In the Word with Pastor Mike

A sense of worth is considered one of the deepest of human needs. Our only true worth must come from the Lord and it is given to us in Christ as the gift of righteousness!

Its easy to see the faults in those around us and overlook the issues in our own lives. progress begins by working on ourselves before others.

Sometimes our most sincere efforts can be misunderstood and our motives questioned. It is in those times that we have to draw deeper into our relationship with the Lord and just know that God knows!

Showing hospitality to others is one of the great characteristics of being a follower of Jesus Christ. Its not always convenient and it typically is going to put you out in some way, but it is a beautiful reflection of the grace that Jesus has given to us through the cross.

Almost may seem like you have attained, but almost is not there. When it comes to salvation in Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sin, almost is lost!

Easy is a virtue that our culture screams, but reality is that easy is not always best. There must be other factors of consideration.

Its a huge mistake not to change our mind or position simply because we have stated something firmly and publicly. In fact, it can be a real sign of spiritual immaturity to be unwilling to change. We must stay open to new direction and opinions as long as they are guided by God's Word and wisdom.

Beliefs from the Bible that Christ followers hold can sometimes put us at odds with the culture around us. The Apostle Paul experienced this himself and his reply was simply, guilty as charged! This should be the response of faith, we may not be understood, but we are on a good foundation with the Lord.

When Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the gospel, He intended that world to include our families! As we pursue our life for Christ we need to be sure that we are continuing to build our relationships with family members who may not know Jesus.

The way we treat other believers is a reflection of our treatment of Christ. Jesus' word to Saul ring out to each of us today, "Saul, Saul, why have you persecuted me?"

No matter how well we treat others it is inevitable that there will be times when our kindness is repaid with rejection. In spite of this. we go on in the name of Jesus with His example of grace before us.

Purpose serves as a guiding light and anchor to life in the face of trials and other uncertainties. Jesus gives to all who follow Him a purpose and it is the believers responsibility to pursue it!

Satan is an uncaring enemy of the soul whose only motivation toward people is to deprive the Lord of the glory they may bring Him. On the other hand, we have the Good Shepherd of our soul, Jesus, who knows us by name and is deeply concerned with our good! He's the One that deserves our undivided devotion and love!

No matter what our individual vocations or likes in marriage, as believers there should be a meeting place in marriage where we come together for the gospel. This is modeled for us so well in the lives of the NT husband and wife team, Aquilla and Priscilla.

As we look out at the many problems we face in the world and our culture, there is a temptation to apply fixes that are only temporary at best. The real lasting change we look for and desire will only come as a result of the good news of Jesus Christ. It is a person by person long range solution not a moral Band-Aid that will never really work.

The consistency by which we live our lives for Christ can actually be one of the greatest witnesses of our faith