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.
Read MoreThat 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.
Read MoreWhat 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreTime 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.
Read MoreScripture often holds before us truths that seem, at first glance, to pull in opposite directions. We are called both to fear the Lord and to rejoice in Him, to obey His commands and to delight in His law. Yet in God’s perfect wisdom, these truths do not compete but work together to draw us into faithful, joyful, reverent communion with Him.
Read MoreCabin fever has a way of revealing what we miss most, and for the Christian it’s often corporate worship. While online services can be a temporary kindness from the Lord in unusual circumstances, they cannot replace the gathered body of Christ—hearing the Word preached, sharing in the sacraments, and encouraging one another face to face. God designed His people to worship as a body, and seasons of separation should deepen our longing to be together in His house.
Read MorePrayer for one another is both a gift and a responsibility in the Christian life, yet it is easy to let earnest intercession for our fellow believers slip into the background. While we are quick to pray in moments of illness or crisis, Scripture invites us to be just as diligent in praying for one another simply because we belong to Christ together. As we consider the global Church and our own local congregation, let us renew a joyful and faithful commitment to praying for one another.
Read MoreMercy is often described as not receiving the punishment we deserve, while grace is receiving what we do not deserve. Yet Scripture presses us to see that grace goes even further: it is not merely unearned favor, but favor given in spite of our guilt and rebellion. When we grasp grace this way, its depth and wonder begin to reshape how we understand salvation and respond in worship.
Read MorePrioritizing is rarely a matter of choosing between good and bad; more often, it is the harder work of choosing between good and best. Our days are filled with worthy demands—work, rest, responsibilities, and relationships—all competing for our attention and affection. The question before us, then, is not whether these things matter, but whether Christ Himself holds first place among them.
Read MoreAs a new year begins, we are often full of resolve—setting goals, making plans, and hoping that this time real change will last. Yet just as with our New Year’s resolutions, our good intentions in the Christian life often fade, and we find ourselves facing the same struggles and shortcomings as before. The Apostle Paul meets us in that very tension and offers gospel-shaped encouragement for pressing on in Christ, not with fleeting resolutions, but with a steadfast, grace-fueled resolve.
Read MoreFor centuries, God’s people lived in hopeful expectation, longing for the promised Savior who would reverse the curse of sin and make God’s blessings flow to the ends of the earth. That longing was answered at the first Christmas, when angels announced with joy that the Lord had come at last. The hymn “Joy to the World” gives voice to this great hope and celebration, proclaiming the arrival of Christ the King for the salvation of the whole world.
Read MoreThe cherished Christmas hymn “What Child Is This” teaches us who the Child of Bethlehem truly is by asking and answering the most important question of Christmas. Through its verses, the hymn leads us from the wonder of a sleeping infant to the astonishing confession that this Child is Christ the King, worshiped by angels and guarded by shepherds. In just a few lines, it helps us hold together the glorious mystery of the incarnation: Jesus is truly man and truly God, who came in humility to save sinners and is worthy of our wholehearted worship.
Read MoreOne of the most cherished Christmas hymns of all time, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” is anonymous. Its unknown authorship reminds us that Christ’s first coming was likewise marked by obscurity, not because His identity was uncertain, but because the world did not recognize the long-promised Son of David and eternal Son of God. There is something wonderful about a hymn — and a Savior — who steps quietly into the world, veiled in humility yet full of glory.
Read MorePhillips Brooks’ beloved hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem” beautifully captures the heart of Christmas with the line, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.” Few lyrics invite us to consider the sweep of the whole Bible as powerfully as this one. In just a few words, Brooks reminds us that all of history and all the longings of God’s people converged in that quiet night in Bethlehem.
Read MoreYesterday’s Thanksgiving holiday gave us the opportunity to reflect on God’s abundant mercies and express gratitude in various ways. Yet Scripture reminds us that thanksgiving is not meant to be an annual event, but the continual posture of the Christian life. With the holiday now behind us, we must consider what it means to give thanks today, tomorrow, and every ordinary day the Lord grants us.
Read MoreAs we look ahead to the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday next week, it’s good for us to pause and remember just how much we’ve been given. In a world that easily distracts us with anxiety, tragedy, and noise, we need reminders that God’s mercies surround us daily and are always worthy of our thanks.
Read MoreEndnotes in modern books may feel tedious, but in Scripture they take on a far richer meaning. The New Testament serves as the Bible’s own “endnotes,” illuminating the types, promises, and shadows of the Old and revealing their fulfillment in Christ. By turning to the back of the Book, we discover the mystery once hidden but now made clear through the person and work of Jesus.
Read MoreThe Apostle Paul describes the Church as one body with Christ as its Head, reminding us that every member is vitally connected and necessary for the whole to flourish. When one part suffers, the entire body feels the pain. Likewise, we should grieve and pray when our brothers and sisters in Christ are hurting. With that in mind, let us turn our hearts toward the global Church, remembering especially the suffering believers in Nigeria who need our prayers and compassion.
Read MoreThough it began 508 years ago, the Protestant Reformation still matters today! It recovered the glorious truth that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It freed us from the weight of human traditions, re-centered our hearts on God’s Word, and fixed our gaze heavenward, calling us to live wholly for His glory.
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