THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF JOY

“While they were there, the time came for Mary to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped Him in a blanket and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel. There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.’”  (Luke 2:6-12 MSG)

Christmas is more than lights, gifts, and traditions -- it is the announcement of joy breaking into a weary world. The shepherds, ordinary men keeping watch in the dark, were the first to hear the angel’s proclamation of a “great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide.” This joy was not dependent on circumstances, wealth, or status. It was rooted in the arrival of Jesus, the Savior who came to bring peace, hope, and reconciliation.

Joy at Christmas is not fleeting happiness; it is the deep assurance that God has come near. In Christ, we discover that joy is not something we manufacture -- it is a gift we receive. Even in seasons of difficulty, the presence of Jesus brings a joy that sustains and strengthens. 

– Adapted from BibleStudyTools at Crosswalk.com

#6263

OUR PLACE IN CHRIST’S REIGN

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.   Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him."  (John 3:16-17 NRSV)

The "world" that Jesus came to save is represented in the birth stories by two groups of people who could hardly be more varied: shepherds from the nearby hillsides and wealthy sages from a foreign land. Farmworkers and well-connected intellectuals, one group from the neighborhood and one who traveled from a far country. No one is a foreigner at the manger; no one is excluded because of economic class. God wants a full table at the heavenly banquet and is willing to look for dinner guests in unexpected places (Luke 14:15-24). Our place in Christ's reign means that we are willing to sit next to someone who appears at first to be alien to us but turns out to be a citizen, a member with us of God's own household. Embraced by this communion of love, we realize our call to the life of the Spirit and we enjoy the fullness of life that comes with Christ's reign of justice, mercy and peace. 

-- Blair Gilmer Meeks in “Expecting the Unexpected”

#6262

LIVING A GOD-BEARING LIFE

“The angel went to Mary and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.’ ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’  The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’… ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.”  (Luke 1:28-38 NIV)

God’s favor is not something we earn; it is something we receive as a gift that must always be shared.

Mary’s story challenges those of us who have received the gift of a relationship with Jesus to be God-bearers to the rest of the world, believing that God’s grace always comes to us on its way to someone else. We bear the Christ, we share God’s grace, and we change the world when we take on Mary’s attitude of service and surrender. We would do well to memorize and use her response as we move about in the world every day…

You have a thousand tasks to do today and no time to do them. You want to crawl back in bed and pull the covers over your head. Imagine what would happen, though, if you started every day by saying, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord.” Chances are you would see problems as opportunities for God’s grace to shine through…

Where do you need to say, “Here am I, a servant of the Lord”? How can you be a God-bearer to your family, your neighbors, your co-workers, and others? 

-- Excerpted and adapted from “Come to the Manger” by Robert Kaylor

#6261

GOOD NEWS FOR ALL

“When Jesus came to the village of Nazareth, His boyhood home, He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.’”  (Luke 4:16-19 NLT)

As we prepare for our traditional Christmas celebrations, let us remember those who will not be looking forward to this festival. Let us remember, too, how Jesus identified with the oppressed and the homeless. Let the joy of the season touch more of the people of our world this year than ever before. May God be glorified and may people of good will once again experience His peace. 

-- Denzil John

#6260

THE GIFT BEYOND THE SALE

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV)

The prophet Isaiah spoke of a Child who would carry the weight of the world on His shoulders, not through power or profit, but through love and sacrifice. This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the true gift of Christmas.

Yet, commercialization has obscured the meaning of Christmas. The commercial has become more important than the carol. The sales pitch more important than the Good News. What man has to sell more important than what God has given.

Advent is a season of waiting, of preparing our hearts for the coming King. But in a world where advertisements drown out hymns and shopping lists overshadow Scripture, we must choose to refocus. The world offers temporary satisfaction wrapped in shiny paper, but God offers eternal peace wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Isaiah’s words remind us that the true wonder of Christmas is not found in what we buy, but in Who was given. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor who guides us, the Mighty God who saves us, the Everlasting Father who loves us, and the Prince of Peace who calms our restless hearts.

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™, compiled from a variety of sources 

#6259

OUR SOURCE OF PEACE

"Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'"  (Matthew 1:23 NLT)

The moment Mary touched God’s face is the moment God made His case: there is no place He will not go. If He is willing to be born in a barnyard, then expect Him to be at work anywhere -- bars, bedrooms, boardrooms, and brothels. No place is too common. No person is too hardened. No distance is too far. There is no person He cannot reach. There is no limit to His love. When Christ was born, so was our hope.

I think we need Christmas more than ever this year. We could use a season that is dedicated to giving, not receiving; to caring, not condemning. Put away our differences. Put up the Christmas tree. Take comfort in the familiar story and the ancient carols. Our world, like that of Bethlehem, is difficult and crowded. Our days can feel as cold and uncertain as that midnight manger. Yet, in the midst of it all, let’s do what Mary did. Let’s invite the source of peace to enter our world. Let’s find hope, once more, in the infant King.

God became one of us so we could become one with Him. That is the promise of Bethlehem. 

-- Max Lucado, adapted from an article entitled “Do We Really Need Christmas This Year?” 

#6258

RETURNING MY EYES TO THE SAVIOR

“Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for Him, He thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and He is now seated at the right side of God's throne.”  (Hebrews 12:2 GNT)

With the arrival of Advent, Christians everywhere turn again towards the Savior. Advent marks the beginning of the celebration of His birth and His long-foretold ministry, atonement, death, resurrection and second coming. If Advent is an occasion when I return my eyes to the Savior, then it is also an invitation to consider where my eyes -- and my heart -- have been in the meantime. Advent is the gentle nudge that invites me to remember that the truth most worth knowing is that Jesus Christ is the only way Home. It is also a gentle reminder that I ought to keep my eyes upon Him all year long.  

-- Jean-Michel Hansen

#6257

WORTH CELEBRATING EVERY DAY

Some Christians only go to church two days out of the year, at Christmas and Easter Sunday. In their defense, those are the two biggest days of the Christian year, celebrating the two biggest events in history.

Christmas, of course, is the day it was reported, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

And on Easter we remember that although that child, now a grown man, had been murdered by authorities two days earlier, on the third day those coming to mourn him were greeted by an empty tomb and asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5)

That sacrifice and resurrection were key to a rather joyful development, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

The one thing those twice-yearly visitors may not fully appreciate is that those two bookends of Jesus’ journey are worth celebrating every day, not just on those two specific days of celebration.

And so, Merry Christmas! Happy Easter! 

-- Warren Bluhm

#6256

SOMETHING IS ON THE HORIZON

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before… What is possible is to not see it, to miss it, to turn just as it brushes past you. And you begin to grasp what it was you missed, like Moses in the cleft of the rock, watching God’s [back] fade in the distance.

So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. For rushing. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay. Wait. Something is on the horizon. 

-- Jan L. Richardson in “Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas”

#6255

HOPES AND FEARS ARE MET IN CHRIST

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”  (Matthew 1:23 NKJV)

As we journey through the Advent season, the familiar carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" brings a profound message to our hearts. One line, in particular, resonates deeply: "the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight." This line beautifully encapsulates the essence of what many of us experience -- both hope and fear.

In this season of anticipation and reflection, we are reminded that Jesus Christ, our Immanuel, is the one who meets us in our deepest needs. He is the fulfillment of our hopes and the answer to our fears. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was not just a historical event; it was the divine intervention that brought hope to a weary world and dispelled the darkness of fear.

As we face our own hopes and fears, we can find solace in knowing that Jesus understands our struggles. He came to be with us, to walk alongside us, and to carry our burdens. In Him, we find the assurance that our hopes are not in vain and our fears can be laid to rest.

This Advent, let us bring our hopes and fears to Christ, trusting that He will meet us where we are. Let us find comfort in His presence and strength in His love. May we experience the peace and joy that come from knowing that in Jesus, all our hopes and fears are met. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™, compiled from a variety of sources 

#6254

ADVENT HOPE

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; yes, more than the watchmen for the morning.”  (Psalm 130:5-6)

Sometimes hope feels wishful, like crossing our fingers and dreaming of a better outcome. We might hope for better employment, healed relationships, or a brighter future. But that kind of hope is based on things that may or may not happen. When things don’t go as we hoped, it can be crushing -- our hope disappearing like vapor.

As a season of reflection and contemplation, Advent invites us to imagine a different kind of hope, rooted in the unchanging nature of God and His promise to restore every part of His creation. Advent hope does not minimize pain or difficulty, nor does it assume things will soon get better. Instead, it faces the darkness with courage and chooses to trust that God’s promises will come to pass, guaranteed by His long-proven, faithful character.

In the Hebrew Bible, the words most often used for hope -- qavah and yakhal -- are also translated as “wait.” To hope in God means to wait with patient expectation, trusting that He will fulfill His promises. This kind of waiting leans forward, anticipating the day when Jesus will return to make all things new. Such hope empowers people to persevere, to act justly, and to serve others as a sign of the restoration that will arrive through Jesus.

-- From “The BibleProject Guide to Advent”

#6253

A HEART FULL OF GRATITUDE

In Psalm 138:1, the psalmist declares, "Lord, I will thank You with all my heart; I will sing to You." This verse is a beautiful reminder of the importance of gratitude in our relationship with God. When we reflect on His kindness, faithfulness, and goodness, our hearts naturally overflow with thankfulness.

It's incredible to think that anyone could witness the countless blessings and mercies of God and remain unmoved. His kindness is evident in the small, everyday moments of our lives, as well as in the grand, life-changing events. His faithfulness is unwavering, even when we falter. And His goodness is a constant source of comfort and joy.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let's take a moment to pause and reflect on the ways God has shown His love and care for us. As we learn to thank God more and more, we will more and more see God in the little happenings of daily life, and increasingly see much about which to rejoice. Let our hearts be filled with gratitude, and let that gratitude be expressed in our words, actions, and songs of praise. When we thank God with all our hearts, we not only honor Him but also remind ourselves of His presence and provision in our lives. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™, compiled from a variety of sources 

#6252

A THANKFUL HEART

“Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (Ephesians 5:19-20)

A thankful heart is one of the primary identifying characteristics of a believer. It stands in stark contrast to pride, selfishness, and worry. And it helps fortify the believer's trust in the Lord and reliance of His provision, even in the toughest times. No matter how choppy the seas become, a believer's heart is buoyed by constant praise and gratefulness to the Lord. 

-- John MacArthur

#6251

TRUSTING EVEN WHEN THE ANSWER IS “NO”

"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 straight your paths."   (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV)

In recent years I have come to appreciate Lauren Daigle’s song “Trust in You.” It captures the tension we often feel between our desires and God’s will. She sings of moments when the mountains don’t move, when waters don’t part, and when prayers seem unanswered. Yet in the midst of disappointment, the refrain is clear: “I will trust in You.”

This is the essence of faith. Trust is not proven when everything works out the way we hoped -- it is proven when God’s answer is different than ours. Faith is not about controlling outcomes, but about surrendering to the One who holds all outcomes in His hands. My youngest sister taught me this near the end of her life as she faced Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer.

When You don't move the mountains
I'm needing You to move
When You don't part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don't give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust
I will trust in You

I think of Jesus in Gethsemane. He prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Even in His anguish, He trusted the Father’s plan. That same posture of surrender is what Daigle’s song calls us to embrace.

Trust is not passive resignation; it is active faith. It is choosing to believe that God is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28), even when we cannot see how. 

– Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry™

#6250

ARE YOU IN NEED OF A FAITH REFILL? - Part 2 of 2

Jesus gave John’s messengers a specific answer that holds the key to refilling any person’s faith. He said: “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” (Luke 7:22)

I love the fact that Jesus didn’t respond to John’s question by dragging out His sermon file. Just think of all the ancient messianic prophesies He could have quoted and expounded upon. But no, He understood that John needed a lifeline, not a lecture. So He threw him one. He urged John to look again at what He, Jesus, was accomplishing.

You’re probably thinking, “But wait! It can’t be that simple. There has to be more to replenishing a person’s faith than that.” No, there isn’t. If there were, Jesus would have said so. He would have laid out a detailed plan or itemized a list of requirements. There’s no way He would have given a dear friend a flawed, incomplete answer, knowing it would doom him to further anxiety.

The good news is that nothing has changed. After all these years, faith refills are still free and can still be accomplished by focusing on Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.” 

-- Mark Atteberry in “Free Refill: Coming Back for More of Jesus” 

#6249

ARE YOU IN NEED OF A FAITH REFILL? - Part 1 of 2

It should comfort you to know that some of the greatest heroes of the Bible saw their faith dwindle to almost nothing. A striking example is John the Baptist.

He was a relative of Jesus, a pull-no-punches preacher who courageously challenged people to repent and clearly identified Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. One day, he saw Jesus approaching and said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)  There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he was speaking the truth. He was brimming with faith.

But later, circumstances turned against him, and he found himself sitting in a prison cell. Suddenly, the truth didn’t seem quite as certain. In fact, at one point he became so unsettled about his core beliefs that he sent a couple of his friends to find Jesus and ask Him a pointed question: “Are You the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (Luke 7:19)  That question is a stunning reminder that even the staunchest followers of Christ occasionally need a faith refill.

So don’t feel bad if you do. Don’t listen to that little voice inside your head that keeps telling you what a pathetic excuse for a Christian you are. It’s not true. What is true is that you’re just like John the Baptist and every other imperfect person trying to scratch out an existence in this fallen world. You are not alone.

But there’s even more good news. God gives free refills! 

-- Mark Atteberry in “Free Refill: Coming Back for More of Jesus”

#6248

THE WISDOM OF GOD

"And because of [God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption."  (1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV)

When you're facing all the issues of life and you don't know what to do, accept the fact that you are human. We all are. We don't have the capacity to understand Almighty God. But you know what? We know Jesus Christ. He's the wisdom of God. And He put His Holy Spirit in us. So having access to the Holy Spirit and Jesus, we can face the challenges of today with the wisdom of God. 

-- David Jeremiah

#6247

EVEN IF… I WILL PRAISE THE LORD

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’”  (Daniel 3:16-18 NIV)

We should serve God even if there is darkness enveloping our life and even if we don't understand what's happening… even when the circumstances of our life don't make sense:  Because He is worthy of praise, because He is God. "I will praise the LORD at all times; His praise is always on my lips.  My whole being praises the LORD." (Psalm 34:1-2) 

-- Max Lucado

#6246

BORN OF THE SPIRIT

“Jesus answered [Nicodemus], ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.’” (John 3:5–6)

In his book “Conversion,” missionary and theologian E. Stanley Jones (1884-1973) commented on Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus: “Here He tells us that the new birth is first of all ‘not of blood.’  You don’t get it through the blood stream, through heredity.  Your parents can give you much, but they cannot give you this.  Being born in a Christian home does not make you a Christian.”

The new birth is not inherited, not passed down through family lineage, nor guaranteed by the environment in which we were raised. A Christian home may nurture faith, but it cannot impart salvation. Only the Spirit of God can breathe new life into the soul.

Jesus’ words to Nicodemus cut through every illusion of self-sufficiency. Flesh can only produce flesh. Our natural birth gives us life in this world, but it cannot usher us into the kingdom of God. The Spirit alone gives birth to spirit. This means that salvation is not about heritage, tradition, or even effort -- it is about accepting the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

Personal faith is essential. You cannot ride into the kingdom on the coattails of your parents’ faith or your church’s reputation. You must encounter Christ personally. The Spirit brings transformation. The new birth is not just a change of behavior but a change of nature. The Spirit makes us alive to God, reshaping our desires and renewing our hearts. Understand that grace is a gift. Just as you did not cause your first birth, you cannot manufacture your second. It is received by faith, through the Spirit’s power. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™, compiled from a variety of sources 

#6245

THE BEGINNING OF POSSIBILITY

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”  (Psalm 139:13-16 NIV)

A birth brings new possibilities into the world. In this sense, birth is the polar opposite of death, which is the end of possibilities [on this side of heaven]. A birth opens up not only one possibility but a multitude of them… With birth, a new life is launched into the world -- a life filled with possibilities. A newborn baby is filled with potential that will later be realized. As a person grows, possibilities become realities. Birth is the beginning of possibility.  

-- Robert Martin Walker in “Prepare Him Room”

GOD’S GENTLE WHISPER – Part 2 of 2

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)

I have two practices at the beginning and end of the day that help me listen to God’s “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12)…

My evening practice is a time for self-reflection or what some call “the daily examen.” For my nighttime ritual, I simply review my day and ask the Holy Spirit to help me accurately assess my relationship with God, myself, and others. I typically ask myself three questions:

• Is there anything I need to celebrate?
• Is there anything I need to confess?
• Is there anything I need to change?

Sometimes this means getting up and making a note to do something in the morning or even sending a text. It’s the ongoing work of keeping my heart clean and removing anything that hinders my inner world. The gentle whisper of God recalibrates my soul.

So, whether it’s early in the morning or late evening, God’s whisper is transformative. And it’s the space between, in the everyday-ness of life, that the whisper gets lived out. I cannot tell you the number of times that something God has spoken into my heart becomes a word for someone sitting in my office seeking [pastoral] counsel at 2 pm. Afterward, there is a sense of God’s confirmation that I am hearing from God not just for myself but for the well-being of others.

-- Jorge Acevedo in “Everybody Needs Some Cave Time: Meeting God in Dark Places”

#6243

GOD’S GENTLE WHISPER – Part 1 of 2

The Greek philosopher Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” This is the wisdom of the Bible, too. Paul gave Timothy, the young pastor of the fledgling church in Ephesus, this sage advice, “Keep a close watch on how you live” (1 Timothy 4:16a). This is an invitation for all followers of Jesus to perform an honest evaluation of their lives, including their relationship with God, themselves, and others. Put more simply, it’s the command in scripture to love God and love neighbor as we love ourselves.

It’s been said that we need to be careful and watchful over our soul when we are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT). This phrase finds its origins in the recovery program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Its wisdom echoes Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV): “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” For me, I have two practices at the beginning and end of the day that help me listen to God’s “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12).

My morning practice is a Bible reading and reflection time in which I journal the whisper of the Spirit for my life. This 30- to 45-minute-long exercise has sharpened my ear to God’s gentle whisper more than any other discipline. I have observed in my life and the lives of others that daily Bible engagement more than any other practice helps Christ followers grow in their faith. 

-- Jorge Acevedo in “Everybody Needs Some Cave Time: Meeting God in Dark Places”

#6242

SELFLESS LOVE

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NIV)

On this Veteran’s Day, we honor the men and women who have embodied the spirit of sacrificial love through their service. John 15:13 reminds us that the greatest expression of love is found in laying down one’s life for others. Veterans have stood in the gap, willing to risk everything so that others might live in freedom and safety. Their courage points us to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for the salvation of the world. As we give thanks for our veterans, let us also be challenged to live lives of selfless love -- serving our families, our neighbors, and our communities with humility and grace, and serving in everyday ways through kindness, forgiveness, and standing up for those in need. True freedom is found not only in the liberties we enjoy but in the love we demonstrate. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

