Washed Cleaned | Jan. 27th

 “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”

   Isaiah 64:5

   With the recent cold weather and the festivity of a family gathering, there was a fire in the hearth. As I reflect on this, I notice what remains in the fireplace: ash and black char, waiting to be swept up and discarded. In much the same way, we treat all dirt, dust, and filth. Throwing out soiled food and stained garments without hesitation. We discard all that is pungent, broken, and deteriorating.

  In contrast to how we cast away what is soiled, beloved, let us be grateful that the broom of God’s wrath has not swept us away. He has not disposed of us because of our sinful decay and brokenness. Rather, God, through mercy, has not given us what we deserve, wrath, but by grace has given us what we do not deserve, salvation.

  This grace changes everything. If we are in Christ today, we are a brand-new creation, reconciled with God and filled with the Holy Spirit. We are grafted into the vine, Christ, where we live in Him and have a hope for today.

  As you clean your face this morning, tidy up the kitchen, or wash your clothes, let these acts serve as reminders to reflect on the condition of your heart. Thank the Lord that He has taken your heart of stone and made it flesh. Request the Holy Spirit to continue to renew your heart and keep you close to the Father. The stains and guilt of sin are gone in Jesus.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Manna | Jan. 26th

  “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

   Matthew 4:4

   I am grateful to the Lord for raising me in a godly home. I am thankful for parents who served the Lord and for both of my grandparents, who also serve Him. I remember my Granddad would read a devotional called "Our Daily Bread." He not only read it, but he also provided one for each of his siblings every year. He would give them to people he had witnessed to.

    A daily devotional has a way of reminding us of God’s daily plan and provision for our lives. Seeing the date on the devotional and realizing the year is laid out before you brings encouragement. Each day is ordained by God, giving us another opportunity to live for Him and to receive from His hand. New experiences, lessons, and blessings fill our days. Though trials may come and even carry into the night, the dawn brings renewed hope and fresh strength from the Lord.

   Beloved, let us not replace our time in God’s word with a written devotional, but may we use devotionals as a supplement to our study of Scripture. Devotionals can inspire us to learn more about the Lord and encourage us to trust Him, yet our primary nourishment comes from His Word. Just as we cannot live without daily bread physically, we also cannot live without the Bread of Heaven, Christ. Let us receive Him, who was broken for us, and live daily in Christ.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Jesus Leads the Way | Jan. 25th

  “He leads me.....

   Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

   Psalm 23:2, 6

    Many years ago, my childhood friend and I went hunting in Montana. Don and Dora were an extended part of the family, and we stayed with them. Don, a lumberjack and skilled hunter, took us out for a couple of days in Big Sky country. He guided us through terrain we did not know, accounting for altitude and changing weather. Those days with Don, who is now with the Lord, have stayed with me, leaving lasting memories and lessons that continue to shape my understanding of guidance and trust.

   Reflecting on this experience, I am reminded to ask: Beloved, is the Lord your Shepherd? Have you entrusted yourself to Him, and are you following Jesus by faith? Just as Don guided us in the mountains, the Lord guides us in life, there is not a step in your life’s path that the Lord has not known and already traveled ahead of you. No pain or joy that He does not know the full scope of. Don pointed out things along the way and taught us to track in unfamiliar terrain, much like how the Lord offers His guidance. Don even provided a roaring fire with an old tree stump in 20 inches of snow, a welcome sight on a cold day in the woods, reminding me that God’s provision can come in unexpected ways.

  In much the same way, as Don led us up mountain paths and kept us safe, the Lord desires to be your Shepherd, guiding you through life. He will teach you in the paths of righteousness, protecting you while supplying all your needs. Over time, you will come to understand that His mercies are made new each morning with the dawn of a new day. He does make all things work for your good. That is the only true comfort in life and death, knowing that you belong to Christ.

  The goodness and mercies of God not only surround us but, like the warm fire Don made in the snow, endure in the memories of His unwavering faithfulness. These memories, like fires in the cold, sustain us through life’s trials. Resolve to follow Christ, confident that His presence leads you forward and His promises never fail.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight