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

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