Christopher L. Baker Sr. II

11/11/2025

11/11/2025

Joshua 1:8-11:

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. [9] Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. [10] Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, [11] Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.

[ Notes for Joshua 1:9 ]

[1:1-18] As the book of Joshua opens, the Israelites are camped along the east bank of the Jordan River at the very edge of the Promised Land, and they are completing the mourning period for Moses, who has just died (Deuteronomy 34:7-8). The Israelites had an opportunity to enter the Promised Land 39 years earlier (after spending a year at Mount Sinai receiving God’s law), but they failed to trust God to give them victory. As a result, God did not allow them to enter the land but made them wander in the wilderness until that disobedient generation had all died.

During their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites obeyed God’s laws. They also taught the new generation to obey God’s laws so that they might enter the Promised Land, which was also called Canaan. As the children grew, they were often reminded that faith and obedience to God brought victory, while unbelief and disobedience brought tragedy. When the last of the older generation had died and the new generation had become adults, the Israelites prepared to claim their long-awaited Promised Land.

11/11/2025

Proverbs 17:24-28:

Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. [25] A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. [26] Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. [27] He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. [28] Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

[ Notes for Proverbs 17:17 ]

[17:17] What kind of friend are you? There is a vast difference between knowing someone well and being a true friend. The greatest evidence of genuine friendship is loyalty (see 1 Corinthians 13:7)—being available to help in times of distress or personal struggles. Too many people are fair-weather friends. They stick around when a friendship helps them and leave when they’re not getting anything out of it. Think of your friends and assess your loyalty to them. Be the kind of true friend the Bible encourages.

11/07/2025

Isaiah 61:7-11:

For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. [8] For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. [9] And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed. [10] I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. [11] For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

[ Notes for Isaiah 61:2 ]

61:1-2 Jesus quoted these words in Luke 4:18-19. As he read to the people in the synagogue, he stopped in the middle of Isaiah 61:2 after the words “the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” Rolling up the scroll, he said, “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” (Luke 4:21). The next portion of Isaiah 61:2, “and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies,” will come true when Jesus returns to earth again. We are now under God’s favor; his wrath is yet to come.

11/04/2025

1 Corinthians 10:11-19:

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. [12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. [13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. [14] Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. [15] I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. [16] The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? [17] For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. [18] Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? [19] What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

[ Notes for 1 Corinthians 10:23 ]

[10:23-24] Sometimes it’s hard to know when to defer to weaker believers. Paul gives a simple rule of thumb to help in making the decision: We should be sensitive and gracious. The goal here is not a general hypersensitivity that makes us worry about what others might possibly think. Rather, it is a genuine awareness of others and a willingness to limit what we do when there is a real possibility of misunderstanding and offense. Some actions may not be wrong but may not be in the best interests of others. We have freedom in Christ, but we shouldn’t exercise our freedom at the cost of genuinely hurting a Christian brother or sister. We are not to consider only ourselves; we must also consider the needs and perspectives of others. (For more on the proper attitude to have toward a weaker believer, see the notes on 8:10-13 and in Romans 14.)

11/02/2025

Ephesians 5:8-17:

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: [9] (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) [10] Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. [11] And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. [12] For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. [13] But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. [14] Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. [15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [17] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

[ Notes for Ephesians 5:1 ]

[5:1-2] Just as children imitate their parents, we should imitate God. We do that by modeling our lives after Jesus, who, as the Son of God, was the incarnation of God on earth. His great love for us led him to sacrifice himself so that we might live. Our love for others should be of the same kind—a love that goes beyond affection to self-sacrificing service.

10/31/2025

Jeremiah 30:16-24:

Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. [17] For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. [18] Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. [19] And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. [20] Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. [21] And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD. [22] And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. [23] Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. [24] The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.

[ Notes for Jeremiah 30:12 ]

[30:12-13, 17] The medical language here conveys the idea that sin is terminal. Sinful people cannot be cured by being good or being religious. There are no human antidotes to cure us from sin’s deadly effects. Don’t allow your “sin disease” to keep spreading in you and cause you more and more pain. Self-improvement and positive thinking can be helpful, but God alone can cure the disease of sin. You must be willing to let him do it.