Christopher L. Baker Sr. II

12/31/2025

12/31/2025

Mark 10:43-52:

But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: [44] And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. [45] For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. [46] And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. [47] And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. [48] And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. [49] And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. [50] And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. [51] And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. [52] And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

[ Notes for Mark 10:21 ]

[10:21] What does your money mean to you? Although Jesus wanted this man to sell everything and give his money to the poor, this does not mean that all believers should sell all their possessions. Most of Jesus’ first followers did not sell everything, although they used their possessions to serve others. Instead, this incident shows us that we must not let our possessions or money keep us from following Jesus. If we are not following him faithfully, whatever we grasp tightly will eventually strangle or choke our hearts. We must remove all barriers to serving him fully. If Jesus asked, could you give up your house? Your car? Your level of income? Your position on the ladder of promotion? Your reaction may show your attitude toward money—whether it is your servant or your master.

12/30/2025

Proverbs 18:1-6:

Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. [2] A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. [3] When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. [4] The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. [5] It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. [6] A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

[ Notes for Proverbs 18:22 ]

[18:22] This verse makes it clear that a married person should view his or her spouse as a great gift from God. Strong individuals are important, and so are strong marriages. God created marriage and pronounced it good. This is one of many passages in the Bible that affirm marriage as a joyful and good creation of God (Genesis 2:21-25; Proverbs 5:15-19).

12/26/2025

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16:

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. [14] For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: [15] Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: [16] Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

[ Notes for Thessalonians 2:8 ]

[2:6-8] When Paul was with the Thessalonians, he didn’t flatter them, seek their praise, or become a burden to them. He and Silas completely focused their efforts on presenting God’s message of salvation to them. The Thessalonian believers had their lives changed by God, not Paul; they believed Christ’s message, not Paul’s. When we witness for Christ, our focus should not be on the impressions we make. As true ministers of Christ, we should point to him, not to ourselves.

12/25/2025

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.)