Luke 11:32

February 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” (Luke 11:32)

This statement regarding the activities of saints from generations past is interesting. It gives me courtroom vibes.

In my mind, I see God sitting in the judge’s seat before those being judged. Before him is the generation with whom Jesus is interacting. Jesus has already accused them of being an evil generation (11:32). Then, two examples of their wickedness are presented. Notice that the evidence of their wickedness is their unbelief.

First, Jesus mentions the Queen of Sheba and her efforts to find the truth, particularly as compared to this generation that has Jesus in their midst.

Second, Jesus mentions the people of Nineveh who repented at Jonah’s preaching. In some way, they will be witnesses against the generation with whom Jesus is speaking. Why? Because one greater than Jonah is in their midst, and rather than believe, they keep seeking another sign. Enough evidence is never enough for those committed to unbelief.

I would conclude that past generations of saints will also stand as witnesses against unbelievers of my generation. My heart breaks for those who refuse the plain evidence and demand yet another sign.

Father, thank you for breaking through my own hard heart. Please help me faithfully live and witness before a lost generation. I pray for those efforts to be instruments in your hands to draw unbelievers to yourself. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Jesus Said, Luke, Old Testament

Habakkuk 3:17-18

January 31, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

This guy believed bigly in God. Even when everything was failing around him, he trusted God. This reminds me of Paul and Silas singing praise about midnight in the Philippian jail (Acts 16).

I wish I could say that I would praise the Lord if I were unjustly imprisoned or the whole world collapsed around me. I want to do that, but I don’t think I am there yet.

Father, help me to have the spirit of Habakkuk and Paul and Silas. Help me to look into the face of hardship and praise you. Amen.

Filed Under: Faith, Habakkuk, Old Testament

Habakkuk 2:18-20

January 30, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, ‘Awake; to a silent stone, Arise!’ Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him” (Habakkuk 2:18-20).

Here, the Lord examines the logic of trusting in idols. He explains that a piece of wood or a stone covered with gold or silver is still only a rock or a piece of wood. And there is no breath (life!) in it.

In contrast, the Lord sits on His throne, alive and well.

Why is it so easy to look at these folks and say, “Why do you trust in that rock, wood, glass, etc., instead of the Lord?” But so difficult to realize that I can do similar things? I may not trust in a little statue, but I have said, “This is my lucky shirt.” Most of the time, I trust in myself rather than the Lord. That’s only slightly better than trusting in a stone, but still idolatry.

Lord, please help me to trust in you alone. Amen.

Filed Under: Habakkuk, idolatry, Old Testament

Habakkuk 1:5-6

January 29, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own” (Habakkuk 1:5-6).

These verses demonstrate God’s sovereignty as He says He is raising the Chaldeans (Babylonians). Daniel 2:21 says that “he removes kings and sets up kings.” In this case, He was raising the Babylonians, who would conquer the Assyrians.

The Lord is raising them up because they “march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own.” And, this is what the Lord will use them to do in Judah.

The statement that most sticks out to me is “For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” This really provides a distinction between God and man. I suspect He doesn’t tell us more about what is going on in the world because we can not understand or believe what He is doing. I also suspect that we would begin to evaluate the rightness or wrongness of what He is doing based on our criteria, rather than His.

Even in this example of the Chaldeans, some would argue that it is immoral for God to raise a cruel army that takes things that are not their own.

Father, please help me trust in the goodness of your actions, especially when I don’t understand them. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Faith, Habakkuk, humility, Old Testament

Nahum 3:5-7

January 28, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame. I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle. And all who look at you will shrink from you and say, ‘Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her?’ Where shall I seek comforters for you?” (Nahum 3:5-7)

Yikes! No one should want to hear God say, “I am against you.” I know there are people filled with folly who say, I’m not worried about it. I suspect that Assyria, as a nation, had the same dismissive attitude toward the only true and living God.

However, we have the historical vantage point to see that God’s warning came to pass. Assyria was humiliated, destroyed, and lost to time.

Father, please help me not to dismiss your warnings. Help me repent quickly. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Nahum, Old Testament
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