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“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 This week’s writing focuses on young people. We sometimes forget that God has work for children and youth to do too. We tend to think that only seasoned adult Christians can be leaders or set good examples. But in Paul’s letter to Timothy, his young protege’, we see that the opposite can be true. Timothy was sent to Ephesus to continue the work of spreading the gospel. Timothy was probably a teenager at the time and was given the responsibility of instructing believers in how they should live. He likely met with some resistance from some that thought him…

“You are the light of the world. … let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14, 16 Today is the first Sunday in Advent; the season leading up to Christmas Day when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Advent is a time of renewal and preparation; a time to emphasize and remember the true meaning of Christmas. As the first Advent candle was lit today in our church service, we were reminded that Jesus is the light of the world and His birth brought light (hope, salvation) into the world.  In Matthew 5 Jesus says that we, His children, are the light of the world. As Christ’s followers we  have received the light that He brought, and…

“…where sin increased, grace increased all the more…, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20 Happy Thanksgiving! We will hear this phrase a lot over the next few days. Our wishes to our friends and family are heartfelt and genuine and show our love for others. There will be a lot of gatherings with family and friends, a lot of good food to enjoy, and a lot of celebrating the joys of being together. Some family traditions may take a few minutes to share with others things for which they are grateful. The list may include life and health, family or even material possessions. Rightfully so, we should give God thanks for all the ways that we are blessed.…

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29 How grateful we all should be for  God’s care for us and His help from day by day. These words from Isaiah remind us  of that very thing.  We all have times when we feel inadequate and weak. We become tired and weary. We may feel discouraged when the devil whispers to us that we are not smart enough, not talented enough, or not worthy enough. We may feel as though we’re not accomplishing anything for our Savior! But chapter 40 of the book of Isaiah reassures us that the opposite is true. First of all, God reminds us in verse 28 that He NEVER grows tired or weary. He ALWAYS has our back (so…

“For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as a shield.” Psalm 5:12 How wonderful it must be to be in God’s favor! To be showered with undeserved blessings; to be protected by an Almighty God; to be loved unconditionally. It is almost too much for our human minds to understand. Does God really care that much for us? How can we be sure?  Are we even worthy of such blessings? No, we are not worthy on our own merit to receive anything from God. But as David reminds us in this verse, God blesses the righteous. Who are these righteous ones? Simply stated the righteous are those in “right standing” with God. The righteous are those that have accepted salvation, confessed Jesus as…

“Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come…” Ecclesiastes 12:1 Today’s young people are faced with many, many challenges. We know that evil runs rampant in the world. It even seems as though youth and children are being targeted by the devil and his dark forces. Abortion rates are high, suicide victims seem to be younger than ever, and deadly drugs are made to look like candy in order to attract children. It is not uncommon to hear of a child being kidnapped or killed by a stray bullet or worse, caught in the middle of an adult altercation. This verse of scripture from Ecclesiastes reminds us of the importance of teaching our children, grandchildren, neighbors, students and friends about God’s love for…

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 These words come at the end of a very familiar chapter in the Bible sometimes referred to as the love chapter.  Portions of 1 Corinthians 13 have been spoken at weddings, put to music in lyrics of songs and repeated as poetry. This chapter tells us the characteristics of love  in verses 4-8a.  A quick study of chapter 13 will show that it is a continuation of chapter 12. Here, Paul names parts of the body of Christ, such as apostles, prophets, teachers, etc.  While all  are important in the  ministry of Christ and not to be ignored, some may think one job is more important than another, but as Paul…

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1b What a comfort these words from Isaiah must have been for God’s chosen people, the Israelites!  It reassured them that they were His special people. These words encouraged and ensured protection from the Lord Himself.  As we take a closer look and think more deeply about this passage from Isaiah, we realize that we too can receive this blessing and promise. As Christians we have been  redeemed through Christ. We are God’s people too!  What comfort is found in verses 2 and 3! God promises to be with us through all kinds of trials. Verse 5 tells us there is no need to fear, because God will always go with us. Notice…

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” Hebrews 10:25 Why is church attendance important? Many churches have services live-streamed and can be viewed over the internet. Sermons, devotions, and other religious programs can be seen on television or heard on the radio. There are countless Christian books that can be read that contain great devotions, and of course we can read the Bible anytime . So why is it important to attend a church service? It is not to achieve an enormous number in attendance, although it is a blessing to see big, thriving churches. It is not to make the pastor look good or give any prestige to the members. The answer is found in…

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” Psalm 145:3 A well known children’s prayer begins with “God is great and God is good…” These are simple words, but oh the weight and truth they carry!  God is great!  He created the world out of nothing. The sun, moon and stars, His handiwork, declare His glory (Psalm 19:1)  He created man from mere dust and gave him life by breathing holy breath into him. Only the great God could have performed such wonders. His greatness is evident today too. He continues to give life to His creations, by waking us each new day. He provides for us beyond anything we can imagine and He protects us from the evils of this world. Only…