Living By The Word

  Success as God Sees It ( February 24, 2026) “ For what   profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? ” (Matthew 16:26) We all seek to be successful in the pursuit of our personal desires, devotions, and dreams. Unfortunately, however, many folks make the mistake of viewing success from an earthly rather than a spiritual perspective. The secular world defines success as amassing great personal wealth, material possessions, influence, popularity, and self-gratification. These worldly values may satisfy for a season, but they ultimately pass away, leaving the pursuer empty and unsatisfied. God, on the other hand, measures success much differently, looking at the bounty of the human heart rather than one’s bank account or stock portfolio. “ Delight yourself also in the  Lord , and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Proverbs 37:4) To pursue success as God views it and attain rewards that are eternally valuable, one must ...

  God’s Strength Consumes Human Weakness ( February 16, 2026) “ The   Lord   is   my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.”  (Psalm 28:7) We live in a world that glorifies strength and vitality. This mindset is seen in commercial advertising as attractive, vivacious actors, sports stars, and other celebrities persuade us to shell out hard-earned bucks to purchase products they claim will revolutionize our lives by melting fat, smoothing wrinkles, producing six-pack abs, and making us look ten years younger. Today’s culture emphasizes toughness, vigor, and poten cy, and frowns upon human weakness and frailty. In reality, however, our sinful, fallen state has left us riddled with infirmity, insufficiency, and inadequacy. “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:14) We are all faint, flawed, and feeble, but the all-powerful God who crafted us with love is aware of our human weaknesses and limitations, ...

  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...