Your body is by and for God. What do you put in your body? Where do you take it? How do you treat it? These things matter to God. Not because He wishes to limit you, but because He wants to set you free to be what He made you to be. Do you honor God with your body?
Ezra led a remnant of Israelites back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. The journey itself would be long and dangerous, but they trusted God to protect them. Do you pray before a trip? Gather your family together before leaving your driveway and ask God to give you a safe journey.
David knew what it meant to grieve the loss a loved one. Yet in the midst of grieving he learned that he could exchange his mourning for joy in the Lord. Are you grieving a loss today? Bring it to Jesus. Leave it with Him. Let Jesus turn your mourning into dancing.
We waste time asking God “Why?” questions. Some things we understand after years of perspective, others may escape comprehension until Christ’s return. In the meantime, we can trust God and ask better questions, like: “What’s my next step, Lord?”
The message of the cross is spiritual wisdom. We are called to proclaim it to all, but not everyone will understand. God’s Spirit is the power that reveals the truth of the gospel. Explaining it with human wisdom falls short. Instead, we preach it, asking the Spirit to reveal the truth of it to human hearts. What happens when you survey the wondrous cross?
When I am in a fog, fearing the unknown, Jesus is my light, showing the way. When I am drowning in sin and failure, Jesus is my salvation, giving me a fresh start. When others attack and criticize, Jesus is my fortress, reminding me that I live to please an audience of One. No fear.
During King Josiah’s reign the Word of God was found again. Even a nation built on the Word can lose sight of its founding principles. But when a generation rediscovers the Word and proclaims it, revival is the result. What would happen if the people of our nation “found” the Word again?
Do you seek wise counsel before making plans? No matter how wise the leader there is always much to be learned from another’s perspective. We all have blind spots, so we need others to enlarge our vision. These counselors are not to be mere ‘yes’ men agreeing with us. They are to be wise in the biblical sense. Having heard wise advice, be humble enough to follow it.
The apostle Paul described his church-planting strategy: Go where no one has yet heard. This strategy informs our approach at WCC. We want to be a church that grows by preaching the gospel in a clear and relevant way to a generation that is far from God. Do you know someone who has “never heard of Him?” Invite them to join you at WCC this Sunday!
David’s psalm teaches us an important lesson: God is owner and we are His stewards. This is why we should offer the first part of every week, every day and every dollar to God in worship. By offering God our first fruits, we acknowledge His ownership of all.