An authentic faith is a faith that transforms lives, provides a place for meaningful relationships, and inspires selfless service. However, in today's world, the lines between authentic and superficial faith can become blurred. In this article I would like to explore what the essential characteristics of an authentic faith look like and how it stays significant in the lives of believers.

What Does It Mean to Be Authentic?

According to Webster’s Dictionary of 1828, the word authentic means the following:

AUTHEN'TIC, adjective: Having a genuine original or authority, in opposition to that which is false, fictitious, or counterfeit; being what it purports to be; genuine; true; applied to things; as an authentic paper or register.

Another word that is derived from the word authentic is the word authenticity, which Webster’s defines as:

AUTHENTIC'ITY, noun: Genuineness; the quality of being of genuine original; as the authenticity of the scriptures.

With these definitions in mind, here are four checkups that we can perform for ourselves to examine the faith that we have in our lives.

A Personal Relationship with God

Authentic faith is built on a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. This relationship is not merely a ritualistic or intellectual exercise but a dynamic, living connection with Him by being born again spiritually. Jesus taught that the most important commandment is this: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). This love for God is the foundation of authentic faith. A love for God is where our faith begins. This relationship is developed and strengthened through our Bible study, prayer life, and our obedience to Him.

The Transforming Power of Faith

Authentic faith is not just about believing in God; it's about allowing that belief to transform every aspect of our lives. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This transformation is not limited to individual lives but also impacts the relationships, communities, and societies in which we live. Authentic faith ought to inspire us to live out our Christian values, demonstrate genuine compassion, and exercise a spirit of love for our fellow man.

A Community of Believers

One important aspect of authentic faith is that it is not a solo journey. You’re not in this by yourself. The early Christian church was characterized by a deep sense of community, with believers sharing their lives, resources, and experiences (Acts 2:42-47). Today, local church communities continue to provide a supportive environment where individuals can grow in their faith, receive encouragement and edification from God’s Word, and serve others. The local church community in which we serve allows us to grow and deepen in our faith. I am so grateful that God has placed me and my family in a church that allows our faith to be stretched in a manner that grows us deeper in our relationship with God.

A Faith that Inspires Service

When we consider that an authentic faith involves a personal relationship with God, that it transforms our daily lives, and that it is strengthened within a body of believers, we should not be surprised that it is also a catalyst for service. Jesus taught that the second greatest commandment is to "love thy neighbor as thyself" (Mark 12:31). This love for others is demonstrated through acts of kindness, compassion, and grace. There is nothing more kind, compassionate, and graceful than when we share the Gospel with someone who does not know Christ as their Savior.

Have you done a checkup on your faith lately? I pray that these four checkups will be a blessing to your faith.

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As believers, revival is often discussed in the context of larger groups—such as churches, communities, or even entire regions. There is no doubt that our world and culture are in desperate need of a revival. However, the critical question remains: where and how will revival begin? Before a widespread or corporate revival can occur, it must first begin at a personal level. It starts with one individual—perhaps it could be you. What does a personal revival look like? Can your personal revival impact others? When David was King of Israel, he sinned greatly and often, but he also found a way to experience personal revival each time that he sinned. If we can apply to our lives the same principles that he applied in his life, I’m convinced that we can see that same personal reviving spirit that he saw in his life all those centuries ago.

Principle #1: Search Me, O God

In Psalm 139, David began with the words of intimate acknowledgement, “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.” These words are not meant to be frightening, but rather a comforting reminder that God is fully aware of every aspect of our life – our thoughts, words, and actions. These verses express that God knows the path before it is taken and the word before it is spoken, and yet He lets us take them anyway. David even confesses here that “such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” The fact is, when we begin to consider that God has already searched us, we will be more mindful of the choices that we make in our daily lives, giving revival an opportunity to stir in our hearts.

Principle #2: Save Me, O God

As we get towards the middle of the psalm, David expresses a disdain for God’s enemies, saying, “Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee?” The plea to be saved that he makes here is not one for salvation, but rather to be separated from the ways of the wicked. It’s a plea for deliverance from temptation and evil influences. If we are going to experience a personal revival and have a chance of it lasting in our lives past the parking lot after the services, we are going to have to apply this principle more than any other. Save me, O God.

Principle #3: Show Me, O God

The ending of Psalm 139 is very well known to many: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me." This request comes after the realization that God already has complete knowledge of this anyway. But David isn’t asking this so that God will know; he is asking this for God to let him know. You see, God will let you sin and walk or even run away from Him at times. He doesn’t stop you. But when we are in search of a personal revival in our lives and take the time to ask Him to do what is involved in principle three, He will. And when He shows us, we must deal with what He shows us.

Can we really have personal revival? Yes, as long as you are ready for it to begin with you. Follow the steps above that are laid out for us in Psalm 139 and see what God can do with your life.

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The Expectation of Failure

In the Christian life, we often set out with the highest intentions, but the reality of our human nature inevitably leads to a moment of truth: we are going to fail. This isn’t a pessimistic view, but a realistic one that is grounded in Scripture. From the very beginning, Satan has desired our failure. His goal is not just to see us stumble, but to completely shipwreck our faith and turn us away from God. In the book of Luke, Jesus Himself reveals this to Peter, saying, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” This verse is a stark reminder of the spiritual battle at play, a battle that often uses our weaknesses and shortcomings against us.

However, while we see Satan’s desire, we also find God’s declaration. God does not declare that we will be perfect, but that in our imperfection, His grace is sufficient. He knows our frame, that we are but dust, and He declares His unwavering love and forgiveness. This divine declaration provides the ultimate safety net. Even when our faith falters and we succumb to our human weaknesses, God’s grace is there to catch us. The life of Peter is a profound testament to this. He was a follower of Jesus, a committed disciple, and yet he failed spectacularly. He promised he would never abandon Jesus, only to deny Him three times on the very night of His arrest. Peter's failure wasn’t a secret act; it was a public, devastating fall witnessed by many. Yet, in his lowest moment, God’s declaration of love and a plan for his life remained unchanged.

The lesson for us is clear: we will all fail. We will fall short and stumble in our faith. The key is not to pretend it won’t happen, but to understand how to fail forward by faith. When we fail, we must not allow it to be a permanent destination but a temporary detour, by leaning into God's grace and accepting His forgiveness.

Examination of Failure

No one wants to fail. The sting of disappointment, the pain of regret, and the feeling of letting others down are powerful. We strive for success and perfection, both in our personal lives and our spiritual journey. And certainly, no one fails on purpose. We don’t wake up in the morning with the intention of making a mistake, hurting someone we love, or denying our faith. Yet, despite our best intentions, all men, women, boys, and girls will and do fail. It is an unavoidable part of life.

The most critical aspect of failure is not the act itself, but the response to it. When Peter failed, Jesus did not stop him. Jesus knew what was coming, but He didn’t prevent the denial. Instead, He looked at Peter in that moment of weakness, a look that wasn’t one of condemnation, but of love and sorrow. This tells us something crucial about the nature of our failures in the eyes of God. He doesn’t always remove the possibility of failure, but He is always present in the midst of it.

This principle is seen even more dramatically in the story of Peter walking on water. When Peter got out of the boat and focused on Jesus, he was able to do the impossible. But as soon as he shifted his focus to the wind and the waves, he began to sink. Jesus did not stop him from sinking, but when Peter cried out, “Lord, save me,” Jesus was there, ready to reach out His hand and lift him up. This powerful image demonstrates that our failures are not outside of God’s awareness or His reach. He is there in the storm, ready to save us when we call upon Him. The examination of failure, then, is not about finding blame, but about finding the outstretched hand of a loving Savior.

The Expense of Failure

Staying in a state of failure is way too expensive. Guilt and shame leave us unable to move forward in faith or purpose. This spiritual stagnation keeps us from fulfilling the calling God has placed on our lives. It robs us of our joy and disconnects us from the very source of our strength and hope. This is a price we cannot afford to pay.

It is also too expensive to not admit our failures. To deny our mistakes is to live in a state of deception, both with ourselves and with God. Admitting our failures is the first step toward genuine repentance and restoration. It is in this vulnerable moment of confession that God’s grace becomes most real and powerful. Refusing to admit our failures only compounds the problem, building a wall of pride and self-righteousness that separates us from God's restorative love.

Finally, it is too expensive to not learn from our failures. Every mistake, every misstep, every time we fall short, is an opportunity for growth. Failure is a teacher, and a harsh one at that, but the lessons it provides are invaluable. By examining what went wrong, understanding our weaknesses, and seeking God’s guidance, we can emerge from our failures with a deeper humility, a stronger resolve, and a more profound reliance on God. The ultimate goal is not to avoid failure, but to learn how to use it as a catalyst for a stronger, more resilient faith. When we fail forward by faith, we turn a moment of weakness into a testimony of God’s enduring strength.

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As I look around me and see the state and conditions of those that choose to identify themselves as Christians, it gives me great pause in my ponderings. It seems like never before that those who identify themselves as Christ followers are choosing to be guided by the compass of culture and pleasure above being guided by the Scripture and Christ. It is as if “Christianity” is being contaminated by various “spiritual” movements having a mind-set that manipulates the Scripture so it will fit the culture, rather than the Scripture ministering to society. The temptation of instant success, financial stability, supposed relevance, and cultural acceptance seems to be increasingly more palatable to many than what it means to be a real follower of Christ.

The question that we must ask ourselves is simple: who is guiding us? If I may be more specific, who is guiding you? In the book of Proverbs, Solomon gives the following instruction on who should be guiding us:

“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” - Proverbs 3:1-7

From these instructions it is noticeably clear that the Lord should be guiding us as we travel through this life. With an increasing erosion of biblical principles among those that are supposed to be Christ followers, many believers are being caught in the crosswinds of the changing times of the culture and the unchanging truth of the Scripture. As the time clock of our lives winds down, we must be willing to take our eyes off the success that is promised by the ways of the world and place our eyes upon a living Saviour who wants to guide us into an abundant life.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” - John 10:10

Who we allow to guide our lives is not an accident. It is a choice. Whether it is we ourselves, the culture in which we live, or Jesus Christ our Saviour, it is a choice that we must make on a daily basis. What we must understand in our hearts is this: for us to be a Christ follower means that we must be following after Christ. Simply stating that we are following Him does not mean that we are. Having good intentions of following Him does not mean that we are; it just means that we intended to. We must actually be following Him. Let Him guide you today, for He will never ever guide you wrongly.

Who is guiding you?

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There is an old saying that says, "You are never too old to learn." Here is one lesson you're never too old to learn: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Here is what this verse means: Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should. Now, learning how is the hard part of life. But it is possible to know and apply if we trust God and look to Him for how we ought to live each day.

Seeking Right Priorities

Now, everything rises and falls right here. If your priorities are not in order, your life will not be in order. If your priorities are not right, you won't be right. You don't have to pray about what your number one priority in life ought to be. You don't have to think about it. You don't have to discuss it. You don't have to look for it. God has already told us what our first priority of each day should be. Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God…” (Matthew 6:33a). Now, in order to seek the kingdom, you must first seek the King, because you cannot have a kingdom without a king. The first priority of your life ought to be to seek the King of the kingdom. But it is not enough to simply seek the Lord; you must seek Him first. For Jesus said, "seek ye first the kingdom of God." Jesus wants the first moments of every day. Jesus wants the first day of every week. Jesus wants the first part of every paycheck. He wants to be first. But not only are we to seek the King, we ought to seek the kingdom. The kingdom of God ought to be the obsession of your life. The word kingdom there literally means rule or reign. A kingdom is a place where a king rules. To seek the kingdom of God is to seek the rule and the reign of God over your entire life.

Now, when you truly seek a king, and you truly seek his kingdom, you are automatically seeking three things. First of all, you are seeking the glory of the king. Second, it means you are seeking the guidance of the king. Thirdly, it means you are seeking to be governed by the king. A loyal subject desires to be told what to do by the king. Has it ever occurred to you that if you were to make it your will that God's will would always be done in your life, then your will would always be met, and so would His? That is what seeking Him first helps us to accomplish.

Seeking Right Personal Purity

Right after Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God…” He followed that with this phrase, “and his righteousness.” Doing what is right ought to be an important part of our daily lives. We Must Desire It - at the beginning of every day, in the middle of the day, and at the end of the day, doing right must always be at the forefront of our hearts. We do what we really want to do, and we are what we really want to be. We Must Derive It - We are to seek "his righteousness." God is not interested in your righteousness. We are to draw from His righteousness because ours is not good enough. We Must Depict It - We ought to live our lives in such a way that His righteousness is seen in us and that His love flows from us.

Seeing Right Promised Prosperity

Jesus ends this verse with a wonderful promised outcome if we do what He says to do: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” In life there are a lot of things that we want that we don’t really need. And to make things even worse, there are a number of things that we need that we do not really want. The promise that Christ is speaking about here is a promise to have the things that we need, as we trust God for them.

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Decisions. We all make them. We have to. It’s part of life. Some decisions are easier than others. Some decisions really have no consequence at all, while other decisions we make have a way of impacting our lives. For instance, a few months ago, Rachel and I made an unplanned stop in Chicago for a few hours. It was a nice day, and the weather was perfect, so we decided to walk and enjoy the city life for a little while. Shortly into our little adventure, I realized that I had made a very bad decision that morning. I had chosen to wear the wrong pair of shoes that day. Now, don’t get me wrong. The shoes looked good; they were very fashionable; they were actually new. I hadn’t worn them but one time previously. The reason they were a bad decision was that they had begun to rub a blister on the back of my left ankle, and it was highly annoying. It was uncomfortable. To make it worse, the blister would linger for a couple of weeks before it would heal fully. All of that from one minor decision. And that one decision negatively affected the next several days. It actually made me make other decisions over the next few weeks as to what shoes I would wear so as not to affect the wound caused by the previous bad decision.

When you think about it, our spiritual lives are not much different than a simple decision about what shoes to wear. What may seem like a simple decision can affect a few weeks, a few years, or even the remainder of our lives. A decision about how to respond to a text message can change friendships for weeks. A decision on whether or not to respond to a private message from an old flame from the past could quite possibly change the rest of your life for the negative. A decision to not read your Bible today may not have a huge effect on the rest of your life. But if you make that same decision every day for months on end, it will most definitely have a long-term effect on your spiritual life. We must take the time and make decisions that would be the most effective for us to live the way God would want us to live.

I came across this list of Ten Principles for Making a Decision the other day that I first copied down on August 25th, 2002. It has been a help to me over the years when I come across it from time to time. I hope it will give you some direction that will be a similar help to you as you face the decisions that you must make for yourself.

Ten Principles on Making a Decision

1. Never make a decision based on feelings alone.

2. Wait before making a decision – give it some time if you can.

3. Make the decision based on biblical principles and values when applicable.

4. Consider the decision in light of this question: "Will it bring glory to the Lord?"

5. Find out what the Bible says before making the decision.

6. Research the matter as much as possible before making the decision.

7. Count the full cost before making the decision, because every decision has a cost.

8. Have a list of counselors that help you make decisions.

9. Never make a decision that will pull you away from God.

10. Once a good decision has been made, don't reverse the decision. Keep moving forward.

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Matthew 6:6-8 “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

James 5:13-16 “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Take Time to Pray – Author Unknown

“Take time to pray! When fears and foes distress you and tiresome toils oppress you, then the Master waits to bless you, if you’ll take time to pray. Take time to pray! Come what there may to stand in the way; look often to Jesus and take time to pray.”

We live in a world that is sin-torn. The days are wicked and wretched. Moral compromise is everywhere on a very high level. If there was ever a time that a Christ follower should be in contact with God, it is today. Have you prayed?

We live in a world of instability as men and women all around us shift from side to side, both politically and religiously. Minds are under constant attack from the enemy. Have you prayed?

We live in a world of lessening morals. Questions of what is right and what is wrong are met with answers that there are no rights and wrongs. Immorality is accepted practice at nearly every turn.

We live in the kind of world that we need to be in daily contact with God. There are some things in life that we need to have settled if we intend to live in this world with the boldness that God expects us to have in our witness. Have you prayed?

Do you have a prayer closet? Do you have a prayer list? Do you have a prayer time? Have you prayed?

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“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22

For many of us, the phrase "survival mode" brings to mind a desperate physical struggle for life, but a far more common and silent battle exists for many within the Christian life - spiritual survival mode. This is not like the fight of a body failing, but one of a spirit that is weary and heavily laden. It is a spiritual and emotional state where the believer is faced with spiritual suffering, and they find themselves clinging to the bare minimum of their faith, which seems to be no longer growing but simply trying to endure. This mode of life is met by a disconnection from the vibrant faith they once knew, leaving them spiritually exhausted and isolated, even while they continue the outward motions and appearance of their daily Christian walk.

This internal struggle often demonstrates itself in a loss of spiritual appetite. The Bible, that once served as the source of nourishment and life, begins to feel like a heavy textbook. Prayer, which used to be a natural conversation with God, becomes a chore, a string of tired, repetitive phrases, or even non-existent altogether. The sense of belonging in church fades and is replaced by a feeling of being an outsider looking in, unable to connect with the joy or passion of others. A person in this state might still attend services or engage in Christian activities, but their heart just isn't in it. They are simply treading water, spending just enough energy to stay afloat, but without the strength to swim towards any progress. It is a lonely and often hidden battle. The silence of the soul can be more deafening than any physical pain. Christians are afraid to cry out because they think deep down that they will be judged for their “weakness” in their struggle. Sadly, in many cases, they are right.

The causes of this kind of spiritual emptiness vary as much as life itself. It can be the slow burnout from service, where a person gives so much in their own strength that they forget to receive from God. They refuse to rest as He tells us to do. It can also stem from disappointment or a deep injustice that shattered their understanding of God’s plan. Sometimes, it is the weight of personal sin or the feeling of being a "bad Christian" that can lead to a survival mode of sorts. These struggles are not a sign of a weak faith, but of a faith that is being tested and refined in the furnace of suffering. The believer is not trying to escape their faith, but to survive it, holding on to a single thread of hope when everything else seems to be unraveling. Friend, at the end of the day, you need to know that this plight in our life at times is completely NORMAL. But struggling in silence is not necessary, nor is it healthy. Admitting that you are struggling is not a sign of weakness, but rather a plea for help. That is what the body of Christ is here for. If you feel like you are hanging on by a thread, just barely struggling to survive in this life as a believer, reach out to your pastor or a fellow believer you trust. We are here to help one another. We want to help.

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Genesis 2:24 says, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." This verse is one of the most foundational principles of love and marriage, and it provides a timeless framework for understanding the biblical ideals of marriage. Let us look at some principles of love and marriage that God gave us from the very first marriage of time and how we may apply them to our own lives.

In the Beginning There Was Intimacy

This verse shows us the profound significance of the marital union. It emphasizes that leaving one's family signifies a crucial step toward establishing a new, intimate unit. When the Scripture presents to us the idea of "cleaving," we must understand that it involves a deep, intentional commitment to prioritize the marriage relationship above all other familial ties.

The phrase "one flesh" goes beyond a mere physical union. It speaks also of a spiritual, emotional, and intellectual one as well. This oneness is not just a goal to strive for but a biblical principle that the marriage covenant is founded upon.

In the Beginning There Was Love

In the beginning, as God established the foundation of the home, He placed love as the cornerstone of a successful marriage. This love is not simply a romantic infatuation but a deep affection that is marked by:

Selflessness: True love prioritizes the needs and well-being of one's spouse above one's own. It involves a mutual submission of service, kindness, forgiveness, and long-suffering.

Commitment: Marriage is a lifelong covenant, a promise made before God to cherish and support one another, as the vows say, for better or for worse.

Respect: Respect is an essential ingredient for a healthy marriage. It involves valuing each other's opinions and appreciating each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Proper Communication: Open, honest, and proper communication is vital for building and maintaining intimacy in marriage. Communication that is not proper is what begins to cause a breakdown of love and intimacy.

The Beginning of Overcoming Challenges

As Eve was given to Adam in marriage, we learn that there were challenges that would come as a natural result of relationships. No marriage is without its challenges. Disagreements, financial difficulties, and health issues can strain even the strongest marriage relationship. However, the Bible has given us teaching that allows us to get past these challenges as they arise in our lives:

Forgiveness: Forgiveness is essential for healing and reconciliation (Ephesians 4:32).

Grace and Mercy: Recognizing that you and your spouse are both imperfect, and extending grace and mercy to them, is a crucial practice to overcome those relationship challenges that you will face.

Seeking Counsel: Seeking guidance from others about how they have worked past the challenges of marriage can provide valuable support and perspective that you would not otherwise have.

The Beginning of the Blessings of Marriage

When you think about why God gave Eve to Adam, you will begin to see why a fulfilling marriage offers numerous blessings, such as:

Companionship: Adam was lonely, and God therefore gave him Eve. Marriage provides a lifelong companion, a source of love, support, and encouragement.

Intimacy: A strong marriage learns to develop a deep emotional and physical intimacy that needs constant nurturing to grow.

Joy and Fulfillment: Sharing life's joys and sorrows with a loving spouse brings joy and fulfillment that is unlike any other.

As we enter the month of “love,” may we embrace these principles of intimacy, love, and commitment, so that we may enjoy the many blessings that God intended from the beginning as He established love and marriage. May we seek God's wisdom of leaving and cleaving to build a relationship that is strong and that honors Him.

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Welcome to the month of February! Yes, it’s already February. This is the one month out of the year that is often recognized as the month of love. Since that is a common thought around this time of year, I thought I would begin this article with a question: What is a true demonstration of love? It seems to me that men like to give gifts to demonstrate their love to a woman. Whether it is a simple gift of chocolate, flowers, jewelry, clothes, or even something expensive or thoughtful, it is usually considered by the recipient as a demonstration of our love. Therefore, giving appears to be the demonstration of how we can express our love to someone else.

The Bible writes to us in the book of 1 John 4:19 and tells us that “We love him (God), because he (God) first loved us.” And if we are to apply this same line of thinking to love and consider how God demonstrated or gave His love to us, it is clear that God demonstrated His love by giving to the world His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. This is the true ultimate demonstration and expression of love ever shown. Not only did He give His Son, but He also gives us eternal life along with His Son. What an amazing way of expressing His love to the world.

What about the Christian life? How does one demonstrate their love to God? The Bible tells us that “we love him, because he first loved us.” So what does that mean? It is not like we can run out and purchase Him something or even impress Him with something that He has not seen before. You think it’s hard to purchase something for someone who seemingly has everything? How hard do you think it would be to try and give the Creator of the world something He doesn’t have? How then do we demonstrate our love to God? On one hand it is easy, and on the other hand it is not as easy as it sounds. You see, I’m convinced that in order for us to demonstrate our love to Him, it starts by giving up ourselves. And friend, let me tell you, that is definitely not easy. The second part of what we must give is our trust. We must trust Him by faith. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11 that without faith it is impossible to please Him. So at the end of the day, it is our faith in Him that is our ultimate expression of our love for God.

So, as I began this article with a question, I’d like to end it the same way. With a question: Do you trust God with all your being?

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Help Wanted! These two words can be seen posted outside of many local businesses around the country. It is a way that, once upon a time, many shop owners would hire people for years. They would post the sign, people would see it, come inside, and get hired on the spot. They posted two simple words and people responded. They posted it because it worked. Boy, have times changed. Over the last few years, during the COVID pandemic, businesses were offering large sums of money as sign-on bonuses, and they were struggling to find anyone that was willing to help, no matter how badly help was needed.

Unfortunately, the same type of attitude that can be found in the business world has crept into the Christian world of the church as well. There used to be a time when all a church would have to do is post a line in the bulletin saying, “Volunteers Needed!” and so many would respond that many would have to be turned away or given another place of service.

Typically, in this Christian world we find two different types of volunteers: passive and active. The passive volunteer says, “Lord, here I am.” And the next year he says it again, “Here I am, Lord,” and five years later you can find him saying the same thing, “Here I am, Lord.” Here is where he is at, here is where he was, and here is where he will always be. He has an idea that he has to wait for God to show him some great supernatural sign. Or he thinks that God is going to pick him up and transport him to where He wants him to be.

However, the active volunteer, while somewhat similar to the passive volunteer, has one small difference that sets the two of them vastly apart. It is the active volunteer that says, “Here I am, Lord, send me.” The active volunteer puts a go along with his volunteering. By faith he prays for the closed doors to be opened. He learns to pray through personal hindrances. He asks God to help him overcome the obstacles that his faith lacks the strength to overcome, so that he is able to serve the Lord where God would have him to serve.

We must remember that Satan will do everything he can do to hinder the work of God. And if that means he needs to hinder volunteers, then so be it; he will, and he does. There are places of service for the Christian today. Jesus Himself said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). Where will you be willing to serve?

If our desire as Christians is that “all the earth may know,” then we are going to need some active volunteers to stand up and say, “Here I am, Lord, send me.” What say you? “Here I am, Lord,” or “Here I am, Lord, send me”? Understand that it is more than help wanted; it is desperately needed. Are there any takers in this? That all the earth may know.

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“That all the earth may know” is a wonderful theme for any church. And while the sentiment of that theme is wonderful and exciting, the reality of it, on the other hand, is quite overwhelming when you think about it. It may even cause you to think, or even doubt, that it is possible that all the earth may know that there is a God in heaven that has a desire to save. While I understand that there are some obstacles that might stand in our way, the task of all the world knowing is a possible task that can be accomplished; we just have to do more than believe that it is possible. We must take action in the possible.

One of the obstacles that we face in this daunting task of reaching the world with the Gospel of Christ is the number of enemies there are of the Gospel itself. Whether it be false religions, false teachers, or the humanistic philosophies that seem to be everywhere, it is still possible that all the earth may know. We must be willing to ignore the enemies and trust the Bible when it says that the Gospel of Christ is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” The Gospel of Christ saves!

Another obstacle that is faced today is that there are not a sufficient number of missionaries being sent into the rest of the world to give the Gospel. It seems that we have always been shorthanded when it comes to this obstacle. Even Jesus said, “The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few.” He even pled with the disciples to pray for more laborers. Do you realize that one of the ways you can contribute to the cause of the Gospel is to simply pray that God would reach down and touch someone’s heart to go, and that they would respond? Are you praying for more laborers? Will you pray?

The last obstacle that I’d like to address is probably the hardest for us to face. And it’s this: do we really care if all the earth hears the Gospel? I know that this is not something that we would readily admit, but in our actions, or rather lack of action, when it comes to spreading the Gospel, it is probably the biggest reason the church as a whole has failed to evangelize the world. We just don’t really care enough to see that it gets done.

Can we really reach the world with the Gospel? The answer is a resounding yes, we can! But we will first have to care enough to share the Gospel ourselves and stop relying on everyone else around us to get the message out. We must have more people willing to go to the places that have no Gospel witness throughout the world. And we must simply believe what the Bible says about the Gospel – it works, and God saves when people believe. But if no one is willing to tell them, how will they believe? I hope as you read this article that it will cause you to care a bit more and that you will be willing to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem, that all the earth may know.

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One of the most well-known events from Scripture is the story of David slaying the giant of the Philistines, Goliath. It is so well known that it is used to describe many modern events of today where a smaller and weaker individual goes up against a bigger and stronger opponent. It is used in business metaphors as well as in many sports activities. Whenever the little guy loses, the story of David versus Goliath is usually the measuring stick that is used in comparison.

While it is neat to think about how the world, sometimes unknowingly, uses a story from the Bible to illustrate and describe an event today, it has a way of trivializing what God did on that day. Sadly, there are many Christians that tend to reduce what God did that day as well. This magnificent event is not a story about David versus Goliath as much as it is a story about David and his God. For without God’s working, Goliath defeats David ten out of ten times. David was no match for Goliath, but God was.

Amid their discourse to one another, the champion of the Philistines, Goliath, told David how he was going to kill him and feed him to the wild animals, but David revealed that he was going to fight much differently than any opponent that Goliath had ever faced. He said in verses forty-five and forty-six of 1 Samuel 17, “I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” The decision for David to go forward into battle had nothing to do with obtaining fame or wealth and everything to do with the last phrase that he said to Goliath: “that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”

As we enter this new year, may we rise to the same level of confidence in God that David had. In all that we seek to accomplish in the days ahead and in this coming year, may we have the same goal in our hearts that David had. May we have the same desire in our lives from day to day as David had. May we live boldly so that all the earth may know that there is a God in our towns. That all the earth may know that there is a God in our churches that saves and changes lives. Can you imagine what it would be like if we had that amount of faith to live out and give testimony to those around us? That all the earth may know! May that not just be a theme for one year; may it be the theme of our lives.

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Matthew 9:35-38 “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

In Matthew chapter nine, Jesus heals four different people, calls one new disciple (Matthew), answers a question about fasting, and informs the disciples that followed Him that they should be busy laboring in the Lord’s harvest. It should not come as a shock to any follower of Christ that He loved people. That is, after all, why He came to earth to begin with. He served people everywhere He went. And in the last four verses of this chapter, we get a glimpse of Christ’s heart and desire of how He sees our role in His ministry of people coming to Him, and that is this: we are to be involved in it.

As we consider our involvement in the process of people coming to know Christ as their Savior, we must first consider a few reasons as to why we should desire to be involved.

1. God wants everyone to be saved

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Jesus came to this earth to save people. He wants men, women, boys, and girls to be saved. He wants them to follow Him. Just as He did when He walked on the earth, He has the same desire today: for people to believe and follow. He wants them to recognize their sin and by faith trust Him as their personal Savior.

2. God uses people to do His work

If we are going to understand that God wants everyone to be saved, then we must also understand and realize that God chooses to use people to accomplish His work. This is an amazing truth, because He is certainly under no obligation to use man, and yet He chooses to. The Lord uses human instruments in accomplishing His work. The Apostle Paul illustrates this to us in Romans 10 as he says, beginning with the thirteenth verse,

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

It should be quite humbling that God still chooses us to do anything, let alone help accomplish what He loves the most…saving people.

3. Jesus is the model of how we should complete the work

First, He simply “went,” as it says in verse 35. He went about all the cities teaching and preaching the Gospel. As He did this, people got saved. He also healed their diseases and illnesses as a sign that He was sent from God. While we may not be able to heal all of what ails the physical body, He has given to us something that can heal their spiritual one. But the facts are simple: if we don’t ever go, then no life will ever be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus went, so should we. The other area Jesus modeled for us was in His compassion. He had compassion for people. The religious crowd today seems to have more disdain and condemnation than compassion for those who aren’t like them. If this describes you, seek the Lord’s face and ask Him to give your heart the same compassion He has.

You have a responsibility to be involved in one of the greatest efforts in all the world: telling others that Jesus died to save them, and that He was buried and rose again! I hope you will prayerfully consider that God has given to us an example to follow as He uses us to accomplish His desire for all the earth to know Him.

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On Easter Sunday, people all over the world will gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While those celebrations will vary from person to person, family to family, and church to church, one thing that will remain the same is that all will be celebrating a Risen Saviour. There will likely be Scripture readings, worshipful music played and sung, sermons preached, meals shared, and testimonies of God’s saving grace in people’s lives given. I can’t help but wonder about those that have seemingly lost their way in the midst of all the religious activities that they have involved themselves in.

I have a verse in my Bible that I have had marked and underlined for several years, and even in several Bibles, that is found in the Book of Luke in chapter twenty-four, verse twenty-one, which reads, “BUT WE TRUSTED that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.” This is found in the place where our Resurrected Lord joined two men as they were walking sadly back to their home in Emmaus, about seven miles outside of Jerusalem. As Jesus joined them on their walk toward home, He struck up a conversation with the men.

The phrase “BUT WE TRUSTED” is just a small part of the men’s response to Jesus’ question found in verse seventeen of the same chapter of Luke twenty-four, which reads, “And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?” What these men revealed about themselves was astonishing, and that was this - we just don’t trust like we used to.

It saddens my heart to think of the number of people that have endured such heartaches, disappointments, disagreements, trials, and tribulations that, like these men, would give a similar-sounding testimony of “BUT WE TRUSTED.” It makes me wonder about those who have given up any sense of hope. Things might actually get better if they would simply learn to trust Him once again.

The response of Christ is even more surprising to me than the fact that they lost trust. In verse twenty-five, He said unto them, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” And later, when He prayed for their meal, their eyes were opened and they knew exactly who was with them in that moment. It was Jesus Himself.

As you read this in this very moment, I want to ask you to evaluate your own measure of faith. Is your faith stronger today than it was yesterday, last week, last month, or last year? Has there ever been a time in your life that you had more faith than you do today? If there has ever been a time in your life that your faith was stronger than it is today, that is something that you must address. And it starts in the same place Jesus started with these two men - in the Scriptures themselves. The Bible tells us that our faith comes (grows) by hearing and consuming the very Word of God. If your faith is shaken today and if your trust is not what it used to be, may I encourage you to find some time alone and simply sit down and read the book of John and the book of Romans from beginning to end, because it is only in the Scriptures of God’s Word where you will be able to find that trust again.

I hope you find what you have been missing out on.

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Since the day it occurred, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been the cornerstone of all faith. This pivotal event transformed a small group of followers into a worldwide movement that continues to this day. While skeptics remain all around, believers point to compelling evidence that is grounded in Scripture, which surpasses a mere faith to a proof that we serve a Living Savior. The interaction on the road to Emmaus, as recorded in Luke 24, offers a profound glimpse into the transformative power of the resurrected Christ.

Luke 24:32 says, "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" This simple verse provides a crucial insight into the emotional impact that Jesus had on those who gave witness to the resurrected Savior. This verse highlights a deeply personal proof of the resurrection. In this passage, two disciples, Cleopas and an unnamed companion, are found walking on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Their hearts were heavy with grief and confusion following the crucifixion when a stranger joined them, engaging them in conversation.

As they journeyed, He opened the Scriptures, explaining how the Messiah's suffering and resurrection were foretold by the prophets. After hearing all of this, their declaration was, "Did not our heart burn within us," which reveals how much of an emotional and spiritual impact the Scripture can have on our lives. This "burning heart" response is not merely a metaphor; it signifies an undeniable encounter with divine truth. It suggests an emotional intensity that could only be explained by a direct interaction with the resurrected Lord. Their response suggests that the experience was far beyond a simple made-up story. It was a real experience that was full of real emotions and spiritual understanding. Jesus didn't just appear and say, “Hello.” No, He provided a scriptural foundation for His resurrection. By connecting His suffering and resurrection to the Old Testament prophecies, He demonstrated the connection and consistency of God's redemptive plan. This revelation of Scripture transformed their confusion into something they could understand, and He turned their despair into a real hope.

This approximately seven-mile journey that we see on the road to Emmaus took them from grief and doubt to joy and certainty, and it should reinforce to us the proof and power of the resurrection. As soon as they came to the realization that they had met with Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples what they had witnessed. This journey that we read about in Luke 24 offers us a compelling narrative of the resurrection's impact. It is not simply a story of some made-up event, but a story of how the resurrected Jesus engaged with His followers on a personal, intellectual, and emotional level. The burning hearts and the opened Scriptures provide a powerful testament to the reality of the resurrection, a reality that continues to resonate with believers today.

When is the last time you shared your personal testimony with someone? I know of no better time than the present to share the Gospel with those around us. Who will you tell of the Savior who saved you? Is your heart burning to tell someone else of His love for them?

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The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single most important fundamental belief of the Christian faith because it is the power of God unto salvation. According to the Scriptures, Jesus was crucified, then appeared to His disciples alive forevermore on the morning of the first day of the week. This single event that is celebrated each year by believers around the world is known as Resurrection or Easter Sunday. The Resurrection is not just a historical fact but the central key of our faith, representing the triumph of life over death and the ultimate hope for all that believe by faith in this fact that gives us the gift of Eternal Life.

The Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John complete a picture of what happened on what could have been considered one of the darkest events of human history had Jesus remained in that borrowed tomb. The gospel of Matthew tells the how. On the Sunday after Jesus’ death, Mary Magdalene and another woman went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. When they arrived, they discovered that the stone blocking the entrance had been rolled away and that the body of Jesus was missing. Suddenly, an angel appeared and told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. The women then ran to tell Jesus’ disciples, who eventually saw Him in person and confirmed that He had indeed risen. The gospel of Mark also recounts the story of the Resurrection with these details. In his account, Mark says three women went to the tomb on that Sunday morning and found the stone rolled away. The women then saw an angel who told them that Jesus was no longer in the tomb but had risen. They ran to tell the disciples, who were initially skeptical but eventually saw Jesus themselves. The gospel of Luke provides an account of when two men were walking to a village called Emmaus on the day after Jesus’ death. Jesus, who was unrecognized by the men, joined them on their journey and spoke with them, explaining how the Scriptures had been fulfilled. When they arrived at their destination, Jesus revealed Himself to them and then disappeared. The two men then raced back to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen. Finally, the gospel of John tells the story of how Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found it empty. She saw Jesus but did not initially recognize Him. When she realized it was Him, she called out to the disciples, who saw Jesus themselves later that day.

With these different vantage points of the Resurrection presented throughout the Gospel accounts, the full picture of the presence of the risen Christ is formed for our learning. The early Christian church viewed the Resurrection as the first of many proofs of Jesus’ divinity, and the belief in the Resurrection became the cornerstone of the Gospel message. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15, “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. …But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept.”

The Resurrection is central to our faith because it provides us hope in the face of our own certain death. Believing in the Resurrection means believing that death is not the end of our existence, but rather a transformation into eternal life with Christ in Heaven. For the believer, the Resurrection represents the ultimate victory over death, and the belief in eternal life with God is a source of comfort in times of peace or sorrow.

The Resurrection also has profound implications for the understanding of Jesus’ life and teachings. What He taught about love, forgiveness, and service to others is central to our faith, and the Resurrection provides a validation of those teachings. The Resurrection reveals Jesus as the One who came to redeem mankind and to show us how to live in harmony with God and one another.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundational cornerstone of our faith. The belief that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion is not just a historical fact but a source of hope and inspiration for believers around the world. It represents the triumph of life over death and the grave and is the ultimate hope for anyone who believes. The Resurrection is what brings the most Light into a Dark World.

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Thanksgiving is a time of reflection, gratitude, and connection with family and friends. For the believer, Thanksgiving holds a deeper significance, as it offers an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the blessings that God has given to us. I would like to give you five reasons why we should express our thankfulness as we enter this busy holiday season.

The Gift of Salvation

One of the most important reasons we should express our gratitude is the gift of salvation. This act of grace is a foundational part of our faith that we practice as believers. As Thanksgiving approaches, we should reflect on the incredible love and mercy that God has shown through Jesus, acknowledging that our lives have been transformed and filled with hope because of His sacrifice. The assurance of salvation not only offers peace in this life but also gives us the promise of eternity with God in Heaven.

Community and Fellowship

Another reason to be thankful is the community and fellowship that can be found within the body of Christ. The local church often serves as a support system, providing encouragement, accountability, and love for one another as we serve alongside each other. In a world that can often feel isolating, the relationships formed within a church can offer a sense of belonging and purpose. During this season, we can be thankful for our church family—friends who pray together, worship together, and serve together. The fellowship of believers reflects the unity that Christ prayed for in John 17:21, where He asked that His followers be one. Reflecting upon the friendships that have formed through the community of believers is a terrific way to express our gratitude to Him. I am grateful for the church family that God has placed me in.

God’s Provision

We can also give thanks for God’s provision in our lives. The Bible assures believers that God cares for their needs (see Philippians 4:19). This provision is not just limited to material blessings, but includes emotional and spiritual blessings as well. As we take the time to reflect on His blessings, it allows us to have a deeper appreciation for the simple things in life too, such as a home, food to eat, and loving relationships to enjoy. One of the most important aspects of the Thanksgiving season is for us to share these blessings with others. We can even show our thanks through acts of kindness by giving back to the community that God has placed us in to express gratitude for what God has provided us.

The Beauty of Creation

Thanksgiving is also an ideal time for Christians to reflect on the beauty of God’s creation. The world around us is filled with amazing landscapes, different seasons, and other creatures that testify to God’s power (see Psalm 19:1). Whether it is a picturesque sunset or the beauty of a blanket of white snow covering the ground, it is these moments that remind believers of God’s faithfulness to us. We must learn to appreciate His creation and cultivate a deeper connection to our Creator, expressing thanks for the wonders of life that surround us every day.

Hope and Future Promises

The fifth reason we as believers should be thankful this holiday season is because of the hope and promises that God has given to us. We know that life can be filled with challenges, uncertainties, and difficulties; however, as believers, we can hold onto the assurance that God is in control and that nothing passes by His desk without His knowledge. Thanksgiving gives us a moment to reflect on God’s faithfulness throughout the past year, as we acknowledge the joys and struggles while trusting in His continued guidance.

Conclusion

As the busyness of this holiday season approaches, we truly have countless reasons to be thankful. I hope that you will take these five that I have given to you and add many more to them as you enter this wonderful time of the year. My prayer is that this season of gratitude will not only strengthen your faith but also encourage others to strengthen theirs as well. As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, may we take time to celebrate and share the many reasons for our gratitude, pointing to the One who deserves all thanks and praise.

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Many people describe Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year. But what is it about this season that makes it so special? Is it the weather—the cold, snowy days, glowing fireplaces, hot chocolate, and hot apple cider? Or is it the traditional gift giving and time spent with family, holiday parties, white elephant games, gift exchanges, Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning? Perhaps it’s the stunning decorations and lights that brighten homes and streets. Maybe it’s the uplifting change in people’s spirits that seems to be expressed more during this time of year.

While all these certainly contribute to making Christmas wonderful, they are not—and should not be—the main reason for celebration for believers in Christ. The true wonder lies in something much deeper.

In Luke 1:46, after receiving confirmation from the Angel of the Lord that her cousin Elizabeth was with child, Mary, soon to be the mother of the Christ child, exclaimed, “My soul doth magnify the Lord.” As we read Mary’s words in Luke chapter one, we get a glimpse of her exceptional character. Consider those words: “My soul doth magnify the Lord.” As you reflect on this, ask yourself: what would it take in your life for you to magnify the Lord in your own soul? Would it take a miracle? Would God need to implant something in you as He did with Mary?

What if you realized that God has already performed a miracle in your life when you accepted salvation? Would you magnify Him then? What if you understood that, upon being saved, God implanted the Holy Spirit within you? Would you magnify Him then? The true wonder of Christmas—and every Christmas season—is that Christ came to save you. That is worth magnifying Him over!

This Christmas season, we need to learn to magnify the Lord in all that we do. Enjoy the festivities that come with the season: the weather, family gatherings, special treats, parties, and decorations. Take joy in these moments, but do not become so absorbed in them that you forget to magnify the One who gave you eternal life—the reason you live. Go ahead - magnify Him today – He is worthy.

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Over the last several years, the political climate of our country has been quite polarizing. On both sides of the aisle, you will find dozens upon dozens of different viewpoints of what politicians think it will take to make the country great. It does not matter whether or not your political views line up on the left side or the right side of the aisle; we can all agree that we all have a desire for our country to be the best that it can be.

The vantage point of America for well over 200 years has been that America is a great country. The question that must be answered, though, is this: What is it that makes America so great? Consider this quote from French writer Alexis de Tocqueville. After he visited America in 1831, he said, “I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests—and it was not there. I sought it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning— and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution—and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!”

Over the last decade or so, while the focus has been on making America great again, it seems to me that a strong focus of making her great has been placed upon the very places that Alexis de Tocqueville searched and came up empty. As a country, we may be able to fix and make our economy the strongest it has ever been. We may be able to make our education system smarter than ever before. And we may be able to make our trade systems desirable to the point that every country in the world wants to trade with us. But the real problem in our country is not in our political systems, or our court systems, or even our school systems. Those, unfortunately, are simply a byproduct of a greater problem. The problem with America’s greatness is that she has ceased to be good. She has ceased to be good because she is no longer willing to hear what the Spirit says. Many of her pulpits no longer flame with righteousness and truth. Until we address that – as a nation – America will never truly be great again.

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Faith: What an interesting word that is! In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, the Bible defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is not something that we can hold in our hands, see with our eyes, or even smell with our nose; yet it is something that we all exercise every day of our lives. The exercise of faith pleases God. To me, one of the most interesting things about faith is that while we cannot hold it, touch it, smell it, or see it, we can possess it. It is something that fluctuates in our lives. It is possible to have multiple different amounts of faith. One day we may have a little bit of it, and on other days, we may have a great deal of it. Another interesting thing about faith is that how it is used varies from person to person. Faith is ever more interesting when it is lived out!

Hebrews chapter eleven is known as the great hall of faith. God reveals to us in this wonderful chapter of the New Testament many distinct aspects of faith that were demonstrated in the lives of multiple Old Testament saints. As this chapter unfolds, it goes into detail about the tremendous amount of faith that they had.

I completely understand Abel being included in this chapter. Enoch being here makes complete sense to me. Noah, of course, you must include him. Abraham, it was his faith that made him the father of many nations. You will also see Moses in this chapter, and Moses’ faith was amazing. But it is verse thirty-two that makes me scratch my head a little bit, if I am being completely transparent here. It is this verse that makes mention of six different individuals and one group collectively. It is the first four mentioned here that give me great pause. I really had to stop and consider for a few moments to find out how these guys made it into the Great Hall of Faith. Now, do not get me wrong; I take no issue with them being listed here. I am not questioning the Lord’s decision as to why they are getting mentioned. I am just being open in that it did take me a little bit to figure out the why.

When you read Judges 6:36-40, you will discover that Gideon had a faith that had to be tested before he would act. In Judges 4:1-9, we find that Barak had a faith that had to be reassured before he would go. Samson had to lose everything before he exercised his faith in Judges 16:20-31. Jephthah in Judges 11:1-36 thought faith was something that had to be earned.

The conclusion I came to as to why these men are included here in Hebrews eleven is that God is willing to work with an imperfect faith, because apart from Christ, there is no such thing as a perfect faith. An imperfect faith is better than no faith at all. An imperfect faith is better than a faith that quits. An imperfect faith is enough to please the Lord. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. Does God ever work with an imperfect faith? Yes, He does! How will you exercise your faith today? May it be stretched for Him!

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It is February, and many of us think of hearts, candy, and cards. February, of course, is known as the month of love. Everywhere you look, you see red and pink decorations. Stores are full of special treats. It is a time when we show people how much we care about them. Because of this, I would like to ask you a very important question. What is a true test of our love? How do we really know if love is real?

In our everyday lives, people often show love by giving things. For example, men often like to give gifts to show their love to women. They might buy a big box of sweet chocolates. They might pick out a beautiful bunch of colorful flowers. Sometimes, the gifts are even bigger, like shiny jewelry or nice clothes. Anything that is expensive, costly, or very thoughtful is seen as a good way to say, "I love you." We feel happy when we get these gifts. And we feel happy to give such gifts. We feel special because someone spent money and time to pick something out just for us. It is a way we can see love with our own eyes.

However, when we think about the Christian life, things are different. When it comes to the Lord, how does a person show their love to God? This is a tricky question. We cannot just go online and order something from Amazon for God. We cannot give Him a box of chocolates or a new shirt. God made everything in the world. He made the sun, the moon, the stars, and all the animals. He owns everything already. It is not like we can run out and purchase Him something He needs. We also cannot impress Him with something He has never seen before. He knows everything and has seen everything. So, if we cannot give gifts, how do we demonstrate our love to God?

The answer is very special. On the one hand, it sounds very easy. On the other hand, it is not as easy as it sounds. The way we show love to God is by trusting Him. We must trust Him by faith. This means believing in Him even when we cannot see Him. It means knowing He is there for us, even when things are hard. That is how we demonstrate our love for Him. We show Him that we simply trust Him with our whole hearts.

Think about a little child jumping into their father's arms. Even if the child is afraid, they know their father will catch them. They do not need a gift to show they love their dad. They show it by jumping. They show it by trusting he will keep them safe. Trusting God is a lot like that. It is believing that He loves us and wants what is best for us.

When we trust God, we listen to what He says. We try to live the way He wants us to live. We talk to Him in prayer. We read His words in the Bible. When we are scared or worried, we stop and remember that God is with us. We say, "God, I know You are taking care of me." It shows Him we love Him more than anything else.

So, you see what I mean when I say it is not as easy as it sounds? Saying "I trust you" is easy. But really trusting, deep down inside, can be hard. Sometimes we want to fix things ourselves. Sometimes we get scared. But every time we choose to trust God instead of worrying, we are giving Him a beautiful gift. We are giving Him the gift of our faith. And that is the best way to show our love to Him, not just this month, but all year long.

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Forgiveness is a powerful tool that can heal wounds, mend relationships, and bring peace to our lives. As Christians, we are called to forgive others just as Jesus Christ forgave us. Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is necessary if we want to live a life of love and compassion that God expects us to live.

Jesus is the ultimate example of forgiveness. He forgave those who crucified Him, and He taught His followers to forgive others as well. The Bible instructs us in Ephesians 4:32 that we are to forgive others just as God has forgiven us. This passage reminds us that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness, and that we must extend that forgiveness to others.

However, forgiveness is not always easy, especially when we have been hurt deeply. It can be tempting to hold onto anger and resentment, to seek revenge or to distance ourselves from the person who hurt us. But Jesus teaches us that forgiveness is the only way to truly heal and move forward. In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him. Jesus responds, "I say not unto thee, until seven times: but until seventy times seven." This means that we should forgive others not just once or twice, but as many times as it takes. Forgiveness is not a one-time event, but rather a process that requires patience, compassion, and a willingness to let go of our anger and hurt.

Forgiveness does not mean that we condone the actions of the person who hurt us. It does not mean that we forget what happened or that we allow ourselves to be hurt again. Forgiveness means that we choose to let go of our anger and resentment, extend grace and compassion to the person who hurt us, and treat the offender as if they are not guilty at all.

Therefore, forgiveness is a choice, and it is a choice that we must make every day. It is not always easy, but it is necessary if we want to live a life of love and compassion. When we choose to forgive, we are choosing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who forgave even those who crucified Him.

Forgiveness is also a gift that we give to ourselves. When we hold onto anger and resentment, we are only hurting ourselves. We are allowing the person who hurt us to continue to have power over us, and we are preventing ourselves from moving forward and finding the peace that God says we can have. When we choose to forgive, we are freeing ourselves from the burden of anger and resentment.

The freedom that is found in forgiveness is one of the most amazing gifts that God has allowed us to experience in this life. Take Him at His word, forgive, and experience the peace that comes with it.

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In the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, it says the following:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The very last phrase of that sentence says, “the pursuit of happiness.” I am convinced that everyone that has ever been alive or is currently living has felt the desire and longing to be happy in their lives. I am also convinced that many in life can experience the happiness that they desire to have. However, they often find that the happiness found is temporary and based upon what it is they do in life. Are you longing to be happy? Are you tired of pursuing something that seems to be impossible to obtain? What is the secret?

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes in verses one to three of the second chapter, “I said in mine heart, go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.” In verse one, he says that he will “prove thee with mirth” or amusement and social merriment and that he will “enjoy pleasure.” Only he finds it all at the end of the day to be fruitless and empty, leaving him wanting more. We too, like Solomon, often discover that the moments of pleasure we are pursuing in the hope of experiencing happiness always seem to leave us empty and wanting more.

What is the answer to this dilemma that we face? Can we find and obtain a lifetime of happiness? Is it really possible? The answer is yes; it is possible to obtain a lifetime of happiness. The dilemma we face is difficult to navigate through at times, because we often find ourselves pursuing pleasure rather than pursuing happiness.

If you will take the time to read through the entire second chapter of Ecclesiastes, you will find that Solomon expresses the emptiness he discovered as he pursued the pleasure of entertainment. The pleasure of work was not enough for Solomon. The gaining of possessions was not enough for him either. Money and power were not enough. Education was not enough. What he found was that pleasure only produces a very temporary happiness and ends with feelings of emptiness, irritation, an intense desire to have more, and an opposition to reason. It led him to a place where he says in verse seventeen that he “hated life” due to the emptiness of pleasure.

If we are to be able to experience a lifetime of happiness and it is not found by our pursuit of pleasure, how can we ever hope to find true happiness? It must be done God’s way. Make sure to read Part Two as we conclude with the explanation on how we can obtain a lifetime of true, lasting happiness in this life that will not leave you longing for more.

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In Part One, we began a two-part article on the pursuit of happiness and how we can obtain it. While we know that every man wants to be happy, we also know that most of us fail miserably at the attempt. We try to pursue happiness by experiencing the pleasure of life only to be left with a temporary happiness that leads to an irritating emptiness that always leaves us wanting more. So how is it that we can obtain true and lasting happiness?

If we are going to obtain a lifetime of happiness, we must decide that we are going to do it God’s way. For this way is the only way to obtain it for a lifetime and then some. In Psalm 144:15, the Bible says, “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” This verse means that you and I will never be truly happy without God’s presence as our Saviour in our life. Becoming a child of God comes with some great benefits. If He has not saved you and if you have not trusted in Him to save you, you are missing out on the happiness that you are longing for. Happiness begins with Him saving us.

You and I will never be happy without God’s help. “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:” Psalm 146:5. We can do all that we want to do to make ourselves happy, but if our hope is in anything outside of God, it will not be any help at all.

Proverbs 3:13-18 says, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” Two different times in the preceding passage it tells us that he who finds, gets, and retains wisdom and understanding is happy in their life. James reminds us that if any of us lack wisdom, all we have to do is ask God, who is willing to give it away to those who ask Him for it. You want to be happy? Better ask for some wisdom then.

What is your faith placed in these days? Is it God? If not, that could definitely be one of the reasons you’re not finding that happiness you’re longing for. Proverbs 16:20 tells us that we will never be happy if our faith is not found in Him. “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.” Put your faith and trust in Him.

The last place that you and I can obtain lifelong happiness is in our obedience to God. Proverbs 29:18 reminds us that “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” If we would simply do what God has instructed us to do, we would be able to find and obtain a lifetime of happiness.

What are you waiting on? Are you longing for that lifetime of happiness? Are you tired of the emptiness and irritation that those moments of pleasure leave you with? Then try doing things God’s way. Make your relationship with God personal. Let Him help you. Find, get, and retain His wisdom. Place your faith in Him, and do what He asks you to do. Then you will have nothing to worry about and you can finally be happy in life.

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Deuteronomy 6:4-12

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

August is back-to-school month for most of the country. Everywhere you go, you will find back-to-school sales, school supplies, and advertising surrounding children and education. Have you ever wondered if God has an opinion about the education of children? What does He think? Does He even care? The verses listed above indicate not only that He has an opinion, but also that God cares very strongly about who is teaching our children and what they are learning. But it is not just about learning; it is about what they are learning. The instruction given is that God is one LORD and that they were to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and might, and keep His words in their hearts. The Scripture goes on to mention four ways in which God gives parents instructions on how to educate their children to accomplish this.

1. Teach Them

To teach means “to instruct; to inform; to communicate to another the knowledge of that of which he was before ignorant.” Therefore, when we are teaching something, we are giving our children knowledge of something they did not previously know. In the case of Deuteronomy 6, this teaching was to be done with steady application and care, not negligently. Teaching is something that must be done on purpose.

2. Talk of Them

When it comes to teaching on purpose, one way to do that is simply by talking about whatever it is you are teaching. The illustration given in the passage is to talk about it during the normal routines of our day. Make it normal. If we want our children to know God, we must make Him a part of our everyday lives and everyday conversations.

3. Bind Them

To bind them is to fasten them so they are a constant reminder, even when you are not thinking about them. It should be obvious that what we teach is not only about spiritual matters. Spiritual matters are not the only things we speak about. So, when we fasten this reminder to us, it helps us remember that it is there, even when we are involved in other matters of life.

4. Write Them

To write them is to remember them. I often say to myself, “Write that down so you don’t forget.” Now, if I forget where I wrote it down, I am likely to forget anyway. That is why God was very specific about where He instructed these things to be written: in a place where they would see them every day. They could not come home without seeing and remembering what the lesson was.

Parents, the education of your children is your primary responsibility and no one else’s. “Teach them diligently unto THY children” is what the passage says. That is God’s opinion, not mine. We must use caution when choosing whom we partner with when it comes to extending that education to others outside of our own homes. Some simple questions to ask when choosing are: Do they know God? Will they help me bring my children closer to Christ? Do they have spiritual values similar to mine as a parent? We may think that school is just about math, English, history, science, etc. But is it really? Or are values and character also being taught? Make sure that whoever you extend your role to supports what you have taught them, talked to them about, bound for them, and written for them so that those things are not uprooted. This is on you to make sure of. It is your responsibility.

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Imagine a world where you never have to look for a flashlight under your bed. Imagine a place where you never have to worry about the sun going down or the moon hiding behind a dark cloud. In the Bible, in the book of Revelation, chapter 22, verse 5, it says: "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." This verse tells us about the amazing light in Heaven.

No More Flashlights, No More Lamps

In homes today, we use many things to help us see. When it gets dark outside, we flip a switch to turn on the ceiling light. If the power goes out, we look for candles or a battery-powered flashlight. Even during the day, we need the sun in the sky to help us see the things we must do.

But the Bible says that in Heaven, we won’t need any of those things. There are no light bulbs in Heaven because it never gets dark! There are no candles because there is no wind to blow them out and no shadows to hide in. It is a place of perfect brightness all the time.

The Source of the Light

The coolest part about the light in Heaven is where it comes from. It doesn’t come from a ball of fire in space like the sun. Instead, the verse says that the Lord God gives them light. Think about how a diamond sparkles when you hold it up to a window. Heaven is bright because God is there. Because God is perfect, kind, and full of glory, His presence shines brighter than anything we have ever seen on Earth. This light is special because it doesn’t just keep your eyes seeing; it also keeps your heart safe. In this light, there is no room for sadness, crying, or being afraid of the dark.

A Day That Never Ends

Because God is the light, there is no night there. Here, each day comes to an end. We stop and go to sleep when it gets late. We have bedtime stories and pajamas because our bodies get tired. But in Heaven, the light of God means it is always a beautiful, new morning.

The Bible says that the people in Heaven will "reign for ever and ever." This means they will live with God in His beautiful light always. There is no "bedtime" in Heaven because nobody ever gets tired of being in the light of God’s love.

Why This Light Matters

The light in Heaven shows us that God wants to be close to us. Just like a nightlight helps a child feel safe in their room, God’s light in Heaven shows that He is always with us. It is a light that never fades, never flickers, and never goes out.

When we look at a sunset here on Earth, we can remember that as pretty as it is, the light in Heaven will be even better. It will be the brightest, happiest, and most peaceful place anyone could ever imagine. I can’t wait for there to be no more night.

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Introduction

Is serving really that big of a deal? If we believe what Jesus said in Mark 10:45, then the answer to that question would be yes. It is a big deal. You see, as He was speaking about serving one another, He said, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” That is to say that if the very Son of God came to earth to serve others, then serving others is an aspect of life that we can seek to improve for ourselves. Rather than focusing on ways that we think might be nice to have others serve us, here are three acts of service that anyone can do to be a blessing to someone else today.

1. You Can Volunteer

In First Peter 4:8-9, the Bible says, “8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.” Many times in life, we find ourselves serving out of a form of guilt or obligation. And yet we must understand that is not what biblical charity is all about. When the Bible uses the word charity, it means the disposition of the heart that inclines us to do good to and for our fellow man. Volunteering to help someone who did not ask is one of the ways we can “use hospitality without grudging.”

2. You Can Send a Note

One of the ways you can brighten someone’s day is to write them a note of encouragement. With the ease of technology today, this is probably one of the simplest of the acts of service that I can recommend. Whether it is a handwritten card (which, in my opinion, is at the top of the list), an email, or even a text message, these are all ways that you can let someone know that you are thinking about them, praying for them, and that you care about them.

3. You Can Listen

We don’t always consider this act of service to be as much of an action as it really is. But listening to someone speak does require much action on our part. Too many people have lost the patience to just sit and listen to someone else speak for a while. What you are going to listen to is not necessarily going to be depressing or draining to you, but just the simple fact that you are willing to sit down and listen to what the other person has to say is very thoughtful and encouraging to so many people.

Serving God and serving others is something that any of us can do. We simply have to be willing to be used. Here is the challenge for the month of September: First, volunteer to do something, anything. Don’t wait to be asked. Adopt the motto that says, “A need seen is an assignment given.” Second, send someone an encouraging note. They will be thankful you did. And third, stop talking and just listen. Doing these simple tasks for one month will help mold you into the servant that God wants you to be.

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When is the last time you looked at what the Bible says the last days shall be like? When the Apostle Paul was writing his final letter to Timothy, he was led by the Holy Spirit to tell him what the final times would look like. He also included what the reaction to living in those times should look like for the believer.

In the third chapter of II Timothy, we are given an extensive list of what the characteristics of the societal norms would be. Interestingly, though, that list does not separate the worldly culture from the church culture. It simply states that “men shall be,” and unfortunately, as I read this list from verses 2-7, this description fits the Christian home just as much as it does the non-Christian home. Far too often, we think that the Christian home is exempt from this kind of thing when it is not exempt at all. That is why we need to heed what the Bible is telling us in these last two chapters of this book. I want to give you a few thoughts over the next few paragraphs to cause you to think about whether the ministry that you are developing in your life is one that is full proof.

1. We Must Maintain an Understanding of the Culture in Which We Live

Our culture has changed significantly over the last 50 years. With the advancement of technology, it is easy to estimate that our culture has experienced a more rapid change than at any other 50-year period. With the changes we have experienced in the growth of technology comes a more rapid decline in the moral fabric of that same culture. While sin has not changed, the openness and the lack of restraint from it have been quite heartbreaking to watch. It is easy to find ourselves discouraged as we watch and even participate in these changes. But that does not mean that we should not seek to try and understand and even connect within our culture. What are the current trends of the culture? What are the thought processes of the culture? What are the current feelings about sin that are in our culture? Knowing the answers to these questions will help equip us in the reaching of our culture. If we cannot answer these questions, we will have a much harder time in introducing them to Christ.

2. We Must Continue in What We Have Learned from the Scripture

While our culture has experienced a wide notable change, that does not mean that we must experience the same changes in our lives as Christ followers. Just as the first-century church lived in and among a godless culture and was able to flourish to the point that two thousand years later the church still exists, we too can thrive once again even in the godless culture in which we live. To do that, though, we must continue to live our lives according to the Word of God more than we do the traditions of church culture. When Paul encouraged Timothy to continue in the things that he had learned, he was not speaking of tradition, for there were no traditions to continue in since the church was a brand-new concept that was not old enough to have traditions. So, what was he to continue in, you ask? It was the Scripture that he was taught. The Word of God. That is what he was to continue in. If the church is going to survive and thrive over the next fifty years, we are going to have to abandon some of the traditions that we are holding to and get back to living our lives by the Word of God. The problem I see repeatedly throughout churches in our culture today is that they have been taught more tradition than they have been taught from scripture. This means we must lose our form of godliness and teach, learn, and live what godliness is and is not. That will not be an easy task because the spirit of the pharisee runs deep throughout the church culture today. If we do not place the proper emphasis on the scripture, the church culture over the next fifty years will be such that it will make many of us blush.

In Part Two, we will look at how we can develop a full proof ministry in our own lives and make an impact not only in our church culture, but also in the culture of the world that we live in.

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In Part One, we looked at whether your Christian life is Full Proof or not. We looked at how understanding the culture in which we live is a vital part of having a full proof ministry. And when we begin to apply what we have learned from the scripture about our culture and our response to it, it allows us to develop that full proof ministry.

1. We must maintain an understanding of the culture in which we live

2. We must continue in what we have learned from the scripture

We continue now with what a full proof ministry looks like in our lives.

3. We must use Biblical Methods

Whenever we speak about ministering in a post-Christian and godless culture that is around us, we must consider what that looks like for the one who is doing the ministering. To minister in this present culture, we need to shed the pharisaicalism that is so prevalent in the American church culture today. After that is done, then we must also begin to apply the biblical understanding that is coming from the scripture itself and not just our traditional ideologies of the American church.

II Timothy 3:16 reminds us that all scripture was given by and under the inspiration of God and it is that very scripture that produces what is profitable for our walk with Christ.

a. Doctrine: this is what we believe and practice in the Christian life. We must get back to living out scripture in and through our lives. The doctrine or teachings of the word inform us of what is the right way to live.

b. Reproof: this is the portion of scripture that tells us what is wrong in our life. It is the part that points out where we are to blame for how we live.

c. Correction: thankfully, the scriptures do not just tell us what is right and what is wrong; they also correct us so that we can take the reproof along with the doctrine and correct what is wrong so that it can be made right.

d. Instruction in Righteousness: this is the portion of scripture that instructs us on how, once we get the wrongs right, we can keep them right in our lives.

Once we are on the road to keeping these things right and as we mature in our Christian life, God begins to equip us for a work that is good for us. Part of the work that God matures the believer for is the work of telling others about Christ. This biblical instruction is given in II Timothy 4:1-2 as Paul says to not be afraid to Preach or Proclaim the Word. His instructions were to be instant, which means to understand that it is a pressing matter of utmost importance to do this immediately without making any delay at the present hour. In season and out of season means that there is never a time when it is inappropriate to do so. When this biblical method is employed, we must understand there will be certain results that happen as people are reproved to a sense of guilt, as they are rebuked, and given caution from the word. We are to be long suffering in their lack of response to the doctrine that is given.

4. We must understand that not everyone is going to receive the message.

Not everyone that hears and even walks with Christ for a while will stick around the things of God. We see that with the people in the gospel accounts that walked away from Christ when He was on earth, and we can expect the same today. We cannot be surprised that people hear what they want to hear. Sadly, this applies to those on both sides of the religious spectrum. There are those who don’t follow at all, and there are also the modern-day pharisees that exploit and misrepresent the grace of God. Both sides will and do often reject the truth of sound doctrine due to their own desire to hear only what is acceptable to themselves. Understanding that the message that we are to give to our culture will be rejected is not always easy for us to get. But we must watch and endure even when this takes place.

5. We must always be seeking to see someone come to Christ

The unwillingness of people to listen and receive the Gospel does not free us from the responsibility to share the good news of the saving power that is found in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. That is what doing the work of the evangelist is all about.

Are you full proof?

To be full means to abound, be complete, strong, and not faint as well as being clear, distinct, and well supplied. Proof is to be firm, resisting impressions, directly connected to the mind, and not easily swayed by the art of seduction or the assaults of temptation. God has supplied us with His Word to share and give to others. May we be firmly set in our supply and not swayed by the common vices of our day in order that we may fulfill the ministries God has called each of us to do.

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The busyness of summer has officially come to an end. Summers are often filled with vacations, weekend getaways, family events, and such like; summer often breaks us out of our normal routines and causes us to miss a lot of what we are looking for throughout the entire year – peace with a sense of belonging. Whenever I find myself caught up in the busyness of life, I have to remind myself that there are always several other priorities in life that need my attention.

The writer of the book of Hebrews explains things this way:

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:19-25

We need to remember that when God saved us, He delivered unto us a new and different way to live. Our lives have been transformed by His love and kindness. Not only has He given us a new way of life, but He also has extended unto us a new family to enjoy our newfound life with. That is part of what it means to have a high priest over the house of God. Today, we refer to “the house of God” as church. That one word, “Church,” describes for us not only a new way to live our lives, but also the people who we live alongside.

As we are reminded often, the church building itself - its walls, foundations, lights, cameras, and activities that take place within it - is not to be the focus. There is nothing inherently special about the structure. Instead, among the busyness of life, the writer of the letter calls the believer to slow down, hold firmly to what we have learned, and thoughtfully consider one another.

One way we do this is by following the instructions given in Hebrews: that we do not neglect gathering with the members of the church. The church is not the building; it is the people. The people who make up my church family energize me to keep going week after week. Assembling means more than simply coming to church for a Sunday or Wednesday service. It means connecting our lives together in multiple ways - and doing so much more as we approach the return of Christ.

If you have missed out on connecting meaningfully over this summer with your fellow members of your church family, may I encourage you to slow down, assemble with someone, and come together with those God has brought here to serve alongside of you. I don’t know about you, but I am sure ready to get back to a regular rhythm of assembling and strengthening relationships that God has allowed me to form.

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The memories in a church building are full of joy and reflection. Over the years, its walls witness countless salvations, baptisms, weddings, sermons, and even a meal or two. Yet looking back on those years is not just a look back at the bricks and mortar; it is a powerful declaration of a new beginning, rooted firmly in God’s Word.

A church building stands as a testament to the faithfulness of those who labored and prayed, fulfilling the call to create a spiritual home for the families of their community. The church’s journey, however, has always been about more than the structure; it is about the living stones - the people - who gather within that place. As the Apostle Peter wrote,

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

Every time we gather, we celebrate the continuous work of building that spiritual house that we meet God in today.

A Call to Newness

Every church eventually comes to a unique point in its ministry: far enough from the beginning to appreciate the legacy of what has gone on before us, yet near enough to understand the weight that is ahead of us to provide a bright future for the next generation that follows. That moment calls for a renewed commitment to the mission that was given when the church began.

This 'new thing' is an invitation for the church to shed any complacency and embrace the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit. For many, a "new beginning" might suggest a complete overhaul, but biblically, it means a renewal of spirit and purpose. It also means looking at the next chapter with the same pioneering faith that laid the foundation.

Continuing the Call

A physical structure provides stability, a place for discipleship to happen. For generations, faithful local churches have been a beacon of hope and a lighthouse for truth. Now, the continuing process lies in expanding that reach, not by seeking to build a larger structure, but by growing the depth of the authentic faith that already exists within our walls with the carrying of the Gospel outside them.

The great commission remains our ultimate mandate:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19, KJV).

The church building is the launching pad for this purpose. Every room, every seat, everywhere we step represents a place where believers are strengthened for service.

As members of the body of Christ, our focus is not just on the history that has been made, but on the future we have been called to shape. It is a new beginning that is fueled by the same call that was answered by those who came before us. May this be a recommitment to the foundation that our churches were established on, an exciting look forward, and a joyful journey toward the future God is preparing. The building may grow older, but the mission that God has given us remains forever young.

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"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." — 2 Corinthians 4:6

The Very First Light

Think back to the very beginning of the Bible. In the book of Genesis, the world was dark and empty. There was no sun, no moon, and no stars. But then, God spoke, "Let there be light," and suddenly, the darkness was gone!

The same God who made the sun rise for the first time is the same God who works in our lives today. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:6 that God has "shined in our hearts." Just like He turned on the light in the world, He turns on a light inside of us when we trust in Jesus as our Savior.

A Dark World

When we look at the world around us, it is easy to see the darkness that surrounds us. Have you ever been in a room where the power went out? It is hard to see where you are going. You might trip or feel lost.

In our own towns and all over the world, many people are living in a "spiritual darkness." This means they do not know the way to heaven. They do not know how much God loves them. They are trying to find their way without the light of Jesus. Because they don't have that light, they often feel hopeless and afraid.

We Are Like Candles

As a believer, you have asked Jesus to be your Savior. That means you have a special gift. God has put His light inside of you.

But God didn't give us this light just so we could keep it to ourselves. Imagine if you had a candle lit in a dark cave, but you kept it hidden under something. That wouldn't help anyone, now would it?

Our job is to "give the light" to others. The verse says that the light we have is the "knowledge of the glory of God." What that means is that we know the wonderful truth about Jesus. We know that He died on the cross for our sins and rose again. That is the brightest light there is!

How Can We Share the Light?

While sharing the Gospel is a big job, it does not have to feel that way. It starts with the small things. Here are three ways we can share the light of Christ in our surrounding community this year:

Our Words: We can tell our friends at work, or our neighbors, "Jesus loves you, and He changed my life."

Our Actions: When we are kind, helpful, and honest, people see that we are different. They see the light of Jesus shining through the way we act.

Our Invitations: We can invite people to come to church with us. Sometimes, all a person needs is a friend to show them the way to the House of God.

These are just a few simple ways that we can use the light that God has placed in us to spread His message into the darkness that surrounds us. There is a whole host of other ways you can creatively use your light to reach into the dark world.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Sometimes we might be afraid to talk about Jesus because of what someone may think or feel about us. But remember, the darkness cannot stop the light. Even the tiniest of candles can be seen from far away in a dark room. When you share the Gospel, you are bringing the light of Jesus Christ to a dark world of people who really need Him.

Let’s make a promise to be a Light for our Savior. Let’s pray that God helps us to shine brightly so that everyone in the surrounding area can see how great our God is. Don’t be afraid, for greater is He that is in us than he that is in this dark world.

Read on Faith for Every Road

Have you ever walked on a sandy beach and left footprints behind? Each step taken makes an impression, a mark showing where you've been. In the same way, believers who share their faith leave a kind of spiritual footprint on the world around them. This footprint isn't made of sand, though, but of love, kindness, and the message of the Gospel. The footprint of missions is the lasting impression we can make as we share the Gospel with others, whether it is here at home or around the world.

The biggest impression we can have on this world for the cause of Christ is in our personal witnessing. This means sharing your faith with people you know – your family, friends, neighbors, and classmates. It's not always about preaching from a pulpit; it's often about showing your faith through your actions and words in everyday life. When you are kind, helpful, and honest, you are showing others what it means to be a Christian. We need to be looking for creative ways to share our faith with others on purpose.

Another way we leave a footprint is through giving to faith promise missions. Missionaries are people who travel to different places to share their faith in Christ. As they go to a country where people haven't heard about Jesus or where they need help, they teach people about the Bible and show them God's love through the Gospel. Think of it like this: a missionary is like a gardener planting seeds. They plant the seeds of faith in people's hearts, hoping that those seeds will grow and blossom for the Lord. Our role is to help send them with the seeds that need to be planted in those people's lives.

There are several important verses that inspire us to make an impression on the world around us. Acts 1:8: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." This verse tells us that the Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses. It's not something we can do on our own; we need God's help to make a difference in people's lives. Romans 10:17 reminds us, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." This shows the importance of sharing the Word of God. It's through hearing the Gospel that people can come to faith. Without our impression in their lives, they might not believe. In 1 Peter 3:15, the Bible says, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." Are you ready to make an impression? Are you ready to give an answer? Finally, consider 2 Corinthians 5:20: "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." This verse calls believers "ambassadors for Christ." As ambassadors, we represent the Lord Jesus Christ, and our representation should always leave a lasting impression.

Leaving a footprint doesn't mean you have to be famous or do something extraordinary. It's about the small things you do every day. It's about showing kindness to others, being honest in your dealings with others, and sharing your faith when you have the opportunity. It's about living a life that reflects the love of Jesus. An impression is rarely made accidentally. We choose where we walk. We choose who it is we talk to or not. The footprint of missions in our lives should be a powerful and lasting impression. It's the impression that we as believers leave on the world as we share the Gospel. These impressions are opportunities to change a life. Whether it's a missionary traveling to a distant land or a friend sharing their faith with another friend, every act of witness leaves a mark. Just like footprints on a beach, these footprints can be seen by others and can guide them to the truth. By following Jesus' example and sharing His love, we can all leave a positive and lasting footprint on the world. Determine to leave your footprint behind.

Read on Faith for Every Road

The end of the summer and the beginning of the fall season is typically a time for the farmers’ fields to be harvested. We know the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as He said in John 4:35, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” Since it is a common time for us to witness a physical harvest in the fields around us, having a World Missions Conference allows us an opportunity to witness and be a part of the spiritual harvest that Jesus was speaking of in John 4. On top of that, I want to share with you five ways that you will be benefited by attending a World Missions Conference at your church this year.

1. It’s a time to focus on world evangelism.

Let’s be real for a minute. While we all most likely understand that world evangelism is the most important aspect of what any Bible-believing Christian can be involved in, it’s likely that it is not the thing that is on our mind throughout most of our days. Since that is likely to be the case for most of us, having a conference on reaching the world allows us an opportunity to bring our focus and attention to what God is doing in the world today through local churches like ours.

2. It’s a time for the church to love on some missionaries.

How often do we get to meet and fellowship with the servants of God who minister outside of our church? Again, if we are being real, we know that it is not very often. Philippians 4:18 is a wonderful testimony of believers who loved on a missionary as Paul thanks them as he says, “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.” Having missionaries with us for several days allows us the chance to pour out the love of our local assembly and show them that not only do we assist them in a financial way, but we also care about their physical and spiritual well-being too.

3. It’s a time for us to prayerfully consider what God would have us do for Him.

When it comes to the area of our lives that has to do with world evangelism, are we doing all that we can do for the Cause of Christ? When we have a conference like this, it affords us a time that we can sit down and actually consider what it is that we can do as individuals in this cause. We can ask questions like, “How should I give to missions?” or “Am I the witness God desires me to be?” Or maybe, “Would God ever use me on the mission field somewhere?” Without a missions conference like this, it is likely that we would never ask these questions at all, or any questions for that matter.

4. It’s a time to consider what to give.

Oh, how I wish we could live our lives apart from money and the stress that seems to come from it. But the reality is that money is a part of all our lives and there is nothing that will ever separate us from that fact. That means that money is also a part of missions. One of the most blessed parts of giving in a local church is that the financial burden of the ministry does not fall on one or two people’s shoulders, but rather on the entire congregation. To me, the best part is that God does not require or desire a certain amount of money, but only desires our generosity to flow out of our hearts with love.

5. It’s a time to pray.

One of the most important aspects of a church’s role when it comes to missionary support goes above and beyond giving of a financial gift. It also involves prayer support. Many of the missionaries we support have the same struggles that you have in your life. Contrary to popular belief, missionaries are not some sort of Super Christians to whom nothing bad ever happens because they are exempt from that in some way. Many missionaries struggle in their marriages, just like you. Some have issues and struggles with rearing their children, because they have children like yours. Some face financial difficulties, health issues, and yes, some even face moral issues that plague them, just like you. And because of that, and more, we need to be much in prayer for them.

It is my prayer for you that you will make it a point to be an active part of your church’s Missions Conference this year. We have been given a time to consider these five ways that a missions conference will benefit our lives personally when it comes to the cause of world evangelism.

Read on Faith for Every Road

Psalm 33:12 is a powerful verse that speaks to the importance of faith and devotion to God in the life of a nation. The verse states that a nation is blessed when its God is the Lord, and when its people are chosen by God for His own inheritance. This verse has been interpreted in many ways over the years, but at its core, it speaks to the idea that a nation that is founded on faith and devotion to God is more likely to be successful and prosperous than one that is not. At its founding as a country, the United States of America was one of those nations that sought to honor God in her core beliefs and practices.

One of the key themes of Psalm 33:12 is the idea of blessing. The verse states that a nation is blessed when its God is the Lord. Over the course of our nation’s history, we have experienced many different blessings as a collective whole. This idea of blessing is central to the Christian faith, and it is often associated with prosperity, success, and happiness. When a nation is blessed by God, it is believed to be protected from harm and to enjoy a special relationship with God that brings many benefits.

The idea of inheritance in Psalm 33:12 is linked to the idea of legacy. When a person is chosen by God for His own inheritance, it is believed that they have a special responsibility to pass on their faith and devotion to God to future generations. This idea of legacy is central to the Christian faith, and it is often seen as a source of inspiration and motivation for Christians to live their lives in a way that honors God. For over two centuries, our Western American culture of Christianity has had quite a legacy when it comes to missions and getting the Gospel to the remainder of the world.

In conclusion, Psalm 33:12 is a powerful verse that speaks to the importance of faith and devotion to God in the life of a nation. The verse suggests that a nation is blessed when its God is the Lord, and when its people are chosen by God for His own inheritance. The verse also speaks to the idea of inheritance and legacy, suggesting that those who are chosen by God have a special responsibility to pass on their faith and devotion to future generations.

Overall, Psalm 33:12 is a powerful reminder of the importance of faith and devotion to God in the life of a nation, and it is a verse that Christians can turn to for inspiration and guidance in their own lives. As a Bible-believing church, may we not be derelict in our duty to live our lives in such a way that our nation can experience the blessings of God.

Read on Faith for Every Road

I know that you know the Christmas story very well, and that you could tell it yourself if necessary. But have you ever stopped to ponder upon the wondrous details of this amazing story that God has recorded in His Word? As we enter the busyness of what is known as the Christmas season and before you get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I want to remind you of a few of those details from the Word of God that we sometimes fail to really think about and consider.

So where does this greatest story even begin? Does it begin with Mary and Joseph in Nazareth? Does it begin with Zacharias and Elizabeth in Juda? Does it begin in Matthew or is it Luke where our story begins? Well, this greatest story begins in the book of John where the Bible declares in John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” Without this passage in John one, we would not know that Jesus is indeed one hundred percent God and one hundred percent man all at the same time as verse fourteen explains how that “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.) full of grace and truth.” You see, while we certainly celebrate the physical birth of Jesus, it is important to note we are not celebrating His beginning into existence, but His beginning as mankind on earth.

While this remarkable story begins in John one, it continues in the beginning of Luke’s Gospel in the first chapter where we learn about the Angel of the Lord appearing to Zacharias to tell him that Elizabeth was scheduled to have a baby after many years of childlessness. Then about six months later, Mary, who had never had any intimate relations before, was informed that she too, like Elizabeth, was going to give birth to the most special child that has ever been born, and that was Jesus. I absolutely love Mary’s response to Elizabeth as she confirms the message from the Angel of the Lord that Elizabeth was with child. Mary, the soon-to-be mother of the Christ child, exclaimed, “My soul doth magnify the Lord.” Think of those words, “My soul doth magnify the Lord.” And as you ponder on those words, I want you to think about something else. What would it take in your life for you to magnify the Lord in your own soul? I hope that this Christmas season you will do as Mary did and learn to magnify the Lord in all that you do.

The greatest story ever told is so much more than Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus lying in a manger, angels singing, and shepherds coming to worship. From the beginning of John chapter one all the way to Matthew chapter two, the Bible offers to us an amazing perspective on how the events of Christ’s coming to earth came to be. And as we celebrate His coming to earth once again this month, may we be mindful of God’s goodness to us, and may we not miss that the purpose of His coming was so that we could partake in the unmerited gift of eternal life. And that is the greatest gift we could ever receive. If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, I implore you to not allow another day to pass without you having God’s perfect gift in your life.

Read on Faith for Every Road

The story of Christmas is one that is visited year after year by generations and generations and is celebrated in over 160 countries around the world. It is a story that has been told countless times by a countless number of people. Even fictional characters such as Linus from Charlie Brown have taken part in telling the story. Luke 2 states, “1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”

There they were, Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus lying in a manger, angels singing, shepherds coming to worship, etc. I wonder, though, have you stopped and considered, in all the wondrous details that God has given to us in His Holy Word, that all of this was done for you? From the beginning of John chapter one all the way to Matthew chapter two, the Bible offers to us an amazing perspective of how deep the events of Christ’s coming to earth came to be.

As we celebrate His coming this month, we would be wise to remember that in God’s goodness in giving His Son, He gave Him to us. May we not miss that the purpose of His coming was so that we could partake in the unmerited gift of eternal life. That is the greatest gift we could ever receive. If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, I implore you to not allow another day to pass without your having God’s perfect gift in your life. The coming of Jesus to this earth was for you. Believe that God loved you so much that He gave His only begotten Son to live a sinless, perfect life here, and to die a cruel death on the cross of Calvary, paying the debt of sin for you. After He was buried and spent three days and three nights in the grave, He was gloriously resurrected and was seen by over 500 individuals who testified that they saw the resurrected Savior in person. Why was all this done? It was done for you so that you can receive the greatest gift that has ever been given: the gift of eternal life. The best and truest way for you to have a merry Christmas is for you to accept God’s gift of Jesus that was given for you.

Read on Faith for Every Road

As we enter the season of Christmas, I’d like us to consider how Joseph plays a key, yet often understated, role in the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. While much of our attention tends to focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus, Joseph’s character and actions are crucial in the unfolding of God’s plan. He serves as the protector, provider, and earthly father of Jesus, whose obedience to God helps to ensure the safety of his family.

It is important to understand the cultural time frame in which Joseph lived. In Jewish society, a betrothal was a serious commitment, more binding than today’s engagement, and was usually followed by a period of waiting before the couple would live together as husband and wife. When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, he must have been heartbroken and confused, as he knew the child was not his. Joseph was a “just man,” meaning that he was righteous, obedient to the law, and respected God’s will. He initially planned to end the betrothal process quietly to avoid publicly disgracing her. These actions show the kindness and compassion of his character, even though the law would have allowed him to publicly expose Mary, which could have led to severe consequences for her.

Thankfully for Mary, God intervened through a dream. An angel appeared to Joseph, explaining that Mary’s pregnancy was a divine miracle and that the baby was the promised Messiah. The angel instructed Joseph to take Mary as his wife, raise the child, and name Him Jesus because He would save the world from sin. Joseph’s response to this message was complete obedience. He did not hesitate or argue with the dream. Without question, he accepted his role in God’s plan, marrying Mary and standing by her through the most interesting of circumstances.

Joseph’s obedience to God’s command was not just a one-time thing. After Jesus’ birth, when King Herod ordered the killing of all male children under the age of two in Bethlehem, Joseph once again was obedient. After being warned in a dream, he took Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod’s threat. Can you imagine the fear? Imagine traveling in the middle of the night to a foreign country with little preparation and no idea where you are going to go. It showed Joseph’s trust in God’s direction and his level of responsibility as a father. When it was safe to return, Joseph moved his new family to Nazareth, ensuring Jesus grew up in a place where He would be protected and able to follow God’s will.

Joseph’s role as a father is significant not just in a practical sense, but in a spiritual one as well. By accepting God’s will for his life, Joseph modeled faith and obedience to his other children that came after Jesus. He provided a stable and loving environment for his children. Joseph showed that faith is not about understanding all the details or having everything figured out; it’s about trusting in God’s Word, even when it’s difficult or uncertain.

Joseph’s role challenges our understanding of greatness. In a world where fame, recognition, and power often drive our ambitions, Joseph’s humble obedience shows us that true greatness is found in serving God faithfully. He teaches us that being faithful to God’s direction does not always mean doing extraordinary things, but rather being willing to listen, trust, and obey.

This Christmas season, it is my prayer that we would follow the example of Joseph’s character, faith, and devotion to God’s will. May our actions of faith demonstrate the importance of obedience, sacrifice, and trust in God’s plan. Joseph may not have sought the limelight, but his commitment to his family and to God makes him an essential part of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth.

Read on Faith for Every Road