Living By The Word

  Christmas Is “Wonderful” ( December 23, 2025) “ For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ” (Isaiah 9:6) We all have different perspectives, and if you ask folks what Christmas means to them personally, you’re likely to get a wide variety of responses. Putting aside its commercialism and maddening frenzy, Christmas is a season of wonders. Enduring symbols of this time of wonderment are beautifully-wrapped gifts, brightly-illuminated trees, carefully-prepared feasts, well-rehearsed church plays and cantatas, awe -inspiring nativity scenes along with cheery expressions of goodwill among men. Dearly beloved Christmas traditions help to preserve the past and give rise to precious new memories. Above all, our focus at Christmas should be to honor and adore Jesus Christ, our glorious Redeemer whose most exalted name, among many, is called “Wonderful.” “ Be...

  Christianity: Relationship, Not Religion ( December 16, 2025) “ If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion  is  useless. ” (James 1:26) Many people who’ve never genuinely sought to live by faith in Jesus Christ think that the Christian lifestyle would be boring, restricting, and lacking in excitement. They are under the mistaken impression that following Christ is all about adhering to a set of stale religious rules, rituals, and regiments. However, Christianity is not about religion; it is about a relationship! True Christianity is the joyful pursuit of a fulfilling, faith-based, intimate personal relationship with the Creator of the universe and the Savior of mankind, Christ the L ORD, God incarnate whose humble birth we celebrate next week ! What a joy it is to be led by Jesus on an exciting journey each day as He rewards our faithfulness in awesome and surprising ways and give...

  Gridiron Glory to God (December 11, 2025) “ Yours, O  Lord , is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O  Lord , “And You are exalted as head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11) Remarkably, after leading Indiana University to the Big 10 conference football championship on December 6 th , during televised post game interviews, the Hoosiers’ outstanding quarterback Fernando Mendoza glorified God for his team’s incredible win over then top-ranked Ohio State. A key to the upset victory were clutch pass completions by Mendoza to wide receiver Charlie Becker. Becker also gave glory to God after the historic victory, Indiana’s first conference championship in more than a half-century. “I want to give all the glory to God,” humbly declared Mendoza, considered the leading contender for college football’s coveted Heisman Trophy, symbolic o...

  Resist the Thievery of Worry ( December 9, 2025) “ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Sometimes it is fascinating to observe the facial expressions of people as they go about the business of their everyday lives. The countenance of one’s face is often an accurate indicator of a person’s mood, emotional state, and even character. As Christians, our faces should be aglow with joyfulness that reflects the presence of Jesus Christ in our hearts and the eternal hope of salvation that is the result of a faith-based personal relationship with the L ORD . Much too often, however, even among believers, the look on our faces reveals an underlying tension or unease that is the manifestation of worry and fear that can inundate our faith if not kept in check by humble dependence upon God’s power rather than our own strength. “ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you ...

  Shine “The Light” ( December 4, 2025) “ The  Lord   is  my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? ” (Psalm 27:1) In an immoral culture shrouded in the shadows of evil, Christians are called to walk in the light of Jesus Christ and to reflect His beams of hope into lives lost in the darkness of sin. Each day we need to be guided by the lamp that lights our paths, God’s Word. Applying biblical principles and moral standards to our lives, we are enabled to avoid the pitfalls concealed by the darkness and deceit of a fallen world that is temporarily Satan’s domain. We must allow to shine through us rays of divine light that attract unbelievers to Jesus like moths to a flame. Lurking in the darkness of the world, Satan aims to deceive and destroy those of us who seek to walk in the light of God’s glory. Scripture teaches that devoid of truth, the devil is the father of lies. “ He was a murderer from the beginning, and   does not stand in the truth, b...

  The Family of God ( December 2, 2025) “ But as many as received Him, to them He gave the r ight to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (1 John 1:12) Sadly, one of the most significant changes in the American way of life over the last half-century has been the demise of the traditional family unit. I fondly remember the closeness of our family growing up in the 1950s and ‘60s, regularly going to church together, sitting down at the table to partake of family meals, watching TV (wholesome family shows like “Ozzie and Harriet” and “Father Knows Best”), and enjoying simple outings and other bonding activities as a family. Those days have passed; f amily life is changing! Two-parent households are on the decline in the U.S. as divorce, remarriage, and cohabitation are rising. Families are smaller today, due to the growth of single-parent households and the drop in the number of children per household.  “ For you are all sons of God through fai...