Christopher L. Baker Sr. II

01/27/2025

01/27/2025

Psalm 91:4-8:

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. [5] Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; [6] Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. [7] A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. [8] Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

[ Notes for Psalm 91:12 ]

[91:1-16] This psalm wonderfully reassures anyone facing the sickness or death of a loved one, time in prison, or some other great loss. When you have the opportunity, read this psalm aloud as a prayer for yourself or someone who needs help. It will bring great comfort, encouragement, and peace.

01/26/2025

Psalm 32:8-11:

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. [9] Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. [10] Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. [11] Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

[ Notes for Psalm 32:3 ]

[32:1-11] Read this psalm in conjunction with Psalm 51. Both are penitential psalms, or psalms of repentance. Here David expressed the joy of forgiveness. God had forgiven him for the sins he had committed against Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 11–12).

01/23/2025

Deuteronomy 11:8-12:
Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it; [9] And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey. [10] For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: [11] But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: [12] A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.

[ Notes for Deuteronomy 11:26 ]

[11:26] What is the curse God was talking about? It is not a magician’s spell. To understand it, we must remember the conditions of the covenant between God and Israel. Both parties had agreed to the terms. If the Israelites kept their part of the covenant, they would experience the blessings: They would receive the land, live there forever, have fruitful crops, and expel their enemies. The curse would fall on the Israelites only if they broke their agreement; then they would forfeit God’s blessings and would be in danger of crop failure, invasion, and expulsion from their land. Joshua later reviewed these blessings and curses with the entire nation (Joshua 8:34).

01/21/2025

Matthew 5:1-20:

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: [2] And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, [3] Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. [5] Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. [6] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. [7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. [8] Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. [10] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [12] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. [13] Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. [14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. [17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

[ Notes for Matthew 5:6 ]

[5:3-12] This section of Jesus’ teaching is often referred to as the Beatitudes. These verses can be understood in at least four ways: (1) They are a code of ethics and a standard of conduct for all believers. (2) They contrast Kingdom values (what is eternal) with worldly values (what is temporary). (3) They contrast the superficial “faith” of the Pharisees with the real faith that Jesus demands. (4) They show how Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the new Kingdom. The Beatitudes are not multiple choice, as if you could pick what you like and leave the rest. They must be taken as a whole. Jesus perfectly exemplified them, and we must aim to live as he did.

01/20/2025

01/20/2025

Psalm 82:1-8:

God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. [2] How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. [3] Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. [4] Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. [5] They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. [6] I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. [7] But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. [8] Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

01/19/2025

01/19/2025

1 Kings 8:54-60:

And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. [55] And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, [56] Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. [57] The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: [58] That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. [59] And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: [60] That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

[ Notes for 1 Kings 8:60 ]

[8:56-60] Solomon praised the Lord and prayed for the people. His prayer can be a pattern for our prayers. He had five basic requests: (1) for God’s presence (8:57); (2) for the desire to do God’s will in everything (8:58); (3) for the desire and ability to obey God’s decrees and commands (8:58); (4) for help with each day’s needs (8:59); and (5) for the spread of God’s Kingdom to the entire world (8:60). These prayer requests are just as important today. When you pray for your church or family, you can make these same requests to God.

01/16/2025

Ephesians 1:2-8:

Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: [4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: [5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, [6] To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. [7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; [8] Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Ephesians 9-12:

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: [10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: [11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: [12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

[ Notes for Ephesians 1:3 ]

[1:3] When we bless or praise God, we recognize and attribute to him his true worth. “Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms” means that because we are united with Christ, we have all the benefits of knowing God—we have been chosen for salvation, adopted as his children, and forgiven. God gives us insight into his Word, the gifts of the Spirit, power to do his will, and the hope of living forever with Christ. Because we have an intimate relationship with Christ, we can enjoy these eternal blessings now. The use of the phrase heavenly realms tells us that these blessings come from eternity with God and do not originate with our human experience. The blessings come from Christ’s spiritual realm, not the earthly realm of the goddess Artemis. Other references to the heavenly realms in this letter include 1:20; 2:6; and 3:10. Such passages reveal Christ in his victorious, exalted role as ruler of all.

01/14/2025

Proverbs 11:28-31:

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. [29] He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. [30] The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. [31] Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

[ Notes for Proverbs 11:22 ]

[11:22] Physical attractiveness without common sense and wisdom soon fades into ugliness. We should develop the character qualities that help us make wise decisions, not just enhance our images. Not everyone who looks good is pleasant to live or work with. While taking good care of your body and appearance has important benefits, it is more important to learn to be beautiful in character, making wise decisions and treating others with respect.