James tells us that God has a goal in mind when it comes to all the difficulties we face on this earth. And we face many of them, don’t we?
Trials are meaningless, suffering is senseless, and testing just doesn’t make any sense, unless there is some good purpose for them. Well, God says there is a reason for them and it is a good reason, they are producing in us patience.
Trials are going to come often and after many trials, the attitude of our hearts will have learned that God is truly in control.
We go back to everyone’s favorite verse, or at least one of the top five verses, Romans 8:28, where Paul writes, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
So when those tough trials come, our attitude ought to be that God has allowed this for a reason. And we can know that He is working something good in our lives.
Walking in His grace,
Rich Kikuchi
I have had the privilege of speaking to various people about my faith. Some were unbelievers, others were religious people, some just needed help in understanding God’s word better. With each person, I had to speak to them in a way that they understood. One Bible commentator translates this verse: “Let your speech always be with gracious charm, seasoned with the salt of wit, so that you will know the right answer to give in every case.”
But the point Paul was making here is we must be able to have a pleasant and wise conversation so that we may be able to speak accordingly to each person according to their needs. We need to be relevant to today’s time but not compromise what God’s word says. Peter, in 1 Peter 3:15, says to always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. Paul, in 2 Timothy 4:2, says to preach the word! And to be ready in season and out of season.
It is important to know what God’s word says so that you can be ready to give the right answer to anyone that might come your way.
Joshua Navarro
In the middle of this religious celebration, the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus made His way to the Temple and boldly taught the people there. As the Jewish leaders listened to Him, they marveled at Jesus’ words saying, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?” Jesus had never been to seminary, He had never sat under any Rabbi, He had no letters of degree. Yet He taught the scriptures with such authority that they couldn’t believe their ears.
In Acts chapter 4, when Peter and John were brought before the rulers, the elders, the scribes, and the High Priest to answer for their healing of a lame man, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke from the Old Testament scriptures pointing to Jesus as the Messiah. Verse 13 says that, “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
Do you want to make people marvel? Just spend time with Jesus, fill your heart with His word, and live it out for Him and be a living epistle. And people will marvel as they “see” the Gospel you share.
Pastor Doug Hardin
Proverbs 24:16
In today’s culture, when things get difficult, people give up and move onto what they hope will be easier. This is why people bounce from job to job or place to place. This is why people will give up on a friend or family member rather than reconcile the relationship. A life that lacks perseverance is not much of a life at all.
The saddest thing is that people will take this same approach to God and quit before they ever really gave the relationship a chance. Solomon warns us of the need for perseverance. He tells us that the righteous may fall, but they will always rise again. Christ has created us to be warriors, we are meant to fight not flee. When life inevitably knocks us down, we get back up through the power of Jesus and continue on. While there are times to move on, it should never be our first response. May we be people of perseverance.
For the King,
Pastor Daniel Batistelli
Ephesians 3:17b-19
In a world where the term love is tossed about like it’s nothing, we know the importance of this word. Not only do we know the importance of this word, we know the true definition. Paul says that if you have all the gifts of the Spirit but lack love it really doesn’t matter. Jesus tells us that we are to love God with everything and to love our neighbor as yourself.
Being grounded in a biblical love that is of the Lord and not of our self will help us be filled with all the Lord has to offer and be in the will of the Father.
Resting in Him,
Pastor Sean Boehm
John 15:9
Who wouldn’t want to hang out or even live in a place where you are constantly cared for and pampered, watched over and protected, corrected, if need be, to keep you on a safe path, and promised this can last forever. That’s what Jesus’ love for us looks like. And all we have to do is stay in that place; abide in His love. Paul promises us in Romans 8:38-39 that nothing can separate us from His love. It’s even more amazing that this love is the same love that is shared between our heavenly Father and His wonderful Son, the most perfect relationship that ever existed; and we get to be a part of it.
So bask in His love today. Stay in that place. Let Him take care of you and love on you and when He instructs you, lovingly obey.
In all His love,
Pastor Gerard Deleeuw
Psalm 100:5
What a wonderful verse! It gives so many great attributes of the Lord in just a few words. It starts with an essential truth – the Lord is good. Every action He takes, every word He says, is for our good because He is good. So much misunderstanding of God happens because people don’t realize God’s goodness.
Next, His mercy is everlasting. How reassuring is that! God will forgive our sins and then forgive them again and again. His mercy didn’t stop yesterday and it won’t stop today. God’s mercy, which means we don’t get what we deserve, will last forever.
Finally, His truth will endure for eternity. This means God’s not going to all of sudden change His mind. In some religions, their god isn’t consistent, so they can have no hope because they don’t know what to expect. That’s not the God of the Bible, who is truthful and reliable. The Lord isn’t changing His mind!
Meditate on this verse today and let these fantastic attributes of God touch your heart.
Relying on my good, merciful, and honest God,
Pastor Ron Kitchell
The natural outgrowth of being saved will be a heart for evangelism, telling others of the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. In the above verses, Paul quotes from Isaiah 52 where Isaiah was rejoicing in the news brought by others that the Babylonian captivity was over.
Today the church can go forward declaring man’s bondage to his flesh, to sin, and death can be broken simply by turning in faith to Jesus Christ. How beautiful are the feet of those delivering those good tidings! How do your feet look to Jesus today? Beautiful or stuck in the mud. C’mon church, talk to someone about Jesus and His sacrifice for us!
Wanting beautiful feet! (Nahum 1:15)
Pastor Jack Abeelen
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
I once heard a recording of Billy Graham speaking to a group of about 100 very affluent men and women at a dinner party. These were some of the smartest, wealthiest, and most successful people in America. Yet Billy Graham spoke to them like they were children: lovingly, tenderly, and simply.
Many people may have doubted there would be much of a response that night from such a dignified crowd. But about half of those men and women came to Christ with a simple presentation of the Gospel. It wasn’t clever words; it was the truth and the power of God that provoked a response.
One excuse I constantly hear for not sharing the Gospel is that people don’t know what to say. They don’t think they have just the right words or can explain everything perfectly. But the truth is that clever speech shouldn’t be what attracts people; the simple Gospel should.
Don’t let your uncertainty turn you away from sharing God’s truth. Tell others that Jesus died for their sins so that they can be saved through faith. That’s all it takes. And when you do, people will be attracted to that truth and will come to know Christ through your message!
Pastor William Del Casale
2 Corinthians 5:18
This passage begins with the conjunction “Now” and it serves as a marker in time that indicates a major event in our lives, the event being becoming a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), the moment when we were born again. “Now” our perspective on life changes and “all things are of God.” “Now” we are to see things from a spiritual perspective (2 Corinthians 5:7, 16). “Now” we have been given a ministry of reconciliation. The ministry of reconciliation is not something we do but something that God has accomplished. It is not telling people to make peace with God, but telling them that God has made peace with the world through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19).
When the angels in Luke 2 announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds in the field they said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Notice the direction that the peace flows: from God toward men. The work of reconciliation is God’s and God’s alone, and was accomplished by His work through Christ. Our ministry is now to share the good news of this reconciliation and that our sin is not counted against us. Who better to share the ministry of reconciliation than those who themselves have been reconciled through Christ! “>
Jeff Mericle
