Living By The Word

  Temples of the Living God ( October 5, 2023) “And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (Jeremiah 30:22) Throughout Scripture, we see the tender truth of a gracious and loving God who seeks a personal relationship with each of His beloved, but rebellious human creations. This sovereign God does not desire to be aloof or distant from us; He wants to be our Immanuel, “God with Us.” (Matthew 1:23) The Almighty Creator of the universe is totally mindful of each of us as products of His unique craftsmanship; He loves us unconditionally and seeks fellowship with us. In Old Testament times, along with the Ten Commandments, God gave Moses the detailed blueprint for the Tabernacle, the residence or dwelling place of the L ORD in the midst of His chosen people, the Israelites. More is said about the Tabernacle, the forerunner of the Jewish temple, than any other subject in the Bible, a profound indicator of God’s longing to be in the presence of His children. The Tabernacl...

  Give Your Burdens to Christ ( October 4, 2023) “ Come to Me, all   you   who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Life is a rich blessing from a gracious God of love! Yet, as we all know, it can be quite burdensome. There are many contributors to the loads we bear. As much as we love them, our families and friends can place some rather weighty demands on our time and energy. Adding to the encumbrances of life are the loads imposed by our jobs or schooling, upkeep of our health, maintenance of our property, civic and social involvements, and life’s many other obligations and responsibilities. As if that’s not enough, sometimes we put pressure on ourselves unnecessarily. Among these needless self-imposed burdens is the baggage we lug around from the past, refusing to let go of feelings of guilt for confessed sins that God has already forgiven. For Christians, there is divine relief! We don’t have to bear life’s burdens on our own frail...

  Freely and Frequently Praise and Thank God ( October 3, 2023) “Bless the  Lord , O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!   Bless the  Lord , O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…” (Psalm 103:1-2). God is most gracious to those who entrust their concerns to His tender care and seek to walk by faith in close harmony with Him, welcoming His lordship over their lives. I know this is true because I have experienced His faithfulness personally. Like most people in today’s fast-paced culture and hurry-up society, I tend to become so busy and caught up in the activities and responsibilities of daily living that I sometimes neglect to attend to those pursuits that I know will enhance my relationship with my L ORD such as regular Bible reading and study, prayer and meditation, and communion and fellowship with God. Many of us are so incredibly blessed that we tend to take our blessings for granted or forget the source of these ...

  God Gives Life Meaning ( October 2, 2023) “To everything  there is  a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) “What gives life meaning?” That question is often asked as we search for fulfillment in this earthly existence.  Our answer reflects what we consider to be most important and determines our life’s pursuits. Our response not only sets the course of our lives in this world but will determine our eternal destiny, either heaven or hell. As we ponder this crucial question, let’s consider the life of Solomon, one of Israel’s greatest kings, whose perspective on life’s meaning changed dramatically during his reign. Solomon began his rule as a man of faith who depended on God, asking for divine wisdom to guide his people rather than worldly riches. God was so pleased with his request that He gave Solomon both matchless wisdom and wealth.  However, his priorities gradually shifted, resulting in his being led into idolatry...

  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. ...