A Helping Hand | March 27th

 “I will take you by the hand and keep you...”

   Isaiah 42:6

  Beloved, at some point in our lives, we all have been the recipients of a gracious hand extended. When we were learning to walk, our parents or loved ones held our hands to steady us and encouraged us to keep going.

  Those same hands picked us up, held us close, and comforted us when we were hurt. Later in life, friends or teammates helped us up or stood by us during tough times.

  Even the smallest gesture of another person holding the door for us should cause us to think of how much God’s hand has been in our lives.

  When we were lost in sin and trapped by the world, Christ the Redeemer opened our prison door, took us by the hand, and led us into His light. Since then, Christ has never let go of you. He still holds your hand today. We have stumbled, been hurt, suffered loss, and felt alone, but through everything, God has always held on to you.

  As you start your day, remember that you are not alone. You will not face anything by yourself or overcome challenges on your own. If you humble yourself, the Lord will take your hand. Ask for His help, and He will keep you.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Grace in Weakness | March 26th

 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

   2 Corinthians 12:9

   Beloved, is the grace of God sufficient when you have no faith? Is it sufficient when your will to continue on has collapsed? Is the grace of God sufficient when alignment or trauma has caused your mind and body to succumb to weakness?

  The answer is an affirmative yes. It is not your faith that keeps you saved, dear one. It is not your love for God that causes Him to love you. It is not your spiritual strength that keeps you in the narrow path or causes you to finish well.

  By grace alone, you have been saved and remain saved. We often look to ourselves for assurance that we are in God’s love and goodwill, forgetting that grace reconciled us to God and that in Christ we cannot be separated from his love. You did not love God first; He first loved you, and while you were dead in sin, Christ died for you.

  There is no firmer footing for us than the cornerstone, Jesus. The grace of God is sufficient for our most feared times of weakness. When our spirits are unstable and all seems hopeless, grace is still greater and sure. There will never be a moment when your spirit and faith are so weak that grace does not remain the same. Never doubt God’s love and His hold on you. You are not holding on to Him; He is holding you by grace alone.

Grateful Service | March 25th

“Now Simon’s  mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.”

   Mark 1:30-31

  Jesus had finished teaching in the synagogue and had delivered the man possessed by an unclean spirit. He came to Simon’s house probably with the intention of being refreshed and for fellowship. But they immediately told Jesus about the mother-in-law’s condition.

  Jesus approached her and lifted her from her bed of affliction, and the fever left immediately. Beloved, consider the compassion of our Lord, who took time to care for this woman. He not only healed her but also relieved the family’s distress. It is good for us to entrust our loved ones to the Lord, confident that He can lift them up.

    Notice her response to her healing. She did not continue to relax after receiving a miracle from Jesus; she immediately began serving others. When the Lord lifts us from sin into everlasting life and blesses us abundantly, our response should mirror that of Simon’s mother-in-law. We ought to serve others promptly, drawing upon the love, joy, and strength God has given us. If you have been touched by God, extend that blessing by serving others.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight