Wisdom of The Week

     Today has traditionally been associated with the annual “feast of St. Patrick,”  observed especially in the land where the missionary Patrick was very instrumental in turning Ireland from paganism (the Druid religion in particular)  to Christianity in the 5th century.  Although Patrick’s preaching and the churches he founded were evangelical, and although he was never officially canonized as a “saint” by the Roman church, his “day” (the day of his death, March 17th) has been commonly known as “St. Patrick’s Day” for more than a thousand years!

    Patrick was born in Britain in 400 into a Christian family. At age 16 he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and taken as a slave to Ireland.  It was there, working as a herdsman, that he truly developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  After six years in captivity, Patrick escaped and was reunited with his family, but soon he felt that God was calling him to return and preach the Gospel to the very people who had held him captive.

    So, Patrick bravely followed God’s calling and returned to Ireland where over many decades he was devoted to ministry, planting churches and training pastors. Patrick was one of the earliest Christian missionaries and his life showed a commitment to the “Great Commission” of Christ in seeking to share the truths of Christ with the whole world. He showed compassion and forgiveness as he returned to Ireland of his own free will to share the “Good News” of salvation in Christ with the very people who had enslaved him. 

     Patrick used the shamrock with its three leaves as a graphic symbol of the Trinity. His evangelism and exemplary life helped lead thousands to receive Christ and to become new creations in Him (II Cor. 5:17).In pagan Ireland, firstborn children had been sacrificed to their gods of prosperity. So, Patrick’s preaching, and the power of the Gospel he shared, won the battle against human sacrifice in Ireland (Ro. 1:16). (I can’t help but think of the many firstborn children who have been sacrificed in our country by the abortion industry that promises women prosperity if they sacrifice their infants.)

     Protestants and Catholics alike wear green clothing to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day even though his color was really royal blue, the same color that appears on the Irish coat of arms and the flag of the president of Ireland. But, we wear green to remember his example of the Trinity, the shamrock. Also, Ireland has been called the “Emerald Isle” because of its lush green vegetation. (Remember your grade school days when you got pinched on St. Patrick’s Day if you weren’t wearing green!)  

     God has graciously clothed the lands of much of His creation (not just Ireland) with beautiful, eye-soothing green grass and vegetation. Just think of how eye-jarring it would be if all the world were clothed in purple or orange!  The beloved Twenty third Psalm especially incorporates the earth’s green clothing as a metaphor for the spiritual rest believers find in Christ, like sheep following their shepherd. “He makes me lie down in green pastures…” (v. 2). 

     In our often-confusing English language, the word “green” can mean a variety of things.  It can simply refer to the color, which is a mixture of the primary colors yellow and blue. It can refer to areas covered in grass or foliage. It can refer to things, like bananas, that are unripe. It can refer to cut wood that hasn’t cured or dried out. It can refer to inexperience (being a “greenhorn”). It can refer to adopting environmentally conscious practices to minimize pollution and wasteful consumption of our resources. ( Terms like “green energy and green initiatives are used). It can refer to the color of food that has gone bad in your fridge ! It is used to refer to those who are good at growing plants (“You have a green thumb.”). It describes someone who is extremely jealous or envious of others possessions, success, or advantages (Being “green with envy”). It is used as a slang word for paper money (“green backs”). 

     And then, there is something called “The Wordless Book” which includes a page with the color green, along with gold, black, red, and white.  It was first used by Charles Spurgeon in 1866. It soon became a very popular tool used all over the world to explain the plan of salvation to children using the “gospel colors.” Gold represents heaven,  God’s home with its streets of gold. Black represents sin and darkness that prevent us from being with God in heaven (Ro. 3:23; 6:23).  Red represents the blood of Jesus which He shed to pay the penalty of our sins (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:22) so we could join Him in heaven one day. White speaks of how our hearts can be made clean and holy through Jesus’ shed blood (Isa. 1:18; II Cor. 5:21; I Pet. 2:24), Green speaks of things that are alive and growing. After trusting in Christ and His shed blood and resurrection from the dead as our means of forgiveness and eternal life, God wants us to grow in our relationship with Him by talking to Him, reading and meditating on His Word and obeying Him. We are not to stay babes in Christ (I Cor. 3:3; Heb. 5:11-6:1), but are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Pet. 3:18). And, there is no limit to how much we can grow, for as we do we are being conformed to the image of Christ (Ro. 8:29) who is perfect in all His ways. Even the Apostle Paul said, “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on…” (Phi. 3:12).  Someone aptly said, “If you think you’re green, you are growing. If you think your are ripe, you are rotten!”  

     So, keep reading and heeding God’s Word and abiding in (depending on) Christ and you will stay green–alive and growing. “The righteous man will flourish like the palm, tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green” (Psa. 92:12-14).   Let green remind you of your new life in Christ and your opportunity to continue growing in His likeness. Go green!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave N

     In C.S. Lewis’ classic work The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, of the Chronicles of Narnia series, four children (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy) pass through a wardrobe’s portal into the kingdom of Narnia where Aslan the lion is king. He seems to have abandoned the kingdom which is now under the spell of the wicked White Witch, but there are rumors that “Aslan is on the move,” and is soon to return. The children encounter Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who are followers of Aslan. Lucy, wanting to know what Aslan is like, asks: “Is He safe?”  Mr. Beaver replies: “Course he isn’t safe, but he is good. He is the king after all!”

     Aslan, of course, is a picture of our Savior and  King, Jesus Christ, who, after His death, burial and resurrection, ascended back to heaven, but promised that one day He would return to take His followers to be with Him and then later to return to reign on earth as “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Jn. 14:1-3; Rev. 19:6). Meanwhile, Satan (pictured by the White Witch) is “the ruler of this world” (Jn. 12:31). 

     So, is our King Jesus safe?  No, but “He is good–all the time!” The Psalmist wrote: “O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him…O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting…You are good and do good…” (Psa. 34:8; 106:1; 119:68). Someone once came to Jesus and asked Him, ” ‘Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?’  And He said to him, ‘Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good…’ ” (Mt. 19:16,17). 

     Yes, God is good!  But He is not “safe,” in that He will take us out of our comfort zone so that we can learn to depend upon Him and not ourselves. We tend to just become comfortable where we are and not want to step out in faith and take risks. Many who profess to be Jesus’ followers would rather that He just leave them alone. They don’t want their lives disrupted. But, when Jesus comes into our lives, He The Apostle Paul tells us that “If any man is in Christ, He is a new creature, the old things passed plans not just to do some “remodeling,” but to do a complete “makeover.”  away; behold new things have come” (II Cor. 5:17). And he challenges us to “walk in (that) newness of life” (Ro. 6:4).  When Jesus called the fisherman to come and follow Him, “they immediately left the nets, and followed Him” (Mt. 4:19,20). Their lives would never be the same. They left what was comfortable to them and stepped out into the unknown and would face many challenges, but Jesus would be with them. When we leave behind our old life to follow Jesus, we too leave our “comfort zone” and enter into the unknown but Jesus has promised to always be with us (Heb. 13:5b).  We will face adversity and attacks from the enemy but “for this we have Jesus”!  Even if we come to a place where “all” we have is Jesus, we find out that He is enough. He is sufficient for any situation.  We discover that “God is our refuge, and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…” (Psa. 46:1-2a). 

     Jesus came, not just that we “might have life“, but that we might have it “abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). Salvation is not just a “ticket to heaven,” but offers us a whole new life of purpose, joy and victory here on earth as well. But that is only experienced by those who are willing to step out of their “comfort zone” and “trust in the Lord with all their heart, and lean not on their own understanding ” (Pr. 3:5).  That means being “all in” for Jesus; not just giving him a part of your life, but letting Him be Lord of your life, “so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything” (Col. 1:18). And, it won’t be comfortable. He will put you in positions where you must fully trust Him. We will have to acknowledge, as did Paul, that we are “not adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (II Cor. 3:5). “But in all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Ro. 8:37).  

     When I resigned from Hyster Company, where I had been working as an engineer in their corporate office in Portland, Oregon, we instantly went from a comfortable income to no income and needed to raise support. We had two children to care for, but we were confident that God was calling us into a full-time vocational ministry serving Him. That was very uncomfortable, scary and exciting!  We became missionaries working with Rocky Mountain Bible Mission in western Montana (where we grew up). I was an understudy to my father-in-law who had joined RMBM after retiring as a pastor. I had a couple Bible studies and youth groups and Kathy was helping her mom with children’s classes. One of my father-in-law’s Bible studies had grown to the point where they decided to start “Three Lakes Community Bible Church.” But he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia and within a few months passed away, just as we were pouring the foundation for the church. Well, “by default,” I (a “recycled engineer”) became the pastor!  Talk about stepping out of your comfort zone!  But, PTL, God is always faithful. For He who calls you will also do it! (I Thes. 5:24).  We were there for nearly 38 wonderful–though sometimes very challenging–years. What a blessing it was to experience God’s working in our midst. We had the privilege of starting a Bible camp, “Elohim Bible Camp and Retreat Center,” and “Three Lakes Christian School.” It meant stepping out in faith and trusting God.   If you stay in your “comfort zone” because you don’t want God to “mess with your life,” you will miss out on so much. You will miss out on the “abundant life” He offers.  Is He safe? No, but He is good–all the time!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

     Just as “a picture is worth a thousand words,” sometimes a small group of words can convey a much larger meaning–a spiritual maxim. Such is the case with what is called “pithy grabbers.” When I was working as an engineer at Hyster Company in Portland, Oregon from 1969-1974, I enjoyed listening to Dr. Joe Aldrich, who was then a new president of Multnomah School of the Bible, having taken Dr. Jack Mitchell’s place. Dr. Aldrich coined the phrase “pity grabbers” for short proverbs or quotes which convey a deep meaning. 

     According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, the word “pithy” means “terse and full of substance or meaning.”  A synonym might be “concise.” Thus a “pithy grabber” is a concise statement which really gets (grabs) your attention. The Bible is full of such “pithy grabbers,” many of which continue to be used today. One whole book is full of such concise, attention-getting, statements. They were compiled by King Solomon and the book is called “Proverbs.”  A “proverb” is a short, pithy, saying stating a general truth or piece of advice.”  Solomon, who was given great wisdom from God (I Kgs. 3:9-13), “also spoke 3,000 proverbs and his songs were 1,005” (I Kgs. 4:32). Some 522 of those proverbs are included in the book of Proverbs in our Bibles.  Included are wisdom “sayings “such as: “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently” (Pr. 13:24), “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Pr. 4:23), and “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances” (Pr. 25:11).  

     The Bible has had a tremendous impact on lives ever since it was divinely given by inspiration of God and recorded by some 40 authors over a period of about 1500 years (II Tim. 3:16,17; II Pet. 1:20,21). The message of the Bible of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ has been transforming lives for centuries and continues to do so today. But, we can also see the influence the Bible has had on society in our everyday language, with the common use of many proverbial sayings and phrases that have  transcended generations, civilizations and cultures–enduring for thousands of years–all across the globe. Many of us, unknowingly, use numerous sayings that originated in Scripture.  Some are not used in the same context as they originated, but most actually are. Many are taken from the KJV and others from more modern translations. Here are some that you might recognize:

     “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3)                                              “Baptism of fire” (Mt. 3:11; Lk. 3:16)       “Forbidden fruit” (Gen. 2:16,17)                                          “Salt of the earth” (Mt. 5:13)

     “By the sweat of your brow” (Gen. 3:19)                             “Go the extra mile” (Mt. 5:41)

      “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust” (Gen. 3:19)                        “Don’t cast your pearls before the                                                                                                    swine” (Mt. 7:6)

     “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4:9)                              “The straight and narrow” (Mt. 7:14)

     “As old as Methuselah” (Ge. 5:25-27)                                “A house divided cannot stand”                                                                                                        (Mt.12:25; Mk. 3:25; Lk. 11:17)

     “Fire and Brimstone” (Gen. 19:24; Ps. 11:6; Rev. 21:8)    “Fall by the wayside” (Mt. 13:4;                                                                                                           Mk.4:4)

     “Land of milk and honey” (Ex. 3:8)                                    “Flesh and blood” (Mt. 16:7;                                                                                                                         Ezel 6:12)

     “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Ex. 21:23-25; Lev. 24:19,20)       “Cross to bear” (Mt. 16:24)

     “Scapegoat” (Lev. 16:10)                                                    “Move mountains” (Mt. 17:20; 21:21;                                                                                               Mk. 11:23; I Cor. 13:2)

     “The apple of his eye” (Dt. 32:10; Zech. 2:8)                      “Millstone around your neck”                                                                                                            (Mt. 18:6; Mk. 9:42; Lk. 17:2)

     “A man after my heart” (I Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22)             “The eleventh hour” (Mt. 20:6)

     “Put words in one’s mouth” (II Sam. 14:3)                          “He who lives by the sword dies by                                                                                                   the sword” (Mt. 26:52)                     “Put your house in order” (II Kgs. 20:1; Isa. 38:1)                “Wash your hands of the matter”                                                                                                             (Mt. 27:24)

     “Nothing but skin and bones” (Job 19:20)                            “Good Samaritan” (Lk. 1):30-37)

     “By the skin of your teeth” (Job 19:20)                                 “O ye of little faith!” (Lk. 12:28)

     “Behemoth” (Job 40:15)                                                      “Give up the ghost” (Lk. 23:46;

                                                                                                Jn. 19:30; Acts 12:23)

     “Broken heart” (Ps. 34:18; 69:20)                                       “Throw the first stone” (Jn. 8:7)

     ” At their wits end” (Psa. 107:27)                                        “Better to give than to receive”

                                                                                                (Acts 20:35)

     “Pride comes before a fall” (Pr. 16:18)                               “A law unto themselves” (Ro. 2:14)

     “Spare the rod, spoil the child” (Pr. 13:24)                         “The powers that be” (Ro. 13:1)

     “Nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9)                            “Signs of the times” (Mt. 16:3)

     “For everything there is a season” (Eccl. 3:1)                    “The kiss of death” (Mt. 26:48-50)

     “Eat, drink, and be merry” (Eccl. 8:15; Lk. 12:19)              “The truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:32)

     “A fly in the ointment” (Eccl. 10:1)                                     “The twinkling of an eye”

                                                                                                (I Cor. 15:52)

     “A little birdie told me” (Eccl. 10:20)                                  “The letter of the law” (II Cor. 3:6)

     “The four corners of the earth” (Isa. 11:12)                       “You reap what you sow” (Gal. 6:7)

     “A drop in the bucket” (Isa. 40:15)                                    “Fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:4)

     “See eye to eye” (Isa. 52:8)                                              “Labor of love” (I Thes. 1:3)

     “Like a lamb to the slaughter” (Isa. 53:7; Jer. 11:19)        “The love of money is the root of all                                                                                                      evil” (I Tim. 6:10)

     “No rest for the wicked” (Isa. 57:21)                                 “A thorn in the flesh” (II Cor. 12:7)

     “Rise and shine” (Isa. 60:1)                                             “Wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Mt. 7:15)

     “Can a leopard change his spots?” (Jer. 13:23)              “Fight the good fight” (I Tim. 6:12)

     “Set your teeth on edge” (Jer. 31:29)

     “Sour grapes” (Ezek. 18:2)

     “Feet of clay” (Dan. 2:31-33)

     “Handwriting on the wall” (Dan. 5:5,6)

     “Ends of the earth” (Zech. 9:10)

     Quite obviously many people know more from the Bible than they realize!  But, they also need to know the “God of the Bible,” and we get to know Him through God the Son, Jesus Christ, who came to reveal God to us (John 1:1-3,14,18; Heb. 1:1-3) and to provide the way to eternal life through His sacrifice for our sins. (Jn. 3:16; I Jn. 4:9,10).   If you have never done so, put your trust in Him today. Acknowledge your sin and thank Him that He paid the penalty for them by dying on the cross and rising from the grave. 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

P.S.  I have been compiling “pithy grabbers” for about 50 years and have them all categorized by subject and hope to publish them one day soon, but if you would like me to email them to you (about 165 pages!) you could put them on a flash drive. Let me know if you would like them and I will send them to you.

     We enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles during the winter months. Recently, after quite a few hours of work, we conquered a puzzle which was called “The Impossible Puzzle.”  Not only was the picture on the box a bit misleading, but the puzzle had no “edge” pieces. Normally we pick out the edge (or frame) pieces first and build the border or frame of the puzzle. Then we can work from there. But in this case there were no edge pieces to get you started. It made it much more difficult.  Borders and boundaries are a part of life and serve an important purpose.  When God created, He set a boundary to separate light from darkness (Gen. 1:4). He also set boundaries between land and water. “He set for the sea its boundary, so that the water should not transgress His command: ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther’ ” (Prov. 8:29; Job 38:11 cf Psa. 104:9).  God created only two genders–male and female (Gen. 1:27; 5:2). God also put boundaries on His creation of plants and animals such that they would only reproduce “after their kind,” not evolve into new kinds (Gen. 1:11). Included in His covenant with Abraham, God promised Abraham’s descendants a land, whose boundaries are given in Gen. 15:18-21. (Note this promise has not yet been completely fulfilled, but will be when when Christ returns. Compare Gen. 15:18-21 with I Kgs. 4:21.)  At Mount Sinai, God gave His people a whole list of “boundaries” which would affect every area of their lives.  If they stayed within those boundaries, they would experience God’s blessings. 

     One of the key issues in the recent presidential election was the masses of illegals crossing our very insecure borders and pouring into our country. Quite a number of those entering have since committed violent crimes–including murder–across our nation.

    There is a reason a country has borders–to protect it. This has been true from the beginning of time. After sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, even Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden and not permitted to go back in. God placed cherubim with flaming swords to guard the entrance (Gen. 3:22-24). This was both punishment and an act of mercy lest they should eat of the “tree of life” and live forever in a sinful state of alienation. 

     We have grown up with boundaries all our lives. Parents (should) set boundaries for their children. These boundaries protect them and help them learn the rewards of obedience and consequences of disobedience. When we play games of baseball, basketball, tennis, football, soccer, etc, we have boundaries and rules that govern the game.  Some areas are “out of bounds” and not part of the “playing field.”  There are standards for such things as the basket height in basketball, the net height in tennis, the distance between bases in baseball, the width of the soccer goal, etc.  When we travel in our vehicles, the roads have boundaries and road signs which we must obey to be safe. If it weren’t for boundaries and rules all would be chaos!  God is a “God or order” 

     Similarly, God sets boundaries for our benefit and to remind us that we are not the rule makers–He is!  Boundaries can help Christians live a more fulfilling life, and they help us stay in closer fellowship with Jesus. They protect our well-being and safeguard our spiritual health, mental wellness and physical health. “God is not a God of confusion but of peace (order)…” (I Cor. 14:33). It is His orderly hand that holds the world together (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17). And, because He is a “God of order,” He deals with us in an orderly way–and that involves boundaries and rules.

     We can look at boundaries in one of two ways: to limit our freedom, or to keep us safe. Without boundaries, there would be chaos. Just think of what would happen if we didn’t have lane markers and signage on our roads. We would have multiple accidents, traffic jams and lots of road rage! Boundaries are designed to keep us safe, not to limit our freedoms (cf Gen. 2:16,17). Boundaries were designed to remind us that we are not God. Do we always agree with or appreciate the boundaries? No. We complain, thinking many are unfair. The serpent (Satan) challenged Eve’s understanding of God’s boundaries and of the consequences for heeding those boundaries. He got her to question the goodness of God. Well, you know the rest of the story!

     God established boundaries as a way to teach us to trust Him. They protect us and actually give us greater freedom, not less. We don’t need to know all of God’s reasons for setting them in order to obey.  It only takes one time of crossing the boundary to feel the deep pain of what we have done.  Stepping outside God’s boundaries always brings consequences. Just ask Adam and Eve (Gen. 3 cf Ro. 1:18-32)!  But, praise God, when we step outside God’s boundaries, His mercy and grace are available. God provided animal skin coverings for Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21),  Going outside God’s boundaries is called sin, “And, if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation (satisfying the justice of a holy God) for our sins… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I Jn. 2:1,2; 1:9). 

      God has set boundaries for us, not to limit us, but for us to have abundant life (Jn. 10:10). As we live within His boundaries, we not only won’t harm ourselves and others, but we will experience His great blessings (Eph. 1:3). Jesus said, “He who has my commandments and keeps them, he is the one who loves Me, and he who loves me will be loved by My Father and I will love him, and will disclose (manifest) Myself to him” (Jn. 14:21). 

     I remember an account in James Dobson’s classic book on childrearing, Dare To Discipline, of an experiment which was conducted where they observed children’s activities on a playground both with and without a bordering fence. With the fence up, children utilized the whole playground. Without the fence, they stayed close to the school building. The lesson? Fences provide a sense of security and freedom!  

Forever His,

Pastor Dave 

          The United States has a very unique history and has been greatly blessed by God who has used this great nation to bring the gospel to the far corners of the globe and to minister to many, many nations in their times of need. Key to the blessings our nation has experienced has been our foundation on biblical principles and the leadership of many who, although not all Christians, have had a respect for and support of biblical values. The Psalmist wrote: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD (Jehovah)” (Psa. 33:12). Unfortunately in recent years, it seems our nation has lost its respect and reverence for the LORD and for biblical values and we have been paying the price for turning our back on the God who has made this nation great. It is encouraging that under the new administration we appear to be headed back in the right direction. So, as I wrote recently in a “Wisdom of the Week,” “Don’t Stop Praying!” Pray that our leaders will depend upon God and look to Him for wisdom in their decision making.

     Many can remember when we observed holidays on both the birthday of President Lincoln (Feb. 12) and that of President Washington (Feb. 22). These two men were widely revered as our nation’s greatest presidents, and their birthdays were patriotic holidays. But our commemoration has “devolved” into a three-day holiday theoretically honoring all presidents. We are thankful, of course, that most of our presidents have indeed been God-fearing men. None were atheists and almost all have professed belief in Christ and the Bible. God surely led our founders when they formed our constitutional republic, and most of our presidents and most other leaders have diligently supported it. Christianity has thrived in our country–until recently–and we have been acknowledged everywhere as the world’s greatest nation. Only if we return to honoring, and fearing God, will that continue.  So, pray, pray, pray!

    While neither George Washington nor Abraham Lincoln were particularly “religious” in worship or lifestyle, both men believed in God and creation, and both were men who prayed for wisdom and guidance in the establishment and preservation of our nation. The day before his 52nd birthday, Abraham Lincoln left Springfield, Illinois, to become President of the United States. With the threat of civil war looming, he said goodbye to the friends and neighbors who had come to see him off. “I now leave,” he told them, “not knowing when, or whether ever, I  may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trust in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.” Lincoln’s reliance on God for guidance and strength reflects the instruction of Solomon: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight (direct your paths)” (Prov. 3:5,6).  Living without trust in God is like driving in the fog!  Praise God for our leaders who have put their trust in the Living God for wisdom and direction. Pray that President Trump and his staff will do so.  

     Some of the wisdom God provided President Lincoln is evidenced in many of his sayings which have been passed on to us.

Here are some quotations from Abraham Lincoln:

     “Whatever you are, be a good one”  (Check out Col. 3:17, 23,24)

     “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” 

     “Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them.” 

     “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.”

     “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.”

     “I don’t know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know who his grandson will be.”

     “You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.”

     “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed

          ourselves.”

     “If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?”

     “Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”

     Abraham Lincoln often visited hospitals to talk with wounded soldiers during the Civil War. Once, doctors pointed out a young soldier who was near death and Lincoln went over to his bedside and asked if there was anything he could do for the young man. The soldier, who did not realize it was the President of the United States, asked him to help write a letter to his mother. The soldier began but was too weak to finish the letter, so Lincoln signed the letter for him and added, “Written for your son by Abraham Lincoln.” The young man asked to see the note and was astonished when he discovered who had written it. “Are you really the President?” He asked. “Yes, I am,” Lincoln replied quietly. Then he asked if there was anything else he could do. “Would you please hold my hand?” the soldier asked. “It will help to see me through to the end.” In the hushed room, the tall gaunt President took the boy’s hand in his and spoke warm words of encouragement until death came.

     Lincoln was one of our greatest and most beloved presidents because of his servant leadership and the true love he had for his fellow men and for the Lord. He seemed to serve God in all he did. That’s an example of a leader we can look to with pride. That’s an example of a godly man that should inspire all of us. 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

     Someone recently sent us a photo on Facebook of a marquee that read:

               “AMERICA, THE DONKEY AND ELEPHANT WON’T HELP. 

                  WE MUST TURN BACK TO THE LAMB!” 

     There’s some good theology there!  We may be encouraged by the direction the new Trump administration is taking our country, but “the kingdom of God is not going to be ushered in on Air Force One !” No president, no matter whether he is a conservative republican (elephant) or a liberal democrat (donkey) is going to fix the problems in terms of what ails America. Our problem is spiritual, not political. That’s why, in last week’s “Wisdom of the Week, ” I challenged you to pray for our new president and his administrative team to make wise, godly decisions for our country in order that “the church can do its work.”  We pray for our leaders so that we believers can live out our faith in a way that is unhindered and unrestrained by the government (I Tim. 2:1-4).  As Christians, we should pray for our leaders so that the government will leave us alone to live the Christian life, which includes evangelism and discipleship. 

      Just remember, we can’t be saved by a “donkey” or an “elephant,” but only by a “lamb”–“The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29).  All the issues our nation faces (whether it is increased crime and violence, sexual perversions, confusion over gender or the institution of marriage or…) are really spiritual, not political problems and can ultimately only be solved by changed hearts and only God can do that. Basically, every problem is a spiritual problem and no amount of education or political reform can deal with the heart of the problem, which is the problem of the heart. Jeremiah 17:9 says: “Thus says the LORD, ‘cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength…Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD.  For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit. The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately (incurably) sick. Who can understand it?’ ” 

     So, I am greatly encouraged by the changes being made and the direction President Trump and his team are headed and our prayers are that through this change, God creates an atmosphere in which we have open doors to spread the Gospel, for it alone has the power to change lives (Ro. 1:16).  The great need for us, whatever culture or country we live in, is to be salt and light so that people can come to know Christ (Mt. 5:13-16). So, we need to pray not only for our leaders, but also for ourselves that we would be His ambassadors, helping others to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ (II Cor. 5:18-20). When people are reconciled to God by faith in Jesus Christ, they become new creatures in Him and the old passes away and the new comes(II Cor. 5:17).  They begin seeing things from God’s perspective and have a whole new worldview–one based on the truths of God’s Word.  As lives are transformed, culture changes and God can truly “bless our nation.”  

    We have needed more “common sense” in the role of leadership and it appears we are headed in that direction–Praise the Lord!  But, guess where “common sense” comes from. It comes from seeing things as they truly are, that is, how God made them. So, common sense comes from following the truths and principles of God’s Word.  When a life is transformed by the power of the Good News about Jesus dying for our sins and rising again, we start developing a life based on truth and make wise decisions based on that foundation. 

     So, while we see positive signs of change in the right direction, remember that our hope is in the Lamb, not a donkey or an elephant!  Our hope is in the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, the One who gave His life to redeem us from sin and to give us a whole new life. I like the lyrics of the song by Daniel Gardiner: “My Life Is In You Lord.”

                      “My life is in You, Lord

                       My strength is in You, Lord

                       My hope is in You, Lord

                       In You, it’s in You.

                       I will praise You with all of my life

                       I will praise You with all of my strength

                       With all of my life

                       With all of my strength

                       All of my hope is in You.”

Amen!

Forever His, Pastor Dave N

     One of the places we go by on our daily walk has a sign in their yard which reads: “DON’T STOP PRAYING.”  There is also a popular contemporary Christian song by Matthew West which is titled, “Don’t Stop Praying.”  The lyrics emphasize the importance of being persistent in prayer. That’s great, biblical advice!  Luke records a parable that Jesus taught His disciple “to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart” (Lk. 18:1).  Note too, the Apostle Paul’s challenge to the believers at Colossae: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2).  And to the church at Thessalonica, Paul wrote: “Pray without ceasing” (I Thes. 5:18). 

     If you have been praying for an unsaved friend, family member or neighbor to come to know Christ, don’t quit!  If you have been praying for a missionary or Christian ministry, keep it up!  If you have been praying for your children and grandchildren to keep Christ first in their lives, don’t stop.  If you have been praying for a broken relationship to be mended, keep on praying. 

     And, if you were praying for the presidential election and for our country, don’t quit now!  We might be excited that the previous administration with its progressive, liberal, socialist ideas and “Woke” agenda promoting abortion, LGBTQ, Cancel Culture, Critical Race Theory, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and the suppression of free speech and public expression of one’s Christian faith has ended with the election of Donald J. Trump and J. D. Vance.  But, that doesn’t mean the spiritual battle going on in our country (and across the world) is over. Satan will not give up until he and his demonic forces are cast into the Lake of Fire (Mt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10). I appreciate that the January 2025 issue of Decision magazine focused on the need to pray for the president and his staff, with an excellent article by Franklin Graham. 

     On January 20th, Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States, becoming only the second president in history (joining Grover Cleveland) to serve two non-consecutive terms. This is a critical time for the United States on so many fronts. Many believers have been upholding this nation in prayer, realizing how far we have plunged down a spiral of evil and immorality and suppression of biblical values. It would seem that by the providence and mercy of God, we have been given a breath of fresh air and renewed hope for our country. It is obvious that God spared Donald Trump’s life from the assassin’s bullet and brought him to this position as our next president “for such a time as this.” But, there will continue to be enemies that threaten our nation, both from without and from within. So we must not stop praying!  Prayer is vital to the success of the leadership and the well-being of the people. In I Tim. 2:1-4, Paul wrote: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 

     Trump has appointed some very capable, quality people (who love our country!) to serve in this administration, including a number of committed Christians such as Mike Huckabee (Ambassador to Israel), Marco Rubio (Secretary of State), Scott Turner (Dept. of Housing and Urban Development), Brook Rollins (Secretary of the Department of Agriculture), Doug Collins (Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs), Kristi Noem (Secretary of Homeland Security), and Pam Bondi (Attorney General).

     I strongly urge you to pray daily for President Trump and Vice President Vance and his whole leadership team. Pray for the salvation of any who do not know Christ personally. Pray that they will look to God each day for wisdom, guidance and discernment. Pray that our leaders will bend their hearts toward God and humbly seek His will  (Prov. 21:1). Pray that those Christians in places of leadership will give President Trump godly counsel and that he will listen (Pr. 15:22; 24:5,6). Pray that President Trump and his staff heed the advice of Solomon who wrote: “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles” (Pr.21:23); “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Pr. 21:23); “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.”  Pray that each will maintain a heart of compassion and concern for others (Phil. 2:2-5). Pray that those who know Christ will stand strong and have a voice and positive influence for the Kingdom of God (Mt. 5:13-16; I Cor. 16:13,14; II Cor. 5:17-20). Pray that God will protect President Trump and his team from harm. Pray that our leaders will make wise decisions and our legislators will enact laws based on sound biblical principles and values that enable us to experience the freedoms our founding fathers intended for this great nation which was established by the providence of God. 

     So, don’t stop praying, but keep in mind that the government is only protecting our freedom and the ability to do the work that only the Church can do!  Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change hearts and thus a culture.  We have been given an opportunity to advance the Gospel. Don’t waste it!  “We can’t feel like our responsibility ended when we cast our votes in November, or that somehow we can delegate this responsibility to the government. We cannot!  We need godly men and women in government so that the government stays out of the way so the church is unhindered in doing the work God has called it to do. Now the real work of changing hearts and minds and retaking the moral ground in our country begins” (Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council). As Christians–those who know truth and the One who is Truth–we should be those who contribute to the rebuilding of trust and the greatness of this nation. We have a great opportunity ahead of us. Let’s take advantage of it for the Kingdom’s sake.

Forever His,

Pastor Dave N

        What an encouragement it has been to hear athletes using the platform provided to them through their successes to share their faith and to bring all the glory to the Lord.  Will Howard, quarterback for the Ohio State University Buckeyes and Riley Leonard, quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are both committed Christ followers.  Howard and Leonard helped their teams make it through the BCS playoffs to face off tonight for the national championship.  In  interviews following victories in the playoffs, both quarterbacks openly shared their faith and gave God the glory. 

     Will Howard, who transferred from Kansas State to Ohio State, this year threw for 3,779 yards with 33 touchdowns and he also rushed for 7 touchdowns. After the Buckeyes commanding win over Oregon in the Rose Bowl (BCS quarter final), Howard, in his post-game interview, said: “First and foremost, I gotta thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving me the opportunity to be on this stage in the Rose Bowl.” Even after a defeat by their top rival, Michigan, early in the season, Howard stated, “I know God is putting those obstacles in front of us to grow us and there’s a reason for it. I’m going to just trust the plan. We’ve got to trust in the Lord and lean on Him even in the midst of life’s ups and downs.” {NOTE: The Oregon Ducks, who went into the Rose Bowl undefeated, were led by quarterback, Dillon Gabriel who said, “God drives me every day.” He lives out his Christian faith both on the team and in the community. He played football for Millani High School in Hawaii, setting a state record, throwing for 9,948 yards. The Oregon Ducks have had several Christian quarterbacks in recent years who have gone on to the NFL, including Marcus Mariota (also from Hawaii) and Bo Nix.] 

     The Buckeyes went on to beat the Texas Longhorns in the BCS semifinal. 

     You may recall that this past August, just before the fall football season began, a revival broke out on the Ohio State campus, led by a former football team captain, wide receiver Kamyra Babb, and a group of local churches. Many gave their lives to Christ, including prominent members of the football team like Treveyon Henderson, J.T. Tuimday, and Emeka Egbuke. At least 60 students who trusted Christ gave their testimonies and were baptized in livestock water tanks in front of a crowd of 2,000 or more. 

     A similar spiritual renewal has been happening at Notre Dame where attendance at quarter back Riley Leonard’s Thursday night Bible study for players has been growing rapidly. After Notre Dame’s victory in the Sugar Bowl over the Penn State, Riley Leonard began his interview saying: First of all, I just want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Without Him, I wouldn’t be here; we wouldn’t be here.” 

     And, by the way, quarterback Quinn Ewers of the Longhorns, after losing to the Buckeyes of Ohio State in the semifinal matchup, said: “I just want to fully give myself to Christ and fully allow His will to be done in my life.” Wide receiver, Jahdae Barron, for the Longhorns said: “I just want to say one thing. I just want everybody to know; you sometimes don’t come out on top, but our leader is Jesus Christ and ultimately, just having the ability to use the gift He gave us, to share with the world, it’s been amazing!” 

     Whatever happens tonight in the championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame, an amazing story of faith and witness has occurred across the spectrum of college football in 2024-2025, as Jesus’ followers have boldly used their platform to testify of their relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  

     “Platform of Ministry” refers to the various avenues through which believers can share about Jesus Christ. It may come through preaching, teaching, acts of service, outreach programs, social media, community involvement, and through using God-given talents and skills (as with these college athletes) to spread the Good News and exalt Christ. 

     The platform of ministry may even be one that we didn’t choose or strive toward.  The Apostle Paul and Silas, because of their ministry in Philippi, were accused of “throwing the city into confusion” (Acts 16:20) and were beaten and thrown into prison with their feet placed in stocks(vv. 22-24). “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (v. 25). God sent an earthquake and “all the prison doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened”(v. 26).  The jailer, thinking everyone would escape on his watch, was about to kill himself when Paul said, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!” (v. 28).  The jailer, seeing they were all still there, asked Paul and Silas what he needed to do to be saved. “And they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household’ ” (v. 31).  Paul and Silas’s platform of ministry was a jail cell in Philippi. And, that wasn’t the only time Paul had that “platform” to minister to others the Good News of the Gospel. He ended up either under house arrest or in jail in Rome a couple times. During that time he wrote several letters which we have in our Bibles: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and II Timothy.  In his letter to the believers at Philippi, Paul wrote this: “Now I want you to know brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well know throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear” (Phil. 1:12-14). 

     On another occasion, it was due to an illness, that Paul spent time ministering in Galatia (Gal. 4:12-14). Paul used his imprisonments as well as his illness as platforms of ministry.  Often, due to our physical needs, we have opportunity to be a witness to medical personnel and all who are watching to see if our Christianity makes a difference. 

     God has unlimited ways to provide for us platforms of ministry for Him.  Whether it comes through success in sports, time in prison, or suffering with illness or injury, or a multitude of other avenues, let’s be sure we use that platform to give testimony to our faith in Jesus Christ, to share the Gospel, and to give all the glory to Jesus Christ who provided us with that “opportunity.” 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave N

     On July 26th, 1997, I conducted a marriage ceremony at the Cabinet View Country Club in Libby, Montana for Roger Johnston and Cindy Ostrem, both avid golfers. Roger and Cindy had a son, Ryggs, who, when he was 2 or 3 years old, received a plastic golf set for Christmas and his dedication to the sport began. By age 5 he was spending hours on the putting green with a real putter. Ryggs had amazing hand-eye coordination and athletic ability and a desire to win. He became proficient at a lot of sports, practicing countless hours every season. He especially excelled at basketball and golf. Ryggs has that rare combination of God-given ability coupled with determination, discipline, and drive.   After a successful career at Libby High School which included multiple state championships in golf, Ryggs went on to compile an impressive list of accomplishments at Arizona State University, including the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the year in 2022-23, excelling on the golf team while maintaining a 4.00 grade-point average. 

     This past December 1st, Ryggs Johnston at the age of 24 etched his name into the history books with his first professional victory, winning the prestigious Australian Open, finishing 18 under and becoming just the 11th American-born player to capture the Aussie Open, joining a list that includes Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson!  Going into the tournament Ryggs was ranked 954 on the Official World Golf Ranking list. His win moved him to 316th!  Johnston is the first winner of any professional tournament to come from Libby, a town of under 5,000 people, nestled at the base of the beautiful Cabinet Mountain Wilderness and bordering the Kootenai River in the northwest corner of Montana. 

     As amazing as the story of Ryggs Johnston is, it pales in comparison to the story of how the Creator of all things came to Earth to be born as a man in order to suffer and die and pay the penalty for sin so that we could believe and spend eternity with Him (Jn. 3:16).  He was born in very humble circumstances in the little village of Bethlehem and the news was first announced to lowly shepherds (Lk. 2:1-20).  Jesus grew up as a carpenter’s son in Nazareth, a small Jewish community in Galilee that was not considered a significant or great town. It had a low reputation in Israel, and many sophisticated Jews considered it to be unimportant, low-down and backwards.  Estimates of the population of Nazareth when Jesus grew up there range from 200 to 1600. (A recent archaeological investigation put the estimated population at 1,000). 

     As Jesus began His public ministry, He selected twelve men whom He would disciple and in just three years commission to take the Gospel to the far corners of the earth (Mt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). After selecting Andrew and his brother Simon (Peter), Jesus “found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow Me'”  (John 1:35-43).  Then “Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ And Nathaniel said to him, ‘Can any good thing come out of ‘ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see‘ ” (vv. 45,46).  Nathaniel expressed skepticism about Jesus’ origin, as Nazareth was considered a small and insignificant town, implying something positive could not come from that place!  But Philip’s response is classic. He said to Philip, “Come and see,” encouraging Nathaniel to experience Jesus for Himself.  Nathaniel was surprised to learn that Jesus was from Nazareth and questioned whether a good person could come from such a humble place. His response reflected the low regard many Jews held for Nazareth at the time. Philip’s reply, “Come and see,” is an invitation to overcome preconceived notions and directly experience the truth about Jesus (Who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”…Jn. 14:6). 

     Maybe some of you reading this struggle with who Jesus is, how He came to earth or where He grew up, or how He could actually be “God in the flesh” as the Bible says (Jn. 1:1-3,14,18). Well, “Come and see!”  Check it out. Get into God’s Word, the Bible, and read for yourself about who Jesus is and why He came. Read the book of John, which He wrote “that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah/ “anointed one”), the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn. 20:30,31).  Jesus may have been born in humble circumstances and grown up in a town of low regard, but He was indeed God in the flesh, come to redeem us through offering Himself a sacrifice for sin–my sin and your sin–so that “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16b). Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (Jn. 5:24). “And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life;  he who has not the Son of God does not have the life” (I Jn. 5:11,12). 

     Can any good thing come out of that little town of Nazareth in Galilee? “Come and See!”

Forever His,

Pastor Dave N

     Did any of you give or receive any “used” items for Christmas?  Probably not!  We all like  getting “new” things which have never been used by anyone before. We get to be the first to use or wear the item.  In fact, receiving new things, especially when they are considered novel or unexpected, triggers the release of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that plays a key role in many bodily functions, including movement, memory and motivation. It is released when you do or experience something enjoyable or beneficial, and is associated with feelings of pleasure and reward. (Note: this can make you want to repeat the behavior, which is why dopamine plays a role in addiction.)  Low levels of dopamine can lead to depression while high levels can lead to competitiveness and aggression.

     It is interesting how often the word “new” is used in the Bible. We find it some 148 times, 87 in the OT and 61 times in the NT.  Solomon, who was given great wisdom by God, failed to heed God’s advice from his father David to “know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and willing mind…” (I Chr. 28:9). He also disobeyed a clear Scriptural command to not multiply horses or wives or to accumulate gold and silver for himself (Dt. 17:16,17) and his foreign wives (he had 700 and 300 concubines!) turned his heart away from the true God of Israel (I Kgs. 11:1-6).  As a result he experienced the futility of life without God at the forefront and wrote some depressing verses in the book of Ecclesiates about the emptiness and boredom of life, saying “all is vanity…All things are wearisome…there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1: 2,8,9). 

     But, when we do pursue God and follow and serve Him with a whole heart, we discover that He is the “God of new things.”  You will notice that God often gave someone a new name to reflect what He was doing in and through their lives. For example, Jacob’s name (which means “deceiver”) was changed to “Israel” (which means “God perseveres,” or “one who struggled with God,” or “a man seeing God”...Gen. 35:10 cf 32:28). To Simon, Jesus gave the name “Peter” which means “rock.”  The “sand man” would become the “rock man.”  

     To the nation of Israel (the descendants of Jacob) God said, “Behold, I will do a new thing” (Isa. 43:19; 48:6) ..referring to their future spiritual restoration). God said, “And the nations will see your righteousness and all the kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name…” (Isa. 62:2). God said He would “…make a new covenant with the house of Israel…” (Jer. 31:31 cf Heb. 8:8,13).   God promised that He would put a “new heart and new spirit” within them (Ezek. 11:19; 13:26). 

     God also said that He would “create a new thing in the earth–a woman will encompass a man” (Jer. 31:22).  Only God can “create” a new thing (not just a combination of existing things). The “new thing” here refers to how God would produce a perfect body without human sin in a womb of a virgin (cf Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:21; Lk. 1:35).God took on human form but, through the virgin birth, without the sin nature passed down from Adam (Ro. 5:12,19).   Then, as the “lamb without spot or blemish” pictured by the Passover (Ex. 12:5), Jesus sacrificed His life to put away sin once and for all(Jn. 1:29; I Cor. 5:7; Heb. 9:11-14; 10:10-14).  Jesus became “the mediator of a new covenant” through His shed blood(Heb. 9:15; Mt. 26:28; I Cor. 11:25; Eph. 1:7).   Thus our Bible is divided into two sections: the Old Testament (covenant) and New Testament (covenant).  The “old covenant” was through the Law, which while being perfect, could make no one perfect but only revealed sinfulness. The “new covenant” is based on the blood sacrifice of the “Lamb of God” which didn’t just cover sin, but put it away (Jn. 1:29). Jesus said, as He introduced the “Lord’s Supper” or “Communion”: “For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sin” (Mt. 26:28). 

     When we apply the blood to our lives through faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross on our behalf, we are given a whole “new” life in Jesus Christ. Paul wrote: “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away; behold new things have come” (II Cor. 5:17).  Even though we still have the old, sinful nature, we receive a new, divine nature (II Pet. 1:4) as Christ comes to live in us through the Holy Spirit. We are no longer in bondage to our flesh (old, sinful nature), but can choose to be “filled (controlled) by the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). And, if we “walk by the Spirit, we will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).  Because the resurrected Christ lives in us, we can “walk in newness of life” (Ro. 6:4).  (Doing so, by the way, releases lots of dopamine! It is the “abundant life” Jesus came to provide…Jn. 10:10).  We can also look forward to one day having a “new” body like that of Jesus’ resurrected body (Ro. 8:23; I Cor. 15:42-52; Phil. 3:20,21).   And, not only that, but we can anticipate the day when 

God makes new heavens and new earth(Isa. 65:17; 66:22; II Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21). There will be a “new Jerusalem” (Rev. 3:12) which descends to the new earth and we will dwell there eternally with God and all the saints from all of history. We will have a “new name” (Rev. 2:17; 3:12) and will sing a “new song” (Rev. 5:9; 14:3).   

     So, do you like “new” things?  Well, entrust your life to the One who said, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Rev. 21:5)!

Happy New Year!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave N