Living By The Word

  Align Your Will to God’s Plan ( September 28, 2023) “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2) As you probably know from almost daily media coverage, conference realignment has taken the collegiate sports world by storm, threatening to upset traditional rivalries and transform the face of big-time NCAA sports. Motivated primarily by money, many universities that have long been recognized for their stellar athletic programs have bolted from one Power Five (most prominent) conference to another, shifting the balance of power. The objective of realignment is to cash in on tens of millions of dollars in additional revenues by affiliating with conferences that have extremely lucrative media contracts to broadcast the games of these elite and highest-earning team affiliations in collegiate sports. College athletics, mo...

  Faith plus Nothing ( September 27, 2021) “ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. ” (Ephesians 2:8-9) In our selfish human pride, we try to take control of life’s circumstances, trusting in our own strength and understanding to address the issues that confront us. When a serious problem raises its ugly head, I confess that I have a tendency to panic, fearfully and frantically striving for my own solution without seeking the divine guidance of a sovereign God Who knows and cares about even the smallest detail of my life. Professing faith in an all-knowing, all-powerful God who has promised never to leave nor forsake us, Christians should fully rely on His wisdom and trust that His will be done in every trial or episode of life that we face. In our frailty and weakness, we must yield in faithful dependence and allow God’s awesome power to be made ma...

  A God of Great Faithfulness ( September 26, 2023)   We live in a world of growing unfaithfulness in human relationships. This relative lack of loyalty and commitment is seen in broken marriages, shady business dealings, unresponsiveness of elected officials to the best interests of their constituents, and other avenues of daily life. In a culture where reliability, steadfastness, and accountability are often lacking, it is refreshing that Christians can count on a God who is faithful to keep His promises. Just because we tend to be unfaithful to Him and each other does not nullify God’s great faithfulness to us. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13) We serve a God of goodness who is faithful by His divine nature. Here are just a few of the ways in which God is faithful to His children, according to Scripture. God the Father is faithful… ·          To forgive our confessed sins. ...

    Autumn’s Scenic Splendor ( September 22, 2023) “ To everything   there is   a season…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Each of the four seasons is unique in its natural beauty and displays God’s creative genius and masterful artistry. Clothed in scenic splendor, autumn, which officially arrives tomorrow (September 23), is perhaps my personal favorite of this quartet of seasons. This fall, the L ORD willing, will be the 72 nd autumnal equinox, the astronomical event that marks the start of autumn, which God has graciously allowed me to delightfully experience. After a summer of record heat, the welcome chill associated with fall is already beginning to fill the air with renewed freshness, and in a few fleeting weeks, the dazzling foliage will reach its long-awaited peak of magnificent coloration. Autumn speaks of God’s matchless glory, so let’s fully appreciate the picturesque wonders of the season that sing praises to the sovereign Creator Who skillfully crafted fall’...

  Avoid the Thievery of Worry ( September 21, 2023) “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 ...

  God Provides ( September 20, 2023) “ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ” (Philippians 4:19) Commanding unlimited resources that are readily at His disposal, Almighty God is the Great Provider! Everyone who trusts in the L ORD and seeks to yield control of their lives to Him can be certain that He will faithfully provide for them. When we obey Him, God assumes full responsibility for our temporal as well as our eternal needs. In addition to showering us with earthly blessings on a daily basis, our gracious, loving heavenly Father has provided for our greatest need—a Savior! Foreshadowing God’s gift of His beloved and only begotten Son Jesus Christ as the supreme sacrifice for the sins of mankind, Abraham, the father of Israel, passed the ultimate test of faith by demonstrating a willingness to obey God’s command to sacrifice his son Isaac. Instead, God provided a sacrificial ram and spared Isaac’s life on Mount Mor...

  Always Abounding ( September 19, 2023) “ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. ” (1 Corinthians 15:58) Christians are called to follow the example of love and kindness shown to the needy and helpless by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. Jesus took time to comfort, console, and cure many among the multitudes who were drawn to Him. Christ was especially responsive to the needs of those unfortunate individuals who were diseased, demon-possessed, and drowning in the sea of sin. Today, Jesus still offers to bear our burdens and the heavy weight of our transgressions as we walk in trusting obedience to Him. Looking to Jesus as the ultimate role model, we should seek daily to follow in His footsteps. As we are able and in God’s power, we must carry on His work, serving others with compassion and addressing real human needs that prevail in these troublesome, tum...

  Do You Know Jesus Personally? ( September 18, 2023) “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:10-13) Do I know Jesus Christ personally? That is the most important question that every living soul must answer in their heart and mind before their earthly life is over. Each individual’s answer to this critical question, either affirmatively or negatively, will determine where that person spends eternity -- in the presence of the L ORD in the paradise of heaven or apart from God in the fiery lake of hell with Satan. In order to be saved and have everlasting life, everyone must know Jesus through a faith-based personal relationship with the Son o...