Living By The Word

  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...

  Men and Woman of Gratitude ( Daily Devotion November 27, 2025 ) “ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, a nd into His courts with praise. “Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4) As Christians, we should be men and women of gratitude. If we take a personal inventory of our lives, we can clearly see that as followers of Jesus Christ, we are richly blessed, both now and eternally. God wants us to recognize that He, in His infinite goodness, is the source of every good and perfect gift that we receive and to develop attitudes of gratitude. And He calls us to exemplify or model that thankfulness to others as we live our lives every day. The Bible is filled with commands to give thanks to God. A prime example is Psalm 106:1 that instructs: “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Thankfulness not only conforms to God’s will but it blesses us in many ways. Thanksgiving keeps our hearts in a right relationship to ...

  A Still Small Voice ( November 25, 2025) “ But the  Lord  is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” (Habakkuk 2:20) It has become increasingly difficult to find peace and quiet in a world polluted by the noise and clamor of 21 st -century life. Blaring music, honking horns, blasting sirens, riotous confrontations, blatant political rhetoric, babbling gossip, harsh language, and piercing alarms are among the myriad of noisy distractions that are common in the rush of today’s fast-paced, bustling world. The deafening, decibel-soaring roar that is commonly heard in many football stadiums or other sports venues is an appropriate way for a massive crowd of avid fans to inspire the home team, but it is not conducive to seeking God and discovering His will which is essential in our daily walk of faith as Christians. “ And after the earthquake a fire,  but  the  Lord   was  not in the fire; and after the fire a ...

  A Lesson in Loyalty ( November 20, 2025) “ Through  the  Lord ’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are  new every morning; great  is  Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) One admirable quality that is increasingly disappearing from human relationships of the 21 st century is loyalty, faithfulness to each other and to God. In today’s faithless culture, people tend to shun long-term commitments, especially in marriage and the family. In a materialistic, self-centered, and immoral world, we need to be careful where our loyalties and allegiances lie. As Christians who’ve been commanded to be witnesses of God’s boundless love and saving grace, we must make sure our lives speak of our loyalty and faithfulness to Christ despite Satan’s ceaseless attempts to persuade us to go the way of the world. A biblical lesson in loyalty is the story of Ruth, the Moabite daughter-in-law of the Jewish woman Naomi. Becaus...