Christopher L. Baker Sr. II

12/23/2025

12/23/2025

Psalm 25:5-10,12-14:

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. [6] Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. [7] Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD. [8] Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. [9] The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. [10] All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. [12] What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. [13] His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. [14] The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

[ Notes for Psalm 25:16 ]

[25:16-17] Do life’s problems always seem to go from bad to worse? God is the only one who can reverse the downward spiral. He can take our problems and turn them into glorious victories. The first and most important step is that we, like David, must cry out, “Turn to me and have mercy.” When we are willing to do that, God will do his work in us and in our situations. God has already made his offer—the next step is yours.

12/18/2025

Mark 1:35-38:

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. [36] And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. [37] And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. [38] And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

[ Notes for Mark 1:10 ]

[1:10-11] The Spirit descended like a dove on Jesus, and the voice from heaven proclaimed the Father’s approval of Jesus as his divine Son. Here we see all three members of the Trinity together—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (See also Matthew 28:19; Luke 1:35; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5; 1 Peter 1:2.)

12/16/2025

Luke 4:42-43:

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. [43] And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

[ Notes for Luke 4:41 ]

[4:41] Why didn’t Jesus let the demons reveal who he was? (1) Jesus commanded them to remain silent to show his authority over them. (2) Jesus wanted his listeners to believe he was the Messiah because of his words, not because of the demons’ words. (3) Jesus was going to reveal his identity according to God’s timetable, and he would not be pushed by Satan’s evil plans. Demons called Jesus “Son of God” and “the Holy One of God” (4:34) because they knew he was the Messiah. But Jesus was going to show himself to be the Suffering Servant before he showed himself to be the great King. To reveal his identity as King too soon would stir up the crowds with the wrong expectations of what he had come to do.

12/15/2025

Daniel 9:4,23-25:

And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; [23] At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. [24] Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. [25] Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

[ Notes for Daniel 9:19 ]

[9:17-19] It would be a mistake to read the Bible as dry history and miss the deep personal emotion that springs from its pages. In this section, Daniel was crying out to the Lord. He had a deep concern for his nation and his people. So often our prayers are without passion and true compassion for others. As you pray, don’t be afraid to pour out your deep feelings and emotions to God.

12/14/2025

Ecclesiastes 9:11-12:

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. [12] For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

[ Notes for Ecclesiastes 9:14 ]

[9:13-18] Our society honors wealth, attractiveness, and success above wisdom. Yet wisdom is a far greater asset than strength or beauty, though it is often overlooked by the masses (especially when wise people are also poor). Despite its effectiveness, wisdom is not always heard. From this parable we can learn to be receptive to wisdom, regardless of its source.