Living By The Word

  This Is the Day! ( January 27, 2026) “ 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) This new day is a priceless gift of God that He expects us to live fully and use wisely to make a positive difference in our spheres of influence in the world. This is the day of opportunities for followers of Jesus Christ to do God’s will and serve His unique purpose for each of our lives. This is the day of thanksgiving! “ I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation. ” (Psalm 118: 21) Today is the day to be grateful for the bounty of God’s blessings, the greatest of which is His gracious gift of eternal life through faith in Christ. This is the day of service! “ Therefore…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. ” (1 Cor...

  A Living Sermon ( January 6, 2026) “ You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.   Nor do they   light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all  who are  in the house.”   (Matthew 5:14-15) As Christians, we have the greatest privilege imaginable—knowing and engaging in an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe and the Savior of mankind. This blessing of a lifetime does not come without great responsibility, however. We have been commanded by our L ORD Himself to spread the gospel and evangelize to the world around us the good news that salvation and everlasting life are offered to everyone who chooses to receive God’s grace through faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross as payment of their sin debt in full. Every believer who personally experiences the cleansing power of Christ’s shed blood and thus shares our resurrected L ORD’ s tr...

  A God We Can Depend Upon ( December 30, 2025) “ I am the vine, you  are  the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much   fruit; for without Me you can do   nothing. ” (John 15:5) As part of our prideful human nature, we tend to try to take charge and assume complete control of our lives. Asserting their own free will, many individuals seek to manipulate their life circumstances and other people to promote their personal aspirations and agendas. Individually, we seek, as the classic song says, to do it “My Way.” Obviously, modern society glorifies independent-mindedness and self-sufficiency. On the other hand, Almighty God, w ho is in sovereign control of all creation, wants us to trust and rely upon Him to direct our lives according to His perfect will and divine plan designed to bring about the best and most beneficial outcomes possible. God desires that we humble ourselves and allow Him to have His way, recognizing His lordship over our l...

  What Christmas Is All About ( December 25, 2025) “ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten   Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.     For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) This Christmas, let’s keep firmly in mind that the Son of God Jesus Christ was sent into the world as God incarnate, both God and man, on a mission of mercy. During the course of His three-year earthly ministry, Jesus performed many miracles that demonstrated His deity. Christ also taught powerful lessons of love, forgiveness, and compassion to guide humanity in our relationships with each other. And our L ORD set the supreme example of how to live in ways that please God and magnify His glory. As we celebrate Jesus’ humble birth in Bethlehem, let’s praise and thank God the Father for the gift of His Son to be mankind’s Savior. That’s love, an...

  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...