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

Acts of Kindness | March 24th

 “...if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done...”

    Acts 4:8

  Beloved, if we were examined, would we be found guilty of kindness? Take a moment to reflect on those for whom you have deep affection, individuals from your past who brought joy to days gone by.

  Kindness is a common trait among those we remember fondly. We often recall both those who have troubled us and those who have shown us kindness. The kind individuals are remembered with joy, and we often wish they were still with us. If we are blessed to have such a person in our lives now, we look forward to seeing them again. We make plans to be together and are disappointed when it is time to depart.

  A kind person refreshes us and is deeply missed in their absence. We do not avoid those who are kind; instead, we seek opportunities for fellowship with them. Let it be said of us that we are kind and remembered for embodying the kindness of God. This fruit of the Holy Spirit is essential in our lives. May He empower our words, actions, and emotions with kindness, so that Christ is exalted and others are drawn to Him. Let us pray that the Lord enables us to show kindness to everyone we encounter.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight