COVENANTER

Can you imagine receiving a letter from Christ that contains no critique or correction—only affirmation? At first glance, that sounds like the kind of letter any church would long to receive. But the letter to Smyrna invites us to look again, and to ask whether we truly understand what that kind of faithfulness requires.

It is possible to cultivate commendable Christian habits while quietly neglecting what matters most. The church in Ephesus stands as a sobering example. They were rich in endurance, labor, and doctrinal faithfulness, yet they neglected their first love. Jesus’ letter to them remind us that even the best things must never replace our first and ultimate devotion to Him.

The book of Revelation is often regarded as difficult and even intimidating to understand. Yet Scripture itself gives us the tools we need to approach it with clarity and confidence. With a few foundational principles in place, we can read this book not with fear, but with faith and expectation.

What does God require of those who hear His Word preached? That word required reminds us that preaching is not a passive experience, but one in which the listener is called to active participation. Three essential responses God expects from His people are diligence, preparation, and prayer.

It may seem strange that Christians call “Good Friday” good at all. It commemorates the day on which Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, was crucified — an event marked by injustice, cruelty, humiliation, and death. Yet the very reason this darkest moment in history is called good is because through Christ’s suffering and death, God accomplished the salvation of His people.

Work is not a result of the Fall. It was part of God’s original design for humanity, as Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to “work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Though our labor now carries frustration and fatigue, it remains a means of reflecting God’s image, expressing gratitude, and participating in the joy of His creation. Following the example of Christ, who faithfully accomplished the work given by the Father, we too are called to labor as a worshipful, God-glorifying vocation.

God calls us to slow down and behold the beauty of His creation rather than rushing past it. From the beginning, He looked upon the work of His hands and declared it “very good,” revealing both His delight in creation and His purpose that it would stir wonder and gratitude in us. Yet in the haste of daily life, we often miss these quiet testimonies of His goodness that draw our hearts back to Him.

The Scriptures describe God’s mercy toward sinners as kindness, forbearance, and patience— qualities that show how gently the Lord deals with us, delaying judgment so that we might turn to Him in repentance. If this is the way God has treated us, it should also shape the way we treat one another, cultivating in us the long-neglected Christian virtue of charity.

That magnificent time of year is upon us once again. As the signs of spring begin to appear all around us, the return of baseball reminds us that even ordinary pleasures can point us to deeper spiritual truths. If we look closely, this beloved pastime offers small reflections of the greater story God is telling — about community, sacrifice, redemption, and the hope of finally arriving home.

What makes you weep? Do you grieve over sin — not only the sin you see in the world, but the sin that dwells in your own heart? May we walk by the Spirit and, out of love for God’s law, pursue grateful obedience to His commandments, bringing honor to our Heavenly Father who gave us His law and to His Son, who died so that our sins might be forgiven.

In just a few short weeks, we will gather to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday is often the one day when friends, neighbors, and family members who rarely attend worship are most open to coming. What a gracious opportunity the Lord gives us each year to extend a simple invitation that He may use to draw someone into the joy, hope, and life found in Christ.

Time has a way of quietly slipping past us, often reminding us how fragile and brief our lives truly are. These sobering moments can serve as gracious teachers, pressing us to consider how we are spending the limited days God has given us. Jesus modeled the wise use of time by perfectly balancing purposeful work and restorative rest, both intentionally directed toward glorifying God and serving others. Let us likewise honor God in both our labor and leisure.