#6241

IN A SHELL

"God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT)

Gracious Father, You took the initiative to reach out to me -- even in my sin and selfishness -- in order to bring me into Your eternal kingdom, through the work of Christ. I cannot fathom such love! And yet, Father, I try to hoard Your grace! I put up walls of protection that I might keep hurt out and blessing in. I am like the clam that shuts itself up in its shell, afraid of threats from the outside. You call me to unshell myself and to partner with You in Your mission of love. Unshell me, Lord, that I, too, may reach out to a lonely, discouraged, and even hopeless world. In Jesus' name, amen. 

-- Max Lucado in “Outlive Your Life”

#6240

DISCIPLESHIP… COMPASSIONATE CARING

"As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

South African pastor Trevor Hudson identifies compassionate caring as the distinguishing mark of faithful discipleship: “Compassionate caring creatively balances the inward-outward dynamic so characteristic of Jesus’ life, saves us from falling prey to the latest fad in the spiritual supermarket, and catapults our lives into a deeper engagement with the brokenness of our world.” 

In a world saturated with spiritual trends and political slogans, Trevor Hudson’s words cut through the noise with clarity: true discipleship is marked not by novelty, but by compassion. Jesus didn’t chase popularity or perform for applause. He moved toward the broken, the weary, the overlooked -- with a heart full of mercy and a life poured out in love.

Compassionate caring is not sentimentalism. It’s a radical posture of the heart that refuses to separate spiritual formation from social engagement. It’s the kind of love that listens deeply, acts boldly, and suffers willingly. It’s the inward transformation that spills outward into a world aching for grace.

When we embrace this rhythm -- being formed by Christ and sent in His name -- we resist the temptation to treat faith as a consumer product or a political tool. Instead, we become conduits of healing, agents of hope, and reflections of the One who came not to be served, but to serve. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™, compiled from a variety of sources

#6239

DISCIPLESHIP… EXPRESSING THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Looking at His disciples, Jesus said, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  (Luke 6:32–36 NIV)

The stretch of Christian discipleship is to love those for whom it is not automatic, easy, common, or accepted. To love those who do not think like us or live like us, and to express respect, compassion, and mercy to those we do not know and who may never be able to repay us -- this is the love Christ pulls out of us. Jesus stepped across oppressive social boundaries, intermingled with those who suffered crippling infirmities and social stigma, and offered hope to those at their point of gravest despair. He loved the least lovable and the most vulnerable, and He offered the same unmerited grace to the greatest sinner as to the finest saint. The down-and-out see in Christ as much love for them as the up-and-coming. And Christ invites His disciples to follow Him into this kind of love. 

-- Robert Schnase in “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations”

#6238

DISCIPLESHIP… COUNTING THE COST

“A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, ‘If you want to be My disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else -- your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters -- yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple. But don’t begin until you count the cost.’”  (Luke 14:25-28a NLT)

In the corporate world, the phrase “the cost of doing business” is self-explanatory. There is an expected cost associated with leading or owning a business. It may be purchasing a building, paying employees, or buying a new vehicle, but I don’t know many people who jump into a life of discipleship and ask about the cost…

Living as if following Christ has no cost is like charging a credit card to its limit and then asking the bank to change the balance back to zero. Just as Paul wrote, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1–2)  Don’t get me wrong, discipleship is not a works-based system, but it does require our obedience and devotion.

Christians are fond of celebrating the lavish grace and unfailing compassion of Jesus, but we are sometimes hesitant to discuss the expectations of following Christ. But what a disservice to the Lord, especially as we remember that pain that He willingly endured so we could receive that grace. Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds us that “salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.” What is discipleship costing you right now? 

-- Excerpted from “Altar’d: The Transforming Power of Surrender” by Susan O. Kent 

#6237

DISCIPLESHIP… BEGINS WITH A DECISION

God wants you to grow up: "We must stop acting like children…Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ.” (Ephesians 4:14a,15b CEV)

Your heavenly Father's goal for you is to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ, living a life of love and humble service. Sadly, millions of Christians grow older but never grow up. 

They're stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy, remaining in diapers and booties. The reason is because they never intended to grow. Spiritual growth is not automatic; it takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.

Discipleship is the process of becoming like Christ, and it always begins with a decision: "'Come, be My disciple,' Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed Him" (Matthew 9:9 NLT).

When the first disciples chose to follow Jesus, they didn't understand all the implications of their decision. They simply responded to Jesus' invitation. 

That's all you need to get started: decide to become a disciple. 

-- From "The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotional" by Rick Warren

#6236

DISCIPLESHIP… IS A PROCESS

“Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, ‘You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”  (John 8:31-32 NLT)

By definition, a disciple is a follower, one who accepts and assists in spreading the teachings of a Master. A Christian disciple is a person who accepts and assists in the spreading of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in faith and are equipped by the Holy Spirit for ministry. This process requires believers to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to examine their thoughts, words and actions and compare them with the Word of God. This requires that we read, study and apply biblical teachings; pray regularly; participate in worship and fellowship with other believers; and reach out in witness and mission sharing the love of Christ in word and deed. 

-- From “Got Questions Ministries” 

#6235

PHILIP HAD TO TELL NATHANAEL

“The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ ‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip.”  (John 1:43-46 NIV)

Philip not only had a seeking heart, but he also had the heart of a personal evangelist. His first response upon meeting Jesus was to find his friend Nathanael and tell him about the Messiah.

I am convinced… that friendships provide the most fertile soil for evangelism. When the reality of Christ is introduced into a relationship of love and trust that has already been established, the effect is powerful. And it seems that invariably, when someone becomes a true follower of Christ, that person’s first impulse is to want to find a friend and introduce that friend to Christ. That dynamic is seen in Philip’s spontaneous instinct to go find Nathanael and tell him about the Messiah.

The language Philip used betrayed his amazement at discovering who the Messiah was. The One whom Moses wrote, and the One foretold by the prophets, was none other than “Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph,” a lowly carpenter’s son.

Nathanael was at first nonplused. “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”…

But Philip was undaunted: “Come and see.” The ease which Philip believed is remarkable. In human terms, no one had brought Philip to Jesus. He was like Simeon, “waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him” (Luke 2:25). Philip knew the Old Testament promises. He was ready. He was expectant. His heart was prepared. And He received Jesus gladly, unhesitatingly, as Messiah. No reluctance. No disbelief. It mattered not to him what kind of one-horse town the Messiah had grown up in. He knew instantly that he had come to the end of his search. 

-- John MacArthur (1939-2025) in “Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness and What He Wants to Do with You” 

#6234

SUPPORT THROUGH SMALL GROUPS

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  (Galatians 6:2)

It’s amazing to me that some people think the small group movement is a new thing. Small groups are as old as the Bible, and they are so essential. Jesus knew how important it is to have our family and our friends helping us, surrounding us with love, supporting us, encouraging us, setting us free in every moment, but especially in those dramatic moments when we are trying to make a new start with our lives.

Recently a man stopped by to see me. A little over a year ago, he went through a great personal tragedy. He is coming through it with the help of God and with the help of the church, especially his adult Sunday school class. He said, “I was devastated. I was disillusioned and defeated and saw no hope for the future and no relief for my pain. I was so hurt that I was immobilized. All the life was drained out of me, but God brought me back to life… and this church has been there for me every step of the way. My Sunday school class has been so incredible. I don’t know what I would have done without them. I couldn’t have made it without them.”

You know what he was saying, don’t you? He was saying, “God brought me out of the tomb, and my friends in my small group helped me, and supported me… and together, by the grace of God, they loved me back to life.” 

-- James W. Moore and Bob J. Moore in “Lord, