Daily Notes & Observations is a 365-part series that follows a chronological daily Bible reading schedule and contains a short article based on something found in the text for each day. This material is also available in paperback.

November 21, 2013

Now Available: “Daily Notes & Observations”

In 2012, I followed a reading schedule that took me through the Bible in a year. As I went, I posted a brief article each day based upon a passage that was taken from the text of that day’s reading assignment. These articles have been compiled, edited, and published in a new book that is now available: Daily Notes & Observations. The following is a summary of the book:

Daily Notes & ObservationsReading. Instruction. Meditation.

These three things are essential if we hope to grow in our understanding of the word of God. This book is designed to help you in each of these areas.

  • Reading — Three reading plans that will take you through the entire Bible in a year.
  • Instruction — Brief articles to correspond with each day’s reading from one of the plans.
  • Meditation — A place for you to write down your own notes and observations each day.

This book contains 365 Scripture-based articles on a wide range of topics, taken from every area of the word of God. These articles, as well as the Bible reading plans and spaces for your notes, are presented to you in order to encourage a regular habit of studying and meditating upon the Scriptures.

If you would like to read more about this book or purchase your copy, click here: Daily Notes & Observations.

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December 31, 2012

“They May Have the Right to the Tree of Life” (12/31)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Revelation 19-22.

Those who believe salvation is by grace or faith alone will often charge those of us who believe that obedience is necessary for salvation as trying to somehow earn salvation. While we should answer this false charge, we must also not be afraid to affirm all that the Scriptures teach. Notice these words near the close of the final book of the Bible:

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12).

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).

We will be judged according to what we have done. We will be rewarded if our deeds are good when judged according to the Lord’s word. If we wash our robes, or “do his commandments” (KJV), we will enter the city and partake of the tree of life.
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December 30, 2012

“Blessed Are the Dead Who Die in the Lord” (12/30)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Revelation 12-18.

“And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, ‘Write, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!”‘ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them’” (Revelation 14:13).

When a faithful child of God passes from this life, the above verse is often used to provide comfort for the grieving family and friends. But it is important to understand why these individuals are blessed.
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December 29, 2012

“These Two Prophets Tormented Those who Dwell on the Earth” (12/29)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Revelation 6-11.

Revelation 11 contains the description of “two witnesses” who would be granted authority by the Lord and would prophesy on His behalf (Revelation 11:3). There are different theories as to the identity of these two witnesses or prophets. I will not take the time to delve into them in this brief article. Regardless of who or what the two witnesses represent, they revealed the will of God and were killed for it (Revelation 11:7). Notice the reaction of the people to the death of the two witnesses:

“And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 11:10).

The only crime committed by these two witnesses was that they spoke the word of God. But the word of God was so hated that the people rejoiced, celebrated, and exchanged gifts upon learning of their deaths. Truth “tormented” them; therefore, they had contempt for those who taught the truth.
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December 28, 2012

Maintaining Purity in the Midst of Persecution (12/28)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Revelation 1-5.

Occasionally brethren will speak of the alleged “benefits” of persecution. One such “benefit” is that Christians focus less on doctrinal errors and combating false teachers because of the extra attention that needs to be paid to the persecutions and encouraging the brethren to withstand them.

However, if we notice the letter to the church in Pergamum, we will see that persecution does not give Christians permission to ignore or tolerate error.

“I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth” (Revelation 2:13-16).

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December 27, 2012

The Importance of Truth (12/27)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 John 1; 3 John 1.

How important is truth? If we read the beginning of John’s second epistle, we see that the inspired apostle placed a great deal of importance upon truth.

“The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father” (2 John 1-4).

Notice everything that John says about truth just in the first four verses of this letter:
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December 26, 2012

We May Have Confidence at His Coming (12/26)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 John 1-5.

Can a Christian be confident of his salvation? Or should we live in constant fear of missing out on salvation when the Lord returns?

John wrote about how we can have confidence at the Lord’s return. As the apostle explained, this confidence was not just based upon our assurance of God’s promises, but also upon some action on our part.

“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:28-29).

Our confidence is not based upon the false notion that a child of God can never lose his salvation. Many in the religious world believe the “once saved, always saved” doctrine. But this does not harmonize with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 9:27; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12). Though many believe that salvation is either unconditional or by faith alone, John made it clear that we must do something in order to be assured of salvation.
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