You Are the Light

You Are the Light

Matthew 5:14 (BSB):

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."

Perhaps you feel small, unnoticed, or overwhelmed by the darkness around you. Jesus’ words are for you: “You are the light of the world.” He does not say this because you are naturally strong, impressive, or morally sufficient. Apart from Him, we are darkness in sin. But Christ, the true Light, has graciously called His people out of darkness and made them His own (John 8:12; 1 Peter 2:9).

Your light is not a performance. It is the visible fruit of belonging to Jesus. It shines when you tell the truth though it costs you, when you turn from sin instead of excusing it, when you forgive someone who has wounded you, when you show kindness without needing recognition, and when you speak of Christ with humble courage.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, genuine faith eventually becomes visible. The people around you may not read the Bible, but they see how you respond under pressure, how you treat people in your home, and whether your hope remains anchored in Christ.

Do not be discouraged when your light seems weak. A small lamp still breaks real darkness. Stay near to Christ through His Word, prayer, and fellowship with His church. Repent quickly when you sin, rest in His forgiveness, and walk again in obedience.

You are not called to save the world; Jesus Christ alone saves. You are called to faithfully reflect Him where He has placed you today. Let your life point beyond yourself—to the Savior who is the Light of the world.

His Kingdom, Not Mine

His Kingdom, Not Mine

Jesus teaches us to pray, “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). That prayer confronts the natural desire of every sinful heart: to build my kingdom—my plans, my comfort, my reputation, my control.

But Jesus is King. All authority belongs to Him (Matthew 28:18). He does not exist to advance our personal agendas; we were created, redeemed, and called to live for His glory. Christ’s kingdom is not built through self-promotion, worldly power, or compromise with sin. It is revealed as His people gladly submit to His Word, proclaim His gospel, repent of sin, and obey Him.

Matthew 6:33 (BSB):

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

Seeking God’s kingdom first means that Christ’s priorities govern ours. It means asking, “What honors the King?” before asking, “What benefits me?” It means laying down selfish ambition, forgiving as we have been forgiven, serving rather than demanding to be served, and trusting God with tomorrow.

This is not a loss. The King who calls us to surrender is the Savior who gave Himself for sinners. Jesus died and rose again so that all who repent and trust in Him would be brought out of the kingdom of darkness into His eternal kingdom.

Today, release your grip on the little kingdom of self. Submit your desires, decisions, fears, and future to Christ.

His kingdom—not mine. His will—not mine. His glory—not mine.

These Perilous Times

These Perilous Times

2 Timothy 3:1 KJV

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

The Cambridge Dictionary defines “perilous” as an adjective meaning extremely dangerous, hazardous, or full of risk.

Sounds like our world to me. How about you?

How do we navigate through these dangerous times? We abide in our Savior, Christ Jesus.

Someone once told me that the term “abide in Jesus” refers to maintaining a close, personal relationship with Him. It is characterized by faith, obedience, and connection.

This concept is beautifully illustrated in John 15:4-5, where Jesus says:

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

I thought this was a good opportunity to encourage each other to remain in Jesus—to stay and dwell in Him by trusting in Him, following His teachings, and allowing His presence to influence our lives.

In these perilous times, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and abide in Him.

Sing And Shout

 Sing And Shout

Isaiah 44:23 says:

"Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel."

Join me today in singing and shouting praise to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God who sent Messiah Jesus!

We see this same joyful praise recorded in the Old Testament in Ezra 3:11:

"And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid."

What a beautiful picture of God's people singing and shouting praise because of His goodness and mercy!

And we have so much to praise God for today.

Thank God for His great mercy. Thank Him for forgiveness. Thank Him for healing our hearts. And most of all, thank Him for bringing us the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

So let's sing! Let's shout! Let's praise the Lord Jesus with grateful hearts because He has redeemed us!

God's Word In Our Hearts

God's Word In Our Hearts

It is a new day to serve our Lord Jesus! Let’s encourage each other to open our Bibles today and hear the words of Jesus. Remember what He says in Matthew 4:4?

“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

How important is God’s Word?

Psalm 119:89 tells us:

“Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.”

We can trust the direction we receive from God’s Word today because His Word is trustworthy.

Isaiah 40:8 tells us:

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Let today be a day filled with God’s Word in our hearts. Let His Word guide us, encourage us, and draw us closer to Jesus.

Let's open our Bibles and hear what God has to say. His Word is the one thing we can trust and rely on in this sin-sick world. As we read it, let’s remember that God’s Word will never fail or change. This brings us to the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:35:

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”

And if you don't know Jesus, repent and trust Jesus alone to save you. Then get a hold of a Bible and ask God to speak to you!