Doing the Word

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22

Reading God's Word and to listening to the teaching of God's Word provides the opportunity for spiritual growth to take place in our life. But if we stop with reading and hearing the Word we have not finished the task.

Too often we are self-deceived thinking that we have done our duty toward God by reading, hearing, even studying Scripture while God is looking for obedience. It is obedience that seizes the opportunity for growth that reading and hearing the Word provides. It is obedience that expresses true love for God. "If you love me you will obey what I command" (John 14:15).

We who have committed ourselves to reading Scripture must make sure that we complete the task by doing Scripture in our daily life. As you read ask, "What is God saying to me through this Scripture?" and "What would God have me to do with this word from Scripture?" Once you can answer those two questions be a doer of the Word.

Father, may my delight to read Your Word be equaled by delight to do it. As I read show me what you would have me to do and create in me a willing heart to obey.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Satisfied?

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5


"Be content with what you have" which is God Himself. A preoccupation with material things robs us of the enjoyment of the spiritual treasure that is already ours--the ever present, never failing God.


Money and the things it buys is a god that requires our constant service but rarely truly satisfies. But God has already given us Himself and "every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). He will not fail to satisfy when we learn to find our contentment in Him.


Father, forgive the preoccupation with material things that sometimes marks my life and which keeps me from the contentment in You that could be mine. May my soul be satisfied in You who alone satisfies.


I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus"!!! What a needed word this is in these days. We get distracted by so many things and lose sight of Jesus in our daily life.

Harried and stressed souls will find peace as they look upon Jesus. Weak and tried souls will find strength as they look upon Jesus. Confused and misdirected souls will find wisdom as they look on Jesus. Sinful and guilt-stricken souls will find cleansing when they look on Jesus. (You write the next line).

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full int His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace" (from "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" by Helen Lemmel).

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the Savior who endured the cross for our sake. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the exalted Lord now enthroned above all in the heavens. Fix your eyes on Jesus in Scripture. Fix your eyes upon Jesus in prayer. Fix your eyes upon Jesus in silent meditation. Fix your eyes on Jesus!

Lord Jesus, help me now to fix my eyes on You today. You are my wonderful Savior and almighty Lord. Let my vision of You grow until nothing can distract me from You.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

What is Faith?

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Hebrews 11:1

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

What is faith? What does it look like when expressed in a person's life? Note the parallels between these two verses from the "faith chapter." They help us understand faith.

Faith is "being sure of what we hope for" (v.1) that is believing "that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" (v.6). Faith is believing the promises of God that are yet to be fulfilled. Promises for this life and eternity.

Faith is "being...certain of what we do not see" (v.1) that is believing "that He exists" (v.6). We do not see God with physical eyes but we see Him and the unseen spiritual realities with eyes of faith. Faith is walking in fellowship with one we do not see but whom we know is real.

For further thought note how Hebrews 11:26 and 27 show this faith fleshed out in the life of Moses.

Father, may I see with eyes of faith so that I might walk close with You, who though unseen are very real, and that I might follow you faithfully holding tight to Your promises.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Are you Perfect?

"...because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:14

The death of Jesus on the cross is all-sufficient! There is nothing else needed to secure our salvation or to provide for the continued forgiveness of our sin.

By his sacrifice we are "made perfect forever." We stand in a right relationship with God because we stand in Christ covered by His sacrifice.

By his sacrifice we are "being made holy." We are perfect before God through Christ but we are still becoming holy in our daily experience through the transforming power of Christ in our lives. What we are in standing (perfect) we are becoming in practice (holy). How amazing is the blood of Jesus!

Father, I rejoice in the perfect standing that you have given me before You in Your perfect Son Jesus. I pray that what I am in Christ before You will more and more be expressed in my life each day before people.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

A Superior Salavation

"So Christ was sacrificed once to take way the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:28

In this chapter there are several contrasts between Christ's ministry and that of the old Testament priesthood.

• The priests ministry provided partial, outward cleansing, but Christ provides complete, internal cleansing (9:13-14).
• The priests ministered in a copy of the heavenly sanctuary, but Christ ministers in the true holy of holies in heaven (9:24).
• The priests provided temporary cleansing that had to be repeated again and again, but Christ provided cleansing once and for all that never needs to be repeated (9:25-26).

These are just some of the ways that Jesus is superior to the ministry that men can provide. He is a great Savior. Why would we look anywhere else but to Him?

Father, I thank you for the great Savior and great salvation that you have provided for me in Jesus Christ. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on Him rather than on the temporary things of this world.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

We're Not Alone

The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in Heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man
Hebrews 8:1-2

I don't know about you, but there are times in my Christian life when I feel all alone. As I read this passage I am reminded that I have a great High Priest who is sitting at the right hand of God interceding for me on a daily basis. Many times when God fills distant, it's not because He has left me but because I have often neglected my time with Him. As we start a new week, if you are feeling like God is a million miles away, remember that "He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence." (Hebrews 9:24) So I would encourage you to set aside a little extra time this week to thank Christ for His sacrifice and to strengthen your connection with Him.

Father, I thank you for your love and mercy. I want to praise you for your mighty works. God, help me to remember that I am not alone, that I have a great High Priest interceding for me on a daily basis. Help me to make more time connecting with you this week.

Your Servant
Chris