? I think the answer to that question is probably different for each person, because each of us has a completely unique walk with God. At my age, I’ve probably heard or read Luke 1 and 2 many hundreds, if not thousands of times. And I love it when God shows me something I haven’t seen before.

Let’s see if this gives you a new insight. When Jesus was twelve years old and stayed behind in the temple, as Mary and Joseph were returning to Nazareth, we are told in Luke 2: 46 and 47, “46Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.”

Verse 46 said Jesus was listening to them and asking them questions. Listening and asking. But 47 says those who heard him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. His answers. 

What do you make of that? If He’s listening and asking, why is He giving answers? 

In the past, when I read these or heard these verses, I never thought very deeply about this little vignette. I just thought of the boy Jesus as sort of just a smart, as in intelligent, 12 year old. Sure, He is God, but He’s also just a kid. I thought He was just asking good questions for a kid. But today, as I was thinking about this, it occurred to me that in listening to the rabbis, and asking them questions, the questions were more like the probing questions that a university professor might ask a classroom of grad students. Jesus wasn’t asking questions to gain understanding, he was asking questions to cause the rabbis to think deeper. Which would precipitate questions from the rabbis to Jesus, asking for clarification and direction, perhaps. Or hints, like a student might ask a professor. And I think the answers Jesus gave might have brought more questions to their minds than answers. 

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1 ERV; Ch. 2 NASB

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Experience the book that has restored, reoriented, and renewed millions of people—now thoroughly updated with seven new chapters and dozens of additional stories! Whether you’re reading it for the first time or eager to encounter a fresh edition of the classic text you already love, you’ll not be the same when you finish it. 368 pages, hardcover from B&H.