Hardman Truth – Page 15

Boasting and Security

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. — Galatians 6:14-18

While the Judaites hope that they can boast of convincing Galatia to return to the law, Paul has a different agenda. Paul says, “may i never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” What do we boast of? Where is our security if not in the Lord?

Paul has considered all else dead to him except Jesus. Paul goes on to say, circumcision counts for nothing. Only becoming a new creation matters. Paul blesses all who adopt the principal of being made new in Christ with peace and mercy. Do we count it a blessing being made new? Do you try to hide it in certain circles? What part of your old life are you holding onto, refusing to surrender it, so that you can fully be made new? Do we boast in the Lord and being made new in Him? Are we known as followers of His way, or are we a bitter compromise of the Lord Jesus Christ and our old life? In truth, He is Lord of all or hardly Lord at all.

Move forward men, because we certainly have plenty to boast in. Who else can boast of a relationship with One who is undefeated by death? Where else shall we go to boast in an advocate who can create the unimaginable out of nothing with just His voice? What else has offered the hope that the Lord freely delivers? I boast in the Lord, His security, His life, His mercy, His love for me in spite of me. I am made new! Are you? Stand and be counted as such and don’t allow anyone to dissuade you.

Vance Durrance

Knowing and Owning Fear

fear

Fear has the ability to stop you in your tracks. Uncombatted, and allowed to entrench, a given fear can eventually absolutely own you. Fear of height paralyzes the physical and mental ability of some men, even creating a physical pain that penetrates down into their abdomen when they approach a ledge or even see someone do so. Similarly, fear of battle or even the mere sight of another person being physically harmed may create similar physical pain to run through some men and send the mental control into a frenzy of panic. These are fears created either through our sight or vision, or fears created by physical pain and reoccurring through deep-seated, mentally-stamped memories. These are physical fears that disrupt physical and mental abilities and steal God-given potential.

Fears may also come suddenly, seemingly through the air, through a spirit that introduces a thought. Consider the thought that invades suddenly as your teenager gets in their car to drive away for the first time. The fear-induced thought that says you may never see them again; that they may get in a tragic wreck. Or the fear that you may lose your job and not be able to support your family. Or the fear that that pain in your side or head is cancer. These fears are not physical, but they can be crippling none the less. Just like how a fear of heights or battle can shoot pain down into your physical core, these spirits of fear are meant to paralyze your inner spirit, to steal hope and vision and extinguish faith, and supplant all with fear. And given a place to root, they will set in and steal your ability to hope, dream, persevere, and advance. These are the most dangerous fears. Fears based in a deep lie that once set in, leave the mind’s door open to additional fears of inadequacy and attacks of doubt. The downstream result, either coming in a slow fade or a quicker depression or death spiral, is a minimized man, worse a critical spirit that crushes other souls, or in maturity, a spirit of suicide.

Fear is a spiritual weapon. It is a weapon against the truth of God’s sovereignty. God alone creates, designs, and purposes for good. He alone is good (there is NONE other; so, says the only one Worthy—Jesus – Mark 10:18). All these fears, the physical and the spiritual, are seated in the lie that God is not enough; that He is not your Promoter, Protector, Healer or Provider. These fears are seated in a lie as old as the Garden of Eden. The devil’s original lie (Genesis 3:1-4). The lie that says that God’s word is not true.

But consider who God is. He is above all (Colossians 1:16-17). He controls all. He can bestow great favor. He can exhibit great wrath. He knew you before He knit you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). He knows your time and He know your days. He plants you in an area, assigns you a territory, and sanctifies through trial. Even the devil takes his authority from God and cannot harm God’s chosen without permission (Job 1-2). And after considering rightly who He is, write it down on the walls of your heart, impress it on your spirit, and make its truth the absolute and only sieve of your mind. Conventional wisdom says some level of fear is healthy, i.e. it keeps you aware and safe; like a child’s fear of being run over keeps it from playing in the road, etc. This conventional worldly wisdom compromises God’s Truth as the only sieve. Fear God only; replace all worldly fear with absolute unyielding faith in God.

Fear has a face; a smooth, deceitful face with lying lips. But faith, the opposite of fear, has a name. God’s word is named Jesus (John 1:1) and that name is above (in authority over; Philippians 2:9) all other names! The Bible repeatedly says God’s people are not to fear. They are not to fear man or circumstance or authority. They are to fear God alone. They are to respect authority (because God has placed it there); but they are to serve God only.

The truth is that fear, left unchecked, can own us. It can limit us greatly from accomplishing what God has designed us to accomplish in the area He has placed us. Can fear be conquered? Absolutely! Can we walk through fire, or survive a den of lions, or face battles against all odds, or face physical death on a cross and then face the demons of death and the grave? Absolutely. But it must be faced, and faced at increasing deeper levels, until it is ‘owned’. It is owned when the Truth is firmly and irreversibly seated in your spirit and your mind is fully renewed by the Holy Spirit. Mighty men of God have faced fear, been sifted, and been found faithful even as they found God to be faithful.

Even today, decrease your fear. Increase your faith. Prove it out at a higher level in the face of fear and seek to see if He truly is your provider and protector and restorer. King David did (Psalms 23), “Yea though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no…” and in the end, many valleys later, the same man of God testified, “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (2 Samuel 7:18). In your last days, what will your testimony be? Will you have joined the battle and faced the fears, and KNOW and have proved out the Truth? Will you have owned fear? Or will it have owned you? Fear NOT!

Derek Dougherty

Surrender to the Word

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me. – Galatians 1:18-24

Paul recounts his story to Galatia. After 3 years in Arabia and Damascus, Paul finally went to meet Peter in Jerusalem. They spoke at length about Christ’s gospel for 15 days. The only other apostle he saw was James, the brother of Jesus. After this Paul went to the region of Syria and Cilicia where he was unknown except as “he who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” By Paul’s conversion story the people of that place glorified God.

How many of us can say that when we found Jesus we spent three years with our faces in the Word and on the ground in prayer? How many of us have allowed our conversion experience to radically alter our course and lives? We often convert and settle into a passive life of indifferent church attendance. We accept salvation as the “free gift”, but we refuse to surrender Lordship. Is that what the Holy Spirit calls us to? Paul was so incredibly moved that his experiences shaped a region that didn’t even recognize him by face. How many of us are known by our commitment and action in the faith? More often we are known by our trades. Is our identity in Christ or in a profession? Do others glorify God by what they see happening in you and me? If you had 15 days off, how would you spend it? Would you go search out a “Peter” to share stories and grow in the faith or lounge by the coast?

Move forward men, with impact as you go. Be recognizable as a follower of Jesus the Nazarene. Surrender Lordship to the One True God and be led into everlasting change and reward.

Vance Durrance

The Weapons of Our Warfare

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. — 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, ESV

Men, Paul has been accused of walking in the flesh, well, he says he does walk in flesh but makes it clear that we do not wage war according to human standards. The weapons of our warfare aren’t conventional weapons. We have been given new weapons. Prayer, of course, is our primary weapon. I’ve recently found the value in fasting as well. We have some unlikely weapons found in kindness and mercy also. It may not seem like the most intimidating and ferocious way to fight, but, these weapons are made powerful by God. The power of God tears down strongholds, arguments, and all arrogant obstacles that raise up against the knowledge of God. With that power Paul, and we, have the power to take every thought captive, and to suppress our disobedient hearts so that we obey Christ.

Brothers, we should know by now, our most vicious fights are with ourselves. I do what I know is wrong even though I don’t want to and I often fail to do what is right, even with a desire to do so. How do we use worldly weapons in this struggle without destroying ourselves and others? As we surrender our lives to Christ, we should also surrender our weapons and tools. The Father gives us new weapons and tools when He gives us a new heart transformed by His Spirit. Move forward, men, submitting all things to Christ. Our old weapons won’t work in the fights the Father knows are coming. He equips for greater victory. Instead of returning insults in like manner, pray a blessing of peace over them. Instead of “knuckling up” try rebuking in Jesus’ name. The internet has an example of an old lady stopping an armed robbery by rebuking in His name. If we are surrendered fully to the Fathers leading, then the Spirit will tell us how to appropriately fight. Wield love.

Try it, it may work. It’ll work better with practice. This may be as new to you as it is me, perhaps just as odd, but I’m learning. I’m seeing it work. It’s unnatural but it’s powerful and constructive

Vance Durrance

The Gift of the Thorn

⁷So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. — 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ESV

Paul remembers a very special time where he was shown an indescribable event. So that he would not become arrogant in the matter, the Lord allowed what Paul called a “thorn in his flesh”. Three times he asked for its removal and each time he was denied, with the reply, “My grace is enough for you, my power is made perfect in weakness”. Paul now boasts of his weakness, bearing the insults, troubles, and difficulties for the sake of Christ. Where Paul, myself, and you sir, are weak, He is strong.

The thorn story is familiar. We know about the thorn, but we don’t give thought to why. As young men we exercise to become strong. We fill our minds with information so that we can navigate life. Essentially, we are building our self-sufficiency. Here, the Lord makes it clear, -I AM- your strength. We strengthen and train and learn our way into a place where we feel comfortable “serving God” as if God needs our talents and qualities to accomplish His work. The truth is, our strength and intellect more often become stumbling blocks. We justify all our “growth” hoping it makes us more usable, in reality, Father would give us what we need in the hour we need it, if we humbled ourselves, trusted Him, and could submit to His Lordship enough to obey when He says…. fill in the blank yourself. Strength and wisdom are good, but obedience is closer to the Father’s heart.

Move forward men, humbling ourselves so that the Lord may lift us up. Prepare yourself to move beyond what you can do. It was not in Moses power to lift a sea, it wasn’t in David’s power to defeat the giant, it wasn’t Israel’s power that leveled Jericho. How much do you want to be a part of? Are you willing to be small so that He can do something big? Humble yourself, submit to His Lordship, and obey when He speaks.

Vance Durrance

The Army at Our Back

david-and-goliath

“45 But David replied to the Philistine, “You are coming against me with sword and spear and javelin. But I am coming against you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel’s armies, whom you have defied! 46 This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand! I will strike you down and cut off your head. This day I will give the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land. Then all the land will realize that Israel has a God, 47 and all this assembly will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves! For the battle is the Lord’s, and He will deliver you into our hand.” –1 Samuel 17:45-47

This epic and famous account epitomizes the courage of a mighty man of God. He was undeterred by the surrounding cowardly company (v.11), the false accusations (v.28), the insurmountable odds that stood before him (vv.4-7), and perhaps even his own previous retreat (v.24). He was confident in his past experience (v.35), his current equipment (vv.39-40), and God’s future protection (v.36). And, he was rightly motivated by the reward promised by his king (vv.24-26).

We are likewise called to ignore all cowardly company (John 21:22), their false accusations (Luke 6:22), circumstances that seem beyond us (2Corinthians 12:10), and any previous retreats (Philippians 3:13). We are called to take confidence in our God-ordained past experiences (Romans 8:28), our current equipping (2Peter 1:3), and God’s future protection (2Th 3:3). And we should be motivated by our King’s promised rewards (Romans 8:18; Luke 6:23; Hebrews 11:6, 26; Matthew 6:18; etc.).

Yet I have missed an invaluable purpose in David’s victory… and my own.

“… and He will give you into OUR hand.”

Not “my hand,” but rather “our hand.” Even though David went out to face Goliath alone, there was an army at his back that would share in the victory and give chase to the enemy (v.52) once God removed the one obstacle that paralyzed His people (v.11).

The obstacle for Israel here was not a physical giant, but rather a lack of faith. David killed Goliath and God was glorified. Then Israel’s eyes were opened to see the truth (2Kings 6:17)—that the battle was already won (v.51). And so they were filled with faith and surged forward into battle (v.52).

Goliath’s size was never an issue, and neither is the size of any mountain that stands in our way (Matthew 17:20). Because victory is not ultimately about conquering “the enemy.” The Devil is no match for our Sovereign God; Satan’s future demise is certain (Revelation 20:10). There will be a day when Jesus will annihilate His enemies with a single word (Revelation 19:21), and He could do so this very instant if He so decided.

Neither is God desperately looking for one brave volunteer so that He can strike a blow against the devil. He is in need of no individual man (Act 17:24-25). His purposes will not be thwarted (Job 42:2). They will not be hindered in our rebellion (2Ki 19:25), nor will they hinge on our obedience (1Kings 19:14-18; Esther 4:14). Ignoring His call only leads to our own destruction (Ezekiel 22:30-31).

Rather, we see that God patiently tolerates (even uses) evil and injustice in order to conquer something else—our hearts (2 Peter 3:9). THIS is why it is so important that we live in Christian community, open and vulnerable before others (v.26, 40, 48) so that they can see God’s power manifested in our lives. God’s desire is for His people to rise up in faith… TOGETHER. And that can’t be done with lone crusaders just looking to pick a fight. Instead, God purposely calls out the weak (1Corinthians 1:27) so that He is assured the glory (which rightfully belongs to Him, Romans 11:36), and so that brothers and sisters watching, and listening will have their hearts filled with faith.

Mighty men of God, we are being called forth to openly call out and lead others—both in word (v.26) and in deed (v.48). So, let us courageously rush toward giants so that true victory can be attained. Not the beheading of giants with their own sword (v.51), but the rousing of faith in the army behind us so that we all charge forward (v.52) for the sake of our King—Not Saul (or any sinful man), but Jesus Christ: “The King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16).

Where are the mighty men of God today?

What would a spiritual warrior look like in 2019? In our current world do we even have a concept of what this would look like? We sometimes hear of a prayer warrior. And the vision we have of this more often than not is an elderly woman now capable of little else who prays faithfully. If we can even visualize a man as a spiritual warrior we likely envision and elderly man with his bible open, reading it early in the morning. Honestly, the vision of a spiritual warrior has been stolen from many of us. Literally veiled from our spirit’s eyes. We don’t think immediately or naturally of a Christian as a warrior. We may think of them as a worker. We may think of them as a cheek turner; a pacifist that perhaps can withstand some condemnation of the non-church-going world. But we don’t see a warrior. We wonder sometimes why we don’t see greater impact and miracles, but we can’t even create a vision of a modern day spiritual warrior.

We often think of an impactful Christian man as a preacher who moves people to consider their status and the truths of the bible; to influence people to change behavior; maybe as a comforter in his pastoral role at the time of a loved one’s passing. We think of elders or deacons as middle-aged or elderly men that have proven themselves faithful in Bible study, perhaps are proven in Bible or Sunday school teaching, maybe knowledgeable regarding methodologies of ceremonies like the Lord’s Supper, serving on committees, accustomed to making joint decisions regarding church discipline, and representing the church in visitation or business matters. These actions describe men of the Word or men of the church, but do these things describe a spiritual warrior? There is a physical working and knowledge side here, and a mental side here, but is there a Spirit-led and empowered battler of evil spirits here? Most of these men would testify to the validity of the Bible; and to its value for keeping their life on track, i.e. a good book for life. A few would testify of the Spirit leading them; most would argue that the Lord orders their steps in some way. Many would draw up short of the Spirit speaking outside of the Bible. But where are the spiritual warriors in today’s world? Those that absolutely head-on confront the evil spirits or principalities?

If we look for a spiritual warrior in the Bible, do we see anything different? David loved the written word, but he had a living faith in God that was outrageous. It was developed from the stories of his ancestors, sure, but also from the delivery of the living God from the bear and the lion. And from the Spirit of God directly creating a great spirit within him. This faith was so real and so large that he would face a giant when all other men in Israel would not. He was a spiritual warrior; not without physical prowess, but a spiritual warrior. It was not his great tools or muscles that empowered him but rather his faith and his God. It was his truly his developed and empowered spirit. All other men that had the opportunity to go out to Goliath were defeated first by fear; they were willing to face captivity of themselves and their family before they would face this large man. But Goliath wasn’t just a man. He was the literal physical embodiment of all that would defy God. He was empowered by the anti-Jehovah spirit. And David was not just a young strong man. He was the embodiment of the faith (the heart) of the Living God Jehovah.

Is the checklist for a spiritual warrior his prayer book? Or his ability to quote the books of the Bible in order correctly? Maybe his knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order and how to run a church committee meeting? Maybe his ability to keep beer out of his refrigerator, curse words off his tongue or lustful thoughts out of his mind? None of those things fully empowers a man to face the giants of our day when none other will.

Will any of those Christian men of today (whether deacon, or pastor, or preacher, or Sunday School teacher) go out and meet today’s Goliaths? Or would they draw up short in fear of legal battles? Or government intervention? Or concerns of political correctness? Or fears of impact on their career and paycheck? Or concerns of separation of church and state? Would you? Would you face the giants of agnosticism? Of the combatant religions? Or even the Christian religious systems? Or the anti-Christs of this world? The Goliaths of this age stand in the middle of the valley and call out a challenge to the current men of God. Will anyone go out to meet them? Would our country be in its current state if any had? The giants of our day don’t necessarily look the same. They are often actually in the shape of a woman now (with public women names of notoriety) but they are giants of the anti-Christ nonetheless.

Jesus, both fully man (born of water and blood) and fully God (conceived of the Spirit; no second birth required), faced the Prince of this world directly, as a man. Knowing the Father fully, with confidence even in God’s promise of the ability to lay His life down and take it up again, weaponless He faced the Jewish rulers and Roman centurions and Roman rulers, and literally all that was anti-God. They mocked Him, harmed Him physically, and tempted, tested and tried Him. And in the greatest display of physical strength and outrageous faith He let them take His physical life, and He literally poured out His soul, and released His spirit from His body to face the torments of hell, to then, upon the authority of His heavenly Father, take up His life again, to defeat the greatest giant of all, i.e. Satan himself in his defined environment. That is a mighty man of faith.

Inspired by His teaching and His living example and His death, His disciples also faced the Goliaths of the day, in city after city after city, to establish a church on the cornerstone of Christ’s great truth and testimony of His Father God. What can you see today regarding what a mighty man of God might look like? Can you see more than a reader of Bible stories? More than a committee leader? How about real men, who have faced the demons of fear, depression, suicide, threat of financial ruin, legal suit, character assassination, the battle of pride, and still emerged on top, unafraid and standing ready to face the giants that come against the people of our God? And then, can you see the giants of this world mocking the one true God today without fear of confrontation? Can you envision a man who steps up and answers the call of Satan giants in today’s world? Where are today’s mighty men? What do you see? What can you be in Christ?

For 2019, will you resolve to prepare better for Sunday School. Or will you resolve to face your fears in preparation for Giant confrontations.

Derek Dougherty

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Memories: Music

Christmas Memories

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” – Luke 2: 13-14 ESV

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His name. And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” – Luke 1:46-55

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath that He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” – Luke 1:68-79

Music is a big part of our Christmas. I have a hard time getting Kathy to NOT play Christmas music until after Thanksgiving! Going Christmas caroling was a part of our Christmas tradition growing up – we hadn’t been caroling in ages until last weekend when a few of us went out to UGA Family/Graduate Housing. We used to sing a lot more of the Christmas songs and hymns in church, too – we miss that.

From the angels song, to Mary and Zechariah’s praises, music has and is a part of Christmas. I was reading a devotion here recently that was discussing Mary’s “Magnificat” and how a simple, young girl reacted to the angel’s message to her. She burst forth into praise, song, and prophecy! How? Why?

And Zechariah first words after being mute for several months was song of praise and prophecy? Why?

I believe that when we – finite, mortal beings – come into the presence and wonder of the eternal God and are touched by Him, we naturally overflow with the knowledge of Him and from Him. We cannot help but praise, prophecy and express our love for Him. I believe this is why music is not only a part of Christmas but is a part of the Revelation saga and will be a part of our eternity with Jesus.

I don’t care if you can’t “carry a tune in a bucket” – if you truly believe that God is who He says He is and He is in you (as He is once you say “Yes” to Him), you should be making a “joyful noise unto the Lord”. This is not putting a fake smile on your face and falsely saying that everything is good, but it is an overflow of the joy that the gift of His grace and mercy should place in our hearts.

This Christmas, look at the words of the Christmas carols and hymns, hear them as if this is the first time. Open your hearts to the wonder of the story. And let the praise overflow from your heart and pour out from your lips.

Be well,
Steve Pierce

Christmas Memories: Lights

Christmas Memories

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. – Isaiah 9:2 ESV

I will make You as a light for the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth. – Isaiah 49:6b ESV

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:16 ESV

I have always loved the lights of Christmas. Even though I have mostly outgrown the need to wake up early on Christmas morning, I still love getting up and just watching the lights on the tree in the stillness of the morning. Each year, Kathy and I find several occasions to go out and look for places to see Christmas lights.

One of my Christmas memories is of Dad loading all four kids into the car to look at lights and to search for Santa. Of course, this gave Mom a chance to finish wrapping presents :-). But we enjoyed the ride and the search. We always made it back home in time to be in bed well before Santa made his arrival.

It is again a season of lights. Not just for those who celebrate Christmas but for Jews who celebrate Hanukkah, with the candles of the menorah, and for Hindus who celebrate Tihar, the festival of lights. The Jews celebrate the power of God to do miracles in saving His people and the Hindus seek to call a goddess to bring wealth into the new year.

For followers of Jesus, the season is not so much the past or the future as it is about the now. Scripture shows us a contrast between the darkness and the Light and it is about His work in our NOW. We have seen Him and light shines on us. We seek Him and we find Him, the Light that fills the dark empty places of our lives. He was, and is and always shall be. He is the Miracle of our past and He is the One who brings true, eternal wealth into each of our years.

And He came for ALL – Jesus is the Light for the Nations! The task has been left to us to take the story of His salvation to the ends of the earth, completing Isaiah’s prophecy. As Christians, “little Christs”, we are to be lights that shine int the darkness wherever we are.

May the Light shine in your lives this Christmas and always!

Be well,
Steve Pierce