No Night to Dark | Jan. 30th

 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

   Psalm 22:4

  Beloved, there is an ever-present darkness within this fallen world. There are moments when evil seems more invasive than others or when the shroud of despair is too heavy to bear, but in such times God is always a present help in the time of need.

  In creation, God provided two great lights to rule the day and the night. There is not a night without the light of heaven. No darkness so deep that light is not present or cannot be seen. The dawn overcomes the darkness every morning as a reminder of God’s continued grace and the mercies that renew each day.

  Because God is with us, we will fear no evil. He is the God of all comfort and has promised not only to comfort us, but also, in Christ, to give us a peace that guards our hearts and minds. He is taking us from glory to glory in Christ while making us more than conquerors in Christ. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, we cannot be separated from His love, and this to the Lord is working for the good of our salvation.

  Take heart, dear one, you are not alone, and the night cannot hide you from God; He is holding you with His mighty hand.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

A Memorial Forever | Jan. 29th

  “When your children ask in time to come, ’What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever?”

   Joshua 4:6-7

   In our garden, there is a stone bench. This rustic granite piece, weathered by years of exposure, beautifully depicts New England character. For me, it is more than just a resting place. The bench belonged to my Grandfather. For as long as I can remember, it stood in his front yard. Later, it moved to my parents' yard, and when they relocated, it was taken from Ma. to Ct. Now, in our garden, this bench reminds me of the godly heritage my family has been blessed with.

  My Grandfather was rugged in character and faith, much like the granite bench. While we do not need physical objects to demonstrate our faith as the Israelites did, the significance of what we pass down remains. Our living faith should leave something tangible for future generations. Our children and their children should wonder, "What caused their faith? Why was this person so kind, and why did they love God so deeply?"

  In this way, our godly character can speak for generations as each one puts their faith in God. Prayers, shared Bible verses, and words of encouragement become lasting pillars of God’s faithfulness. Family heirlooms can be lost, but God’s word endures forever and does not return void. Whatever you do in the Lord’s name is not in vain, including what you do for your family.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Jesus is Lord | Jan. 28th

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

   Philippians 2:9-11

   Beloved, we often tell people to make Jesus the Lord of their lives, urging more commitment. Yet, the truth is that Jesus is already Lord of all. Our urging cannot add to His Lordship; He reigns regardless of our response.

  Our faith does not make Him more or less Lord. Jesus is Lord, reigning over all things, regardless of our belief. Trusting Christ acknowledges His Lordship but does not change it; He is highly exalted.

  Faith enables us to recognize and trust in the reality of who Christ is, Lord. Through faith, we humbly submit ourselves and bow our knees in dependence on Him. We do not elevate Christ or crown Him by believing; rather, faith is our means to accept and rest in His Lordship, which exists regardless of our response. When we try to make Jesus Lord of our lives through our actions, we end up questioning whether we have surrendered enough or are we doing enough, shifting the focus from who Jesus is and what He has done to our efforts. True peace is found in acknowledging His Lordship by faith, not in what we achieve.

   Faith simply acknowledges who Christ is and trusts in Him. Because He is Lord, faith rests in the assurance that He alone is able to save and keep us, no matter how weak our faith may be. Faith does not establish His Lordship but enables us to rely on it.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight