When Isaiah promised the birth of a savior for the people of Israel, they didn’t know how long it would take to get the gift, but their hope endured. Like a child waiting for Christmas morning, the believer can be confident that in due time, what God gives will not disappoint.
Generosity is a virtue that comes from the character of God and consists of giving to others without expecting anything in return. We will be generous to others just as God is generous to us.
The widow put the least in the offering, but Jesus demonstrates through her that generosity is not just for those who are wealthy or have it all together. We will be generous even with our small gifts, talents, and acts of service.
Paul tells the Church in Corinth to be generous in giving to others. God will take care of them. We will be generous in our financial giving, wherever God calls us to give.
The parable of the Good Samaritan shows the importance of being generous with our time to serve others. We will take time to be generous and serve others in our Church and community.
A single Bible verse changed the world as we know it. Verse 17 reminds us that God’s righteousness is not earned but given through faith. Every day, but especially on this Confirmation Sunday, we stand to confirm that we are unashamed of the Gospel.
Talk is cheap. It’s easy and it only costs .02. Actions speak louder than words. Action is hard and costly. Getting stuck in a rut of talk without action should not be the norm for the Church because we are called to be doers and not only hearers of the Word.
Focus: Perfection is not our goal, but we do believe that the Lord Jesus and those He calls us to serve are worthy of our best. Do our words and deeds reflect this value?
Let’s be honest – Christians are often not fun people to be around. In fact, they can be downright rude, judgmental, confrontational, and all-around sticks in the mud. Can we be honest about the challenges of life while also demonstrating the life of Jesus in a way that is attractive to people who do not know Jesus?
Lydia was most likely a prominent businesswoman who was instrumental in planting the Church in Philippi. Through faith in Jesus, Lydia came to understand what Paul wrote to the Church in Philippi – “in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)