Living By The Word

  God Blesses Obedience ( February 5, 2026) “ And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the  Lord  your God: ” (Deuteronomy 28:2) It goes against the grain of our independent human nature and is difficult to do, but the surrender of the control of our lives to God is essential in order to pursue a lifestyle that pleases the L ORD and fulfills His purpose for our lives. Jesus Christ put it in the simplest possible terms, saying: “ If you love Me, keep My commandments. ” (John 15:14) Many people profess to love Christ, but, in practice, their worldly attitudes, behaviors, and self-centered efforts to control their own destinies do not match what they say. Obedience to God’s commands and His guidance of our lives according to His perfect will is the highest expression of genuine love for Christ, our L ORD and Savior. Throughout the Bible, God graciously promises to richly bless, now and eternally, those to seek...

  The Way of the Cross ( January 29, 2026) “ Come to   Me, all  you  who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Jesus Christ beckons everyone to come to Him in repentance, lay the weighty burden of their sins at the foot of His blood-stained Cross, and rest in the eternal security of His marvelous grace! The heavenly Father sent His beloved Son into the world to shed His blood for the remission of the sins of everyone that believes in Christ and accepts by faith God’s offer of forgiveness, His gift of salvation, and His assurance of everlasting life. In His divine patience and out of a sacrificial love that exceeds human understanding, God is “ not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. ” (2 Peter 3:9). Sadly, however, many individuals, refusing to turn away from their sinful lifestyles, stubbornly reject Jesus’ universal invitation to enter into His rest and be at peace with God. Their hearts h...

  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...