You are Surrounded | Nov. 14th

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.”

  Psalm 34:7

  Beloved, scripture reminds us that there is far more within creation than what we can see or fully comprehend. Sometimes, we may overlook or overemphasize the angelic realm. We pass through the day without realizing what is going on around us in a spiritual sense. The Lord is constantly watching over us, and perhaps He has sent His angels to keep you during a troubling time. The Bible teaches us not to worship, seek, or pray to angels; rather, we place our trust in the sovereignty of God over all of His creation, both seen and unseen.

  Scripture also informs us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers of wickedness. We are told to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might because of this battle. The Bible tells us to walk in the confidence of knowing that God is for us if we are in Christ. That the Holy Spirit within is greater than the spirit of the age, and that which we do not see is also in the hands of God. Therefore, we are safe in God’s care.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

For the Glory of God | Nov. 13th

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

   1 Corinthians 10:31

  Beloved, would you consider your life as one that glorifies God? Is God glorified in your life daily? Reflecting on these questions, we see that this verse should inspire us to do so, while also providing a clearer understanding of what it means to glorify God on a daily basis. We struggle with this because we often think that we can only bring glory to God through some form of religious activity, or that it is reserved for those who serve during a worship service.

  As we consider glorifying God, it's essential to remember that our lives are not divided into categories of religious acts and everyday responsibilities. Although we may express unique acts of worship on Sunday, this verse shows us that we also glorify God in our everyday activities.

   With this in mind, consider that eating and drinking are among the most frequent and common activities. Because of this, we should see that we can glorify the Lord daily in the simplest of ways. It is ultimately the motive of our hearts that enables us to bring honor to the Lord—the belief that the chief and exalted end of our life is to live for Him. That we want to please Him in all that we do and be a blessing to others.

  We can bless others by praying for them, encouraging them with words of affirmation, or holding the door open for them. We do all and treat all as unto the Lord. You can bring glory to God today, and hopefully, you are doing more so than you first realized.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Peaceful and Content

 “Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.”

   1 Timothy 6:6-7

   Beloved, are you at peace? True contentment comes from setting our hearts on Christ. The apostle reminds us we arrive in this world with nothing and leave just as empty-handed, urging us to focus on the lasting satisfaction found in Christ.

   If we are trusting that the Lord supplies our needs and that He is providentially working in our lives, then we can learn to be content. When we recognize the temporal nature of the things of this life, we begin to value the eternal things and find peace in our hearts.

   Everyone can appreciate beautiful things, but not all of these things are necessary. I have often heard that life is short, so why drive a boring car? However, at the same time, they depreciate immediately and often break down. Enjoy one, but do not find your identity in a car. It is the understanding that we cannot depart this world with anything that helps us to lose hold of this world. We do not have to abstain just for the sake of sacrifice, but let us not be consumed in such a way that peace, contentment, and joy in the Lord are absent because we feel we do not have what we want or what we think would make us truly happy.

  Let us set our hearts upon the Lord and be content with Him and all that comes from His good hand.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight