Christopher L. Baker Sr. II

12/10/2025

12/10/2025

Job 33:4-14:

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. [5] If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. [6] Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. [7] Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. [8] Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, [9] I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. [10] Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, [11] He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. [12] Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. [13] Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. [14] For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

[ Notes for Job 33:19 ]

[33:14-24] Elihu’s point was that God had spoken repeatedly and in different ways. He spoke in dreams and visions (33:15-18), through suffering (33:19-22), and by mediating angels (33:23-24). Job already knew that. Elihu was accusing Job of not listening to God, which was not true.

12/08/2025

Proverbs 27:17-27:

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. [18] Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. [19] As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. [20] Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. [21] As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. [22] Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. [23] Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. [24] For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? [25] The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. [26] The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. [27] And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

[ Notes for Proverbs 27:16 ]

[27:15-18] Quarrelsome nagging and a steady stream of unwanted comments can feel like torture. People nag because they think others are not listening to or not agreeing with them. But nagging hinders communication more than it helps. When tempted to engage in this destructive habit, stop and examine your motives. Are you more concerned about yourself—getting your way or being right—than about the person you are alleging to help? If you are truly concerned about other people, think of a more effective way to get through to them. Surprise them with words of patience, love, and encouragement; then see what happens.

[27:17] Mental sharpness comes from being around people who will sharpen us. A meeting of minds can help people see their ideas with new clarity, refine those ideas, and shape them into brilliant insights. This requires discussion partners who can challenge one another and stimulate thought—people who can focus on an idea without involving their egos in the discussion; people who know how to attack the thought and not the thinker. Two friends who challenge each other can help each other become sharper.

[27:18] With all the problems and concerns a leader has, it can be easy to overlook the very people who most deserve attention—faithful employees or volunteers (those who, so to speak, “tend a fig tree”). If you are in any kind of leadership position, the people who stand behind you, who work hard and help you get the job done, deserve to share in your success. Be sure that in all your planning, organizing, and working, you remember the people who are helping you the most.

12/07/2025

Mark 10:27-31:

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. [28] Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. [29] And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, [30] But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. [31] But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

[ Notes for Mark 10:30-34 ]

[10:29-30] Jesus assured the disciples that anyone who gives up something valuable for his sake will be repaid a hundred times over in this life, although not necessarily in the same way. For example, someone may be rejected by his or her family for accepting Jesus as Savior, but that person will gain the larger family of believers. Along with these rewards, however, we will experience persecution. Jesus emphasized persecution to make sure that people do not selfishly follow him only for the rewards.

[10:31] Jesus explained that in the world to come, the values of this world will be reversed. Those who seek status and importance here will have none in heaven. Those who are humble here will be great in heaven. The corrupt condition of our society encourages confusion in values. We are bombarded by messages that tell us how to be important and how to feel good, and Jesus’ teaching about service to others seems alien. But those who have humbly served others are most qualified to be great in heaven.

[10:33-34] Jesus’ death and resurrection should have come as no surprise to the disciples. Here he clearly explained to them what would happen to him. Unfortunately, they didn’t really hear what he was saying. Jesus said he was the Messiah, but they thought the Messiah would be a conquering king. He spoke to them of resurrection, but they heard only his words about death. Because Jesus often spoke in parables, the disciples may have thought that his words on death and resurrection were another parable they weren’t astute enough to understand. Jesus’ predictions of his death and resurrection show that these events were God’s plan from the beginning and not accidents.

12/05/2025

Psalm 119:1-6:

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. [2] Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. [3] They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. [4] Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. [5] O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! [6] Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

[ Notes for Psalm 119:71 ]

[119:1-176] This is both the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. It may have been written by Ezra after the Temple was rebuilt (Ezra 6:14-15) as a repetitive meditation on the beauty of God’s Word and how it helps us stay pure and grow in faith. Psalm 119 has 22 carefully constructed sections, each corresponding to a different letter in the Hebrew alphabet and each verse beginning with the letter of its section. Almost every verse mentions God’s Word. Such repetition was common in Hebrew culture. People did not have personal copies of the Scriptures to read as we do, so God’s people memorized his Word and passed it along orally. The structure of this psalm allowed for easy memorization. Remember that God’s Word, the Bible, along with the help and guidance of his Holy Spirit, is the only sure guide for living a God-honoring life.

12/05/2025

Ephesians 2:13-22:

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. [14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; [15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; [16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: [17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. [18] For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. [19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; [20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

[ Notes for Ephesians 2:19 ]

[2:19-22] We sometimes refer to a church building as God’s house. In reality, God’s house is not a building but a group of people. He lives in us and shows himself to a watching world through us. People can see God’s love in us when we serve Christ as Lord and when we live in harmony with each other according to God’s Word. We are citizens of God’s Kingdom and members of his household.

12/02/2025

Psalm 94:1-11:

O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. [2] Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. [3] LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? [4] How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? [5] They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage. [6] They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. [7] Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. [8] Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? [9] He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? [10] He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? [11] The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

[ Notes for Psalm 94:13 ]

[94:12-13] At times, God must discipline us as part of our spiritual training. Parents do the same when they discipline a child. No child enjoys discipline, but it teaches them right from wrong. The Bible says that “no discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way” (Hebrews 12:11). When you feel God’s hand of correction or rebuke, accept it as proof of his love. Realize that God is urging you to follow his paths instead of stubbornly going your own way.