April 6, 2025

Living A Committed Life - Matthew 16:25-26 

Our commitment or lack thereof to Jesus, reflect where we truly stand in our relationship with Him. So often when we hear the word ”commitment”, we may think, what will it cost? What do I have to give up that I might not want to give up? How will that look? How will it feel? Will it be worth it? Jesus gives us a new perspective in today’s verse: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” He doesn’t stop there, but pushes the point even further: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Words like “deny,” “lose,” “sacrifice,” and “follow me,” make us nervous. Jesus encouraged us to stop focusing on what we may lose and to think about all we have to gain. Like the young boy who gave Jesus his lunch to feed the five thousand, he did not obsess about what he might lose. He willingly surrendered his all. And when he gave it to Jesus, it was out of his hands. Jesus took it, blessed it, and used it to meet not just his needs, but the needs of many. And then He gave the boy twelve basketfuls of leftovers. That was quite a return on his investment! Let’s not hold nothing back from the Lord. When we give our lives and all we value to Him, He will pour out blessings that we cannot contain.

April 13, 2025

Undeniable Love - Luke 9:51-56

Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, the day we celebrate Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem. So often the focus is on the waving of palm branches and the cheers that quickly turned to chants of “crucify him”.  But there’s another angle to this story, scripture tells us that Jesus “steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem”. Some translations says, He “was determined to go.” Without doubt, Jesus had made up His mind to go there, and no one could convince Him otherwise. He did so knowing that His triumphal entry marked the beginning of the end of His time on earth. He knew that He would die there, yet He went. Many of us would have changed our plans, but Jesus delivered Himself to His executioners, and He did so by choice. Jesus said in John‬ ‭10‬:‭18‬, ”No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.“ Why would Jesus do such a thing? Love compelled Him. Again Jesus’s words are recorded in John‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬, ”Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.“ Christ’s love for us led Him to Jerusalem and then to the cross of Calvary. God ordained the events that took place for His glory and our good, and Jesus willingly did this for you and me!

April 20, 2025

Victory in Christ - 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Jesus’ death and resurrection is at the core of the Christian faith. It is because of Jesus that we experience the free gift of salvation. Jesus’ death not only makes up for all of our wrong doing, but it also gives us the opportunity to have a relationship with God. There are many other benefits that came through Jesus’ death and resurrection. One aspect that Paul focuses on in 1 Corinthians 15 is the victory that comes through Jesus. His death not only took care of our sin problem, but He also defeated the power of sin. That means we can experience abundant life by the power of the Holy Spirit living within us. This is why Paul encourages us to stand firm in our faith, be unmovable, continue in the work of the Lord, because victory has already been won by Jesus, and as His followers, we are partakers in that victory.  On this resurrection Sunday, as we celebrate this great victory, let’s continue to love God and others, sharing the hope and love of Jesus! 

April 27, 2025

Go Ye! 

Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

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After His resurrection, before ascending into heaven, Jesus gives not just a command, but an expectation that He has for all those that would follow Him. Go ye... is an active command. It does not leave room for hesitation or complacency. Jesus calls us to go, whether it’s across the street to our neighbor, or across the world to total strangers. You may not have a pulpit or classroom calling, yet we ALL have been called to share the gospel of Christ Jesus that radically changed our lives! Our mission is to transcend boundaries and connect with people from all walks of life, preaching the message of hope and love that Christ embodies. Let’s live up to the expectations that Jesus has for us, everyday He’s with us! Let’s not be fearful or have any hesitation, let’s actively look for opportunities to share this great truth of Jesus Christ.