Hope | Sep 4th

“We have our hope set on the living God.”

   1 Timothy 4:10

  The Apostle Paul explained to Timothy the reason for his perseverance. Beloved, upon what or whom have you set your hope?

  As Christians, we are not to set our hope upon a good outcome or the strength of our faith. Sometimes hope can be placed in our works or in what we believe should be God's response to our prayers. We should indeed be hopeful in prayer while resting on the promises found in Scripture.  

  Ultimately, our hope is not founded on anything within ourselves or on anticipated outcomes. Rather, it is grounded in God Himself. We trust in His character and His ways. God is the source of our hope, and because we know who He is, we remain hopeful.

  Let us set our hope today on the living God, and we will find His grace to be sufficient for each moment.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Hidden | Sep 3rd

 “He entered a house and did not want anyone to know…”

   Luke 7:24

  Beloved, if Jesus sought solitude, then there are times when we should seek the same. If the Son of God was wearied by doing good, then we should not feel condemned for needing moments of rest.

  We certainly live in an overly stimulating culture, with few boundaries. The idea of being and staying connected has caused us to lose sight of the significance of being alone and of the healthy place of not being able to be contacted. What is considered an emergency is not often true.

  If Jesus intentionally entered a house with the hope that no one would know where He was, we too should take advantage of being separated from some of the pressures of life. We should not take this as a reason for distancing ourselves from other Christians and the church. We need one another. What Christ sought was peace and a moment to be alone with His disciples. We need moments of solitude and times of refreshment that come with being with close friends in the faith. Those moments when we can be mutually encouraged by one another's faith.

 Today take some time to be alone with God; come with your Bible and think seriously about your life and all the matters that affect you, and go into the prayer closet where no one knows that you are there.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

A Knock at the Door | Sep 2nd

 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”

  Revelation 3:20

  Beloved, this verse is likely familiar to many Christians. While it is sometimes used in evangelistic contexts, its original setting involves Christ addressing His church. Many of us may not give careful attention to Christ’s words, and we may not be responding to His call.

  Let us ask ourselves a few questions in light of this verse to see if we hear the knocking of our Lord. How often do we read Scripture with the intention of meeting with the Lord? What characterizes our prayer life? Are our prayers focused solely on personal comfort and success, or do we seek, through prayer, to become more like Christ? Do we rely on the Spirit of God to enable us to live for God, to accomplish His will in our lives, and to cultivate the mind of God in every circumstance? Are repentance, worship, evangelism, participation in advancing God’s will on earth, and fellowship with the saints part of our Christian life?

  These are a few areas where the Lord may be knocking on our hearts, inviting us to deeper fellowship with Him for His name’s sake and as part of His work in and through us. If you sense the Lord knocking in any area of your life, respond, and He will enter and have fellowship with you.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight