Help is On The Way | July 14th

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

  Psalm 46:1

  Recently, while waiting in the grocery store checkout line, I overheard the familiar announcement from the nearby self-checkout: “Help is on the way.” I thought how reassuring it would be to have such a prompt at home. Whenever a problem arises, it would be comforting if a voice could declare, “Help is on the way!”

  In truth, we do have such help—someone far greater than any human assistant. Our heavenly Father is both able and willing to help us. Yet, we do not always live with this conviction or hope. God is aware of all your needs, beloved. He knows what concerns you today and is already at work on your behalf. I have seen people in the self-checkout line looking around in frustration, waiting for help that has been promised. Sometimes, they leave their items and walk away before help arrives.

  Do not lose heart as you wait. The Lord will help you; scripture assures us that God will help and has saved us through Christ. Place your trust in Him today, for the Lord is with you and is actively helping you.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Lover Over Deeds | July 13th

  “If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

  1 Corinthians 13:2

  Beloved, it is common to equate ministry activities with godliness. However, without genuine love, we do not exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

  It can be easier to be busy for the Lord than to be like Him in loving others. Busy hands and much speech are not always done in love or reflect Christ-like love. So the Lord needs to help us prefer others to ourselves, to be patient and kind even when it costs us the most. How are we loving those closest to us? Do we speak kindly to them? Are we patient and quick to forgive if offended?

  Loving others as Christ does exceeds our natural ability. The love we are called to express is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit can fill our hearts with God’s love and empower us to live accordingly. This love demonstrates neither partiality nor manipulation, nor does it harbor pride or keep a record of wrongs. Pray that the Lord fills you with His love, so that you might be known for the love of God in your life.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Freed | July 10th

  “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have  redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

   Colossians 1:13-14

  Beloved, let us reflect on the profound despair and the gravity of our condition prior to Christ’s redemption. The joy of our salvation is rooted in the recognition that we were once captives in the domain of darkness, yet Christ came to liberate those held captive.

  We must acknowledge the extent of our sinfulness. Self-righteousness can mislead us into believing we were not among the worst of sinners; however, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Apart from Christ, we were without hope and estranged from God, counted as His enemies, held captive by His adversary, and deserving of His wrath. Yet Christ died for us.

  Christ redeemed His people through His sacrifice, granting forgiveness of sins. We have been delivered from the prison of darkness and now hold citizenship in the Kingdom of God. In Christ, we possess eternal life and belong to the Heavenly Father. We are no longer slaves to sin and death. This is the joy of our salvation; let us rejoice in it today as we delight in the goodness and mercy of God.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight