Living By The Word

  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...

  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 ...