Christopher L. Baker Sr. II

06/30/2025

06/30/2025

1 Peter 1:12-16:

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. [13] Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; [14] As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: [15] But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; [16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

[ Notes for 1 Peter 1:22 ]

[1:22] “Sincere love” involves selfless giving; a self-centered person can’t truly love. God’s love and forgiveness free us to take our eyes off ourselves and to meet others’ needs. By sacrificing his life, Christ showed that he truly loves us. Now we can wholeheartedly love others by following his example and giving of ourselves sacrificially.

06/27/2025

2 Corinthians 5:18-21:

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

[ Notes for 2 Corinthians 5:19 ]

[5:18-19] God brings us back to himself (reconciles us) by blotting out our sins (also see Ephesians 2:13-18) and making us right with him. When we trust in Christ, we are no longer God’s enemies or strangers or foreigners to him. Because we have been reconciled to God, we have the privilege of encouraging others to do the same, and thus we are those who have the “task of reconciling people to him.”

06/26/2025

06/26/2025

Deuteronomy 11:13-19:

And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, [14] That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. [15] And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. [16] Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; [17] And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you. [18] Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. [19] And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

[ Notes for Deuteronomy 11:1 ]

[11:1] The Israelites were to love and obey God. Obedience without love is legalism at best and forced bo***ge at worst. Love without obedience is nothing more than a powerful feeling that fades away for lack of commitment to the relationship. If you start your relationship with God only with obedience, you may never experience real love, because you won’t understand the purpose behind that obedience. If you start only with loving feelings, you will lack the commitment to do what God knows is best for you. This will kill your trust in him, which is the essential ingredient for a real relationship. But if you understand how deeply God loves you and that he has set a plan in motion for your eternal good, you will truly love and want to obey him because you will be excited to watch how his loving plan will unfold in your life.

06/24/2025

Proverbs 12:23-27:

A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. [24] The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. [25] Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. [26] The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. [27] The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

[ Notes for Proverbs 12:1 ]

[12:1] If you don’t want to learn, years of schooling will teach you very little. But if you want to be taught, there is no end to what you can learn. This includes being willing to accept discipline and correction and to learn from the wisdom of others. People who refuse constructive criticism have a problem with pride. Such people are unlikely to learn very much.

06/22/2025

Psalm 100:1-5:

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. [2] Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. [3] Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. [4] Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. [5] For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

[ Notes for Psalm 100:4 ]

[100:4] God alone is worthy of being worshiped. What is your attitude toward worship? Do you willingly and joyfully come into God’s presence, or are you just going through the motions, reluctantly going to church? Has a recent disagreement left you fuming? This psalm tells us to lay aside the cares of normal life and remember God’s goodness and dependability. This will change our attitudes and enable us to worship with thanksgiving and praise!

06/19/2025

Galatians 4:27-31:

For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. [28] Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. [29] But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. [30] Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. [31] So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

[ Notes for Galatians 4:7 ]

[4:5-7] Under Roman law, an adopted son was guaranteed all legal rights to his father’s property, even if he was formerly a slave. He was not a second-class son; he was equal to all other sons, biological or adopted, in his father’s family. As adopted children of God, we share with Jesus all rights to God’s resources. As God’s heirs, we can claim what he has provided for us—our full identity as his children (see Romans 8:15-17).