.....witness

Jesus’ final commission still echoes with urgency today: “You are the light of the world Matthew 5:14. Christ’s witnesses are not defined merely by what they say, but by how faithfully they reveal Him in a world that is constantly watching.

In a digital age filled with anger, fear, and division, authentic Christian witness is more powerful than ever. Peter reminds us, “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” 1 Peter 3:15. Hope becomes visible when it is lived consistently under pressure.

A  young Christian business owner navigating today’s competitive marketplace where supply chains failed and profits declined, refused to compromise integrity by exploiting customers or cutting ethical corners. He paid employees fairly even when it cost him personally. Over time, clients began asking why he operated differently from others. His answer was simple: “My faith in Christ guides every decision I make.” His business became a platform for witness, not through advertising religion, but through reflecting Christ’s principles.

“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good.” The Ministry of Healing, p. 143

Witnessing today requires more than words; it demands Christlike consistency. In a world suspicious of religion, genuine character disarms skepticism. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” John 13:35.

We are not left to represent Christ in our own strength. The promise of Acts 1:8 assures us that the Holy Spirit empowers every believer. “The life of Christ in the soul is a vital, energizing power.” Steps to Christ, p. 77

Whether in business, online spaces, homes, or communities, every believer is called to bear witness. When Christ lives within us, our lives become living sermons—silent, yet powerful.

....glory

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory 2 Corinthians 3:18

From the beginning, God created humanity with purpose—not merely to exist, but to reflect His glory. Though sin marred that image, redemption restores it. In Christ, we are not only forgiven; we are being recreated *for glory*, shaped daily to reflect His character more clearly.

A stained-glass window is a fitting illustration here. From the outside, it looks dull and dark. But when light shines through it, the colors come alive in breathtaking beauty. The glass does not produce the light—it simply allows it to pass through. In the same way, our lives may seem ordinary or even broken, but when Christ’s light shines through us, God’s glory is revealed.

The Bible reminds us, “For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” 2 Corinthians 4:6. Transformation happens not by striving, but by beholding—by spending time with Christ and allowing His Spirit to work within us.

“By beholding Christ, we become changed.” The Great Controversy, p. 555

The change is progressive—*from glory to glory*. Each victory over self, each act of love, each moment of trust reflects more of Jesus. God is not waiting for us to be perfect before He uses us; He works through us as He transforms us.

We were created to glorify God—not only in heaven someday, but here and now. When we surrender daily, our lives become living testimonies that point others to Him.

 

.....gain

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain Philippians 1:21

Paul’s words  are both profound and challenging. They reveal a life so fully surrendered to Christ that every breath has purpose, and even death holds no fear. To Paul, life was not about personal comfort, ambition, or survival—it was about Christ living through him.

Consider the story of a Christian nurse who worked long hours in a crowded hospital. Her job was demanding, the pay modest, and recognition rare. Yet she treated every patient with compassion, prayed silently as she worked, and spoke hope when fear filled the room. When asked why she remained so joyful under pressure, she simply said, “Jesus gave His life for me. Serving others is how I live for Him.” Her life reflected Paul’s testimony: Christ was not just part of her life—He was her life.

To live is Christ means that Jesus shapes our decisions, attitudes, and priorities. Our work becomes ministry. Our trials become testimonies. Our relationships become opportunities to reflect His character. And when Christ is truly our life, death is not a loss but a gain—because it brings us face to face at resurrection with the One we have loved and served.

“When Christ dwells in the heart, the soul will be so filled with His love, with the joy of communion with Him, that it will cleave to Him.”  Steps to Christ, page 77

We are called us to examine our own lives. Is Christ the center of our living, or merely a part of it? When we fully surrender, we discover that a life hidden in Christ is the only life that truly satisfies and the only one that truly matters..

.....pilgrim

Many people struggle with uncertainty about the future. Plans feel fragile, outcomes unclear, and anxiety often fills the heart. Scripture reminds us, that this restlessness comes from trying to control what God never intended us to manage alone. *“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things”* Matthew 6:34.. The Christian life is not meant to be a carefully engineered roadmap but a journey of trust.

The Bible describes God’s children as **pilgrims and strangers** on the earth 1 Peter 2:11. Pilgrims travel with purpose but without permanent attachment to the road. Abraham lived this way, *“looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God”* Hebrews 11:10. His security was not in knowing every step ahead, but in knowing the One who led him.

We often assume peace will come once our future is clear. Yet Scripture teaches the opposite: peace comes when we surrender the future to God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5. God does not promise to reveal every detail, but He does promise His presence in every step.

“We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us.” Life Sketches, p. 196

God’s guidance is usually progressive, not predictive. He gives light enough for today, strength enough for the present duty, and grace enough for the moment. When we accept that our lives are in His hands, anxiety gives way to confidence—not in circumstances, but in God Himself.

The settled life is not one with all the answers, but one anchored in trust. As pilgrims, we walk forward not by sight, but by faith, knowing that the One who leads us also prepares the way.

.....alive

Leonard Ravenhill once said, “Jesus did not come into the world to make bad men good. He came into the world to make dead men live,” this captures the heart of the gospel. The problem we face is not merely bad behavior but spiritual death. Scripture is clear: *“You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins”* Ephesians 2:1, sin does more than stain us—it kills us spiritually, separating us from God, the source of life.

Jesus did not come simply to reform our habits or polish our morality. He came to resurrect the soul. When Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life” John 11:25, He was speaking not only of the future resurrection but of present spiritual reality. Through Christ, those who were dead to God can live again—alive to righteousness, alive to love, alive to hope.

This new life is not achieved by human effort. We are reminded, “By grace you have been saved through faith… not of works, lest anyone should boast” Ephesians 2:8–9. Moral improvement without regeneration still leaves a person spiritually dead. Only the life of Christ within us can produce true transformation.

“The change in the human heart… can be brought about only by the working of the Holy Spirit.” Steps to Christ  p. 18

The Christian life, is not about trying harder but about living surrendered—daily allowing Christ’s life to flow through us. When we truly understand this, gratitude replaces pride, humility replaces self-reliance, and obedience flows naturally from love.

Jesus came to make the dead live. The question for each of us in this New Year is simple yet profound: *Are we merely trying to be good, or are we truly alive in Christ?*

May we walk in the light of His truth!

.....unopened

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord  Romans 6:23

The gift of God. Why do so many people miss His gift? One reason might be the rather ordinary wrapping; "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him" Isaiah 53:2. And you can't get less majestic than the way He was born; "He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" Philippians 2:7. Such a great gift in such common wrapping could easily be missed. But perhaps there is something else, something in the very makeup of our nature which keeps us from opening His gift.

A prince does not have a problem accepting a gift meant for a prince. And a common person does not have a problem accepting a gift which is common. But a common person can be quite uncomfortable accepting a gift meant for a prince. We know what’s inside the gift - eternal life! 

A gift meant for a prince. And deep down we know we are so very common, so unworthy! This gift is too great, too much above what we feel we deserve. This gift makes us feel uncomfortable: "If we accept the gift, will we then feel a debt? How could we ever repay such a debt? Maybe it's best to ignore it and just leave it wrapped under the tree."

I suppose we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves. This is a natural reaction to such a gift. Ever since the gift was first made available, people have felt unworthy and refused to open or even give it much notice. They would rather try to somehow work and feel deserving; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" Ephesians 2:8-9. The gift cannot be earned, and working does not make us more deserving.

Jesus Christ came in ordinary wrapping. He died for the forgiveness of our sin. Why? So we could be given the greatest gift of all, the gift of eternal life! Let's not let another day go by without receiving His gift. Sure we might feel uncomfortable. Sure we might feel a debt we can never repay. But His gift is given in love and is worth it all. Let's honestly examine what is keeping us away. Let's humbly recognize our need; and in the quiet of our heart, let's be sure to receive the last unopened gift.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....remembrance

Why is December 25th so special? What really is this day we call Christmas?

The early church did not give much thought to the birth of Jesus. Of the four Gospels, only Matthew and Luke even mention His birth, and these accounts are relatively brief. Certainly, the emphasis of the Gospels was on Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection. And after Jesus ascended to Heaven, the focus of the church was on living for Him, sending out His message, and waiting for His return.

No one is really sure when Jesus was born. The first recorded celebration didn't occur until 200 years after His birth, and it wasn't until the year 330 that the birth of Christ was assigned to December 25th. Some say Jesus was actually born in September or October and others are sure He was born in March or April; in fact, a case has been made for His birth in each of the twelve months! But it’s generally agreed that, due to the relatively colder weather, December was an unlikely time for the birth of our Savior, as it is recorded in the Bible. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us John 1:1,14

The very Word of God became flesh!  came to live among us, beginning life as a little baby. He "made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant" Philippians 2:7. Representing a whole lot of love!

Christmas is a day to remember the most profound event in the history of the world. On that first Christmas, God came to earth to live among us! He was born into the most humble circumstances, grew and taught us His truths, died on a cross for our sin, and was raised, all so we might live with Him for eternity.

December 25th is a day to celebrate with quiet reflection, also a day to celebrate with great rejoicing.. The world has tried to remove Christ and insert many activities into this season which do not glorify God, but this need not hinder our worship. We have the ability to turn away the evil and embrace that which is honoring and good.

We should glorify God and celebrate the gift of our Savior every day throughout the year. 

.....He

In the book of Job, we read of a man who came under severe attack by Satan. Within a short amount of time, Job went from a man of wealth, health, and large family, to a man who lost all his possessions, was near death, and childless.

Job demonstrated a deep commitment to God's sovereignty; "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:20-21). Then, when his wife told him to curse God and die, Job responded with, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10.

Job seemed to have a deep understanding of what we often quote in times of trial; "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28. But at the same time, Job struggled with understanding why God would allow these things to happen. 

If only I knew where to find Him; if only I could go to His dwelling! I would state my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what He would answer me, and consider what He would say Job 23:3-5

Our trials often cause similar concerns. We find ourselves asking where God has gone and why He is allowing such hardship. Even though we may believe God is "working all things for our good," we often search in vain to find something positive in our situation. And when we fail to see any possible good, we become frustrated and assume God has forgotten us, abandoned us in our time of need.

God responded to Job's cry for answers: 

Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 

Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Job 38:4-5 

Who has a claim against Me that I must repay? Everything under heaven belongs to Me Job 41:11. 

The Creator of the Universe - the One who formed every intricate detail of what we see and cannot see - the One who lifted us out of the slimy pit and set our feet on solid ground, spoke to Job and simply said, "I am God!"

Our Heavenly Father loves us so very much! He truly desires for us to know Him better and walk by His side with complete trust. But there are times, often in the middle of our trials, when our trust is challenged. 

Though we may not understand, we must desperately cling to His promises and KNOW He will never leave us nor forsake us! Let's be at total peace and restore our hope by always remembering that He is there, and He is God.

- adapated from steve troxel

.....prosperous

In the middle of a very long list of genealogies, recorded in the book of 1 Chronicles, there are a few short verses about a man named Jabez who was a descendant of Judah. We never read about him again, but it appears Jabez was included in this list because of his bold request...and God's gracious response.

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request 1 Chronicles 4:10

Passages on asking and receiving can be confusing. For example: "How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11, while these passages are full of truth, those who preach a message of assured prosperity for Christians have abused the scriptures to say God wants everyone to be financially rich and all we must do is ask or repeat a special prayer. Although this type of prosperity teaching receives a wide following, it is far from God's truth.

Yet God DOES want us to prosper: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" Jeremiah 29:11. And He teaches us to ask! "You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives" James 4:2-3. God has a plan to prosper us, but we do not receive His blessings because of our desire to satisfy our own selfish desires or cover worldly fears. We ask with the wrong motives!

We fail to prosper because we don't understand God's definition of prosperity. A Godly prosperity has little to do with finances or possessions, and a great deal to do with peace and contentment. A prosperous life is also one which bears much fruit and completes the work God has asked us to accomplish; "I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do" John 17:4. How petty to believe that God's prosperity only involves the riches of this world which rust and fade away.

A truly prosperous life begins by drawing and remaining near to the presence of God. Without first abiding in His presence, we won't even know what will allow us to prosper; "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4. As we draw near to God, He places the desires on our heart which lead to true prosperity - then we must ask. It's in the asking, in the expectation of the answer, and in the process of waiting, that we exercise our faith and prove it to be real.

Let's ask God to increase our territory - to increase our realm of influence in His Kingdom. Let's ask Him to keep us in His protective arms, give us His abundance of peace, and accomplish great things in and through our lives, by His grace. Let's draw near to God 

.....continually

Jesus desires us to mature in our love for our Heavenly Father and for others. But as we continue our walk, we soon discover many decision points where we must choose between two paths...with only one being the path of God. At these critical moments, we must be able to recognize His leading; and if we have not spent time worshiping at His feet and communicating in prayer, we cannot expect to understand or even hear His guidance in our time of greatest need.

Communication is essential for maturing in any relationship. A marriage which lacks communication will slowly begin to drift apart. It's not uncommon for married couples to live together for the majority of their lives and yet feel like strangers because they have failed to spend the time required to really know and understand one another.

Our relationship with God is much the same. When we receive the gift of Salvation through faith in Jesus, we begin a lifelong relationship of love - a relationship which must be nurtured through fellowship and prayer.

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray. In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation Psalm 5:1-3

David states that the morning is his dedicated time for prayer, his time to be alone with God, to share his heart and expectantly await God's direction. But God has not specified a preferred time. Paul encourages us to maintain a constant state of communion with God when he says to "pray continuously" 1 Thessalonians 5:17. We ought to strive for communication which is regular and frequent; any time is the right time for prayer; any time is the right time to commune with the one you love!

Prayer must originate from a sincere heart. We should be motivated by a desire to strengthen our relationship, to praise Him for His blessings and earnestly ask for His guidance, and to deepen the commitment of our love. We ought to value our time with God above anything else this world has to offer; "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life" Psalm 27:4.

Let's set aside time each day to be alone with God, quiet time where we can hear His voice and begin to understand His character. Let's continue to commune and fellowship with Him throughout our times of busyness. 

.....doing

Jesus desires our love much more than any of our works and how we must continue in prayer for our love to grow. ALL we do ought to be driven by love! When we study God's Word, we do so to understand His character, seek His direction, and then to obediently follow where His Word leads; "If you love Me, you will obey what I command" John 14:15. True love will always express itself in action.

As we continue to study God's Word, we must never stop with the simple accumulation of knowledge. We must never equate an increase of knowledge with an increased closeness to God; "The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know" 1 Corinthians 8:2. Knowing ABOUT God is only the beginning of the journey toward a closer relationship with Him. .

Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does James 1:22-25

We will never know the true meaning of faith until we step out and put our faith into practice. We cannot possibly know the peace of trusting God to work for the good in all things Romans 8:28 until we love Him with all our heart, surrender our life, and allow Him to actually begin His work. Without allowing His words to cause action in our life, we become as the godless who are "always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth" 2 Timothy 3:7. Do we really believe His Word is true? True enough to trust and follow?

God has a message for each of us today, a specific truth He wants us to understand and apply. His message may be delivered through something we hear or something we read, but His words will never change our life and draw us closer until we put them into practice. We will never see the wonder of His truth until we apply His truth in our everyday life!

God is calling us today 

.....perseverance

Our life can be a long and difficult race. We often grow weary and are in great need of rest. But this race is not like any we have ever run. We do not compete against the other runners, nor do we all even run the same course. We run the race marked out by our Heavenly Father; and yet, we ALL must strive toward the same finish line.

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith Hebrews 12:1-2

Perseverance means "to persist in spite of opposition or discouragement." We are therefore being told to patiently run the race, and to keep on running with determination and endurance, in spite of opposition or discouragement. What a wonderful picture!

Hindrances to our race can be represented by weeds which try to wrap around our legs and slow us down. This "sin that so easily entangles" can often be difficult to even recognize. We may be running a clear path without a hint of weeds; everything has been going well and we feel immune to the temptations of this world. But without our eyes fixed on Jesus - without our heart fully trusting Him for every step - our path can become covered before we even realize there is a problem.

Our race is a long marathon, not a quick sprint. In order to persevere, we must prepare for many hills and valleys along the way. We must develop a burning desire to one day boldly say; "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" 2 Timothy 4:7. And if we will keep our eyes on Jesus as our eternal joy, we "will not grow weary and lose heart" Hebrews 12:3.

No matter what this day may bring, we must persist with our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus until we hear Him say: "Well done, good and faithful servant....Come and share your Master's happiness!" Matthew 25:23. Some days we may only be able to take small baby steps, but still we must continue and run with the sole purpose of bringing Him glory and honor in ALL we do. 

.....known

The Church in Ephesus was established by the Apostle Paul and became one of the most prominent churches in the early days of Christianity. Paul ministered in Ephesus for three years Acts 19:1-20, and a few years later wrote the church a special letter of encouragement and instruction (the book of Ephesians); "Ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers" Ephesians 1:15.

The Ephesians were doing most things "right." They had strong programs, an acute awareness of sin, and a work ethic which should characterize any thriving church: "I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for My name, and have not grown weary" Revelation 2:2-3.

The hard work of the Ephesian church was readily acknowledged; and yet, they had forgotten that "only one thing is needed" Luke 10:42. Though they maintained an outward appearance of devotion and may have actually accomplished many "Kingdom-driven" goals, the once burning love in their heart had begun to fade.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love Revelation 2:4

When we first understand the ugliness of our sin, the death our sin deserves, and how Jesus died to make us clean, we cannot help but be filled with thankfulness...and love. But sadly, in our attempt to "mature," we often shift our focus to the "doing" of outward activities and forget the love which once consumed our heart. We may study more, attend more, and serve more, but we have forgotten how to simply be still and worship at His feet.

As we mature in Christ, we must never outgrow our ability to love. There will always be opportunities to express our faith in good works and service to God, in the end He will look deep within and He will know us by our love.

.....hunger

The days are coming,' declares the Sovereign Lord, 'when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it  Amos 8:11-12

When we hear the Word of God, the door is open and we are in the middle of a God-directed opportunity. At that moment we have the opportunity to respond to the truth and draw closer to our Heavenly Father. But when we reject His Word, we begin to close the door and harden our heart - the opportunity begins to fade: "So, as the Holy Spirit says: 'Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart'" Hebrews 3:7-8.

We have been blessed to live during this time in history. We face the unrelenting pressures of an over-indulgent, self-consumed society, but we have also been blessed with a wonderful abundance of the Word of God. In most parts of the world we have freedom to worship with other believers and full access to truth-filled teaching. In fact, God's Word has become so readily available that many of us take it for granted.

In the midst of our overflowing blessings, we are becoming complacent and no longer treasure His precious gift. But what would happen if His Word was taken away? What would the world be like if no one was allowed to speak or hear the Word of God? What if we searched for His Word and it could not be found?

Our Heavenly Father loves us dearly. He "wants ALL men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" 1 Timothy 2:4. Our Father continues to call us to know Him with a greater and more intimate love. 

Let's make the most of this awesome opportunity by receiving the Word of God, in all its forms, with a hungry anticipation, and then by obediently responding to His call. Let's shake off ALL forms of complacency and rejoice that we do not yet live during a famine of hearing His word.

.....light

In the physical world, there is no measurable quantity which defines darkness; dark is simply the absence of light. Therefore, the measure of darkness can only be in reference to the measure of light - less darkness is only achieved through more light.

In the spiritual world, darkness represents the evil of the enemy and light represents the holiness of God. Though neither can be truly measured, the concept is the same: the darkness of evil only exists when there is an absence of the light of holiness. Dark and light cannot exist at the same time; when light is increased, darkness must fade.

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth 1 John 1:5-6

Salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus and not through anything we do Ephesians 2:8-9. But the purpose of Salvation is to bring glory to God as we walk in intimate fellowship with Jesus, the true and eternal Light. It is not possible to have fellowship with the Light of Christ and still live a life filled with the darkness of sin. Jesus purifies us from all sin in the sense of judgment before the Father, but He also illuminates the dark sin in our life and gives us the strength to gradually push it aside.

A life without the Light is in darkness and cannot even recognize true sin. If we attempt to remove sin without first shining the Light, we are simply pushing around the darkness; we clean the outside but leave a heart which is dark and dead. Some outsides are dirtier than others, but no matter how filthy an outside may appear, we ALL need the Light of Christ in our heart before we can be clean; "First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean" Matthew 23:26. In an instant, the grace of His Light is able to cleanse what no amount of self-effort can ever accomplish.

When our own spiritual life becomes "dim," it usually means our time with the Light has begun to suffer - our discipline of worship, prayer, and reading His Word has been replaced with competing distractions. Where we once walked with clear vision, we now bump into walls and continually stub our toes. But God desires to light our path once again. He has "saved us and called us to a holy life" 2 Timothy 1:9, to a life filled with Light, a life of bold clarity in Him.

Let's share the true and eternal Light of Jesus Christ at every opportunity and refocus our priorities on the only sure way to restore our vision. Let's commune with Him in prayer and immerse ourselves in His Word. His path will once again be made clear and darkness will surely fade as we increase the Light.

- adapted from steve troxell

.....die

During the three short years of Jesus' earthly ministry, He performed many miracles and preached to crowds large and small. But the moment of greatest acceptance came the week before Jesus was crucified as He entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. 

A large number had gathered from all over Israel in preparation of the Passover: "They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting 'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!'" John 12:13

Many would view this as the high point of Jesus' ministry. He had gained a great following and the people even hailed Him as the new King of Israel. But Jesus knew this was not His Father's will. Jesus came for a much greater purpose than to be a temporary king; He came for an eternal glory which required His death.

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds John 12:24

Jesus spoke these words in reference to His sacrifice on the cross which would occur in a few short days, but His message of death was also intended for us today. Obviously Jesus is not saying we should all be physically crucified, but He IS saying we must experience a death; "whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it" Matthew 16:25. Paul explains this even more directly; "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature" Colossians 3:5.

Our earthly nature is home to all our sinful desires, but it is also the source of all the ambitions and dreams not formed by God. When we tightly hold to our dreams and are driven by our own ambitions, we choke what God desires to accomplish and never see the full potential of Christ - never see the abundant life God desires us to live.

We have a tendency to dream and make plans, and then spend our time and energy pursuing the dream rather than truly pursuing Christ. Our dream may even appear very Godly - we may strive for a dynamic ministry or children who love and follow God - but until we allow EVERYTHING within us to die and be replaced by the love of God, we will never experience His very best or witness His most beautiful fruit; "and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" Galatians 2:20

Let's allow the plans of Christ to reign absolutely supreme. We were created for so much more than we can imagine! Let's cast off all sin and leave ALL we hold dear at His feet. He will raise up what He desires to use for the glory of His name.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....wrong

A rich man came to ask Jesus how to get eternal life. He had been a good citizen, treated others well, and accumulated much wealth, but Jesus gave an unexpected answer: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow Me" Matthew 19:21. He failed to see the connection and went away very sad.

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first Matthew 19:30

Jesus came with a message that the plan of life is not as it seems. The first, by the world's standard, does not automatically win. When the clock of life ticks its last, it will not be the one with the biggest bank account, biggest house, or nicest car who will stand victorious; it won't even be the one who pastors the largest church, feeds the most hungry, or tells the most people about Jesus. Rather, it will only be those who do the true work God requires; "The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent" John 6:29.

Have we completed the work of God? Do we even value this "work"?

When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment, He said; "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" Mark 12:30. The greatest commandment ought to be our greatest priority and the foundation on which we build our life, our family, and our ministry. Though other things may be enjoyable, important, or even necessary, they must never be allowed to occupy the throne of our life.

Many of us feel like we are falling behind because of our decision to follow Christ. We see others prosper and start to believe we must compromise in order to keep pace...but the rules of the game have changed! 

God has a different plan - an eternal plan!! The world around us has the wrong uniform, wrong equipment, and wrong play book. The great deceiver would like to fill us with doubt, but we must not be swayed.

.....unblemished

During the days of Moses, God established specific laws for sacrifices. He called for animal sacrifices to teach His people the seriousness of sin and to prepare the way for Jesus. God taught that when a sacrifice was offered, it was to be pure and without blemish: 

If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord Leviticus 1:3.

Approximately 900 years after the sacrificial law was given to Moses, God used the prophet Malachi to call the people back to a true heart of worship. Since the time of Moses, the people of Israel had gone through many highs and lows in their worship and were currently on another downward spiral. The priests had become very casual with the sacrifices; they had lost all sense of reverence and had ceased to offer God their absolute best.

You place defiled food on My altar. But you ask, `How have we defiled You?' By saying that the Lord's table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Malachi 1:7-8

With the perfect and acceptable sacrifice of Jesus, the need for animal sacrifice has ended; "He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood" Hebrews 9:12. Through faith in Jesus, our sins are completely forgiven; "By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy" Hebrews 10:14. Faith in Jesus has become our final sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin; we have been perfected by His blood.

Each of us who have experienced God's mercy and grace are now urged "to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God" Romans 12:1. We are to offer this sacrifice not to earn or even maintain our Salvation, but because "this is our spiritual act of worship" Romans 12:1. A true understanding of God's grace in granting us eternal life ought to compel us to a life of thanksgiving and sacrificial worship.

When we leave His presence for the pleasures of this world, we create blemishes on our heart; and when we practice or give approval to sin, we become spiritually crippled and diseased. We must present ourselves to God and allow Him to use us for His glory. He deserves our very best! We should offer ourselves with a pure heart, without selfish ambition or pride, and free of worldly compromise.

God has given us all we have, made us all we are, and is leading us to all we will become. Let's worship and serve Him with the best we have to offer; let's present our lives to Him as an unblemished sacrifice.

.....responsibility

God has always set aside a select group to carry forth His Word and to help guide His people. In the Old Testament times God designated the descendants of Levi to be priests. The priests were to perform the various sacrifices, give instruction regarding God's Law, and be the general interface between God and man. Since the priests were accountable to God for maintaining His standard, this great privilege also carried an enormous responsibility.

Malachi served as a prophet of God approximately 900 years after the Levitical priesthood had been established. The priests had once held a deep reverence for God, but they now ceased to teach the truth and lost all sense of their calling. Through Malachi, God sent the priests a sharp rebuke.

The lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction - because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty. But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble...you have not followed My ways Malachi 2:7-9

In one regard, this speaks directly to those called into Church leadership - those who are given the responsibility for leading a congregation in the way of truth. But it also speaks to ALL who now believe in Jesus Christ and are committed to following His ways. We must not cause others to stumble by failing to follow the ways of God!

When Jesus came to earth and gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, a new covenant was established. No longer is there only a select group of priests who have access to God; rather, all believers are now declared "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God" 1 Peter 2:9.

The primary duty of a priest in the Old Testament was to seek God's will and effectively communicate the truth of God's Word to those placed within his care. And as members of God's New Covenant royal priesthood, we all have this same responsibility - this same privilege! We must seek His will and speak truth to whoever God places in our path. We do not have the option of watching others wander from God. Allowing someone to destroy their life and their intimate relationship with God through a life of unbelief and sin is neither gracious nor loving - it's cruel and irresponsible!

We are never held accountable for the response of others, only for our presentation of the truth. We must now become faithful to our calling. We must become a priest within our family, at our work, among our friends, and even within our church. We must diligently seek His will and not stray. We must learn His truths and live by them...and speak His truth with grace and compassionate love. Let's give thanks for the opportunity to serve and for being allowed to lead others to a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father. Let's praise Him and faithfully accept our privileged responsibility.

- steve troxel

.....whirlwind

The spiritual decline of God's chosen people, as detailed in the Old Testament, includes some of the saddest passages in the Bible. God dearly loved the children of Israel, but they continually rejected Him and turned away.

God appointed King David to unite the nation and focus their worship on the One True God. David made plans for the construction of a temple and King Solomon built the temple a few years later. But toward the end of Solomon's reign, "his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God" 1 Kings 11:4. The spiritual decline began with the leadership and then flowed quickly down to the people.

When Solomon died, the nation of Israel divided and the northern kingdom immediately began to pervert their worship; "The king made two golden calves {and said} 'Here are your gods'" 1 Kings 12:28. Then, after almost 200 years of continual disobedience, the northern kingdom had hardened their hearts so that repentance was no longer even possible; "their deeds do not permit them to return to God" Hosea 5:4. God is ready, willing, and able to forgive every sin, but continual disobedience removes the desire to draw near and seek His forgiveness. After so many years of false worship, the people would not return to God and would now experience His wrath.

They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind Hosea 8:7

The people of Israel had planted evil seed into their lives for many years - now the time had come to harvest the destruction they had planted. Soon after Hosea spoke these words of God, the Assyrian army invaded and destroyed the northern kingdom.

God demonstrated His love for us long before we ever loved Him; "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. This love was unconditional since we did absolutely nothing to deserve His favor. But if we do not receive His love, through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, and allow His Spirit to begin to transform us from within, we too will one day feel His wrath.

The wind of unbelief and lack of trust, false worship and a cold heart, will one day yield an eternal whirlwind which cannot be stopped. And the wind of open sin in the lives of spiritual leaders, or the spiritual compromise in the lives of parents, can lead many generations down a path of destruction.

Let's plant and nourish seeds of truth and love which will thrive in His presence for all eternity. Let's trust Him with a faith which walks into the unknown without fear because we know He is by our side. Let's determine once and for all to live an uncompromising life which brings glory and honor to God; and on the great day of harvest, let's joyfully enter His embrace without the fear of reaping the whirlwind.

- steve troxel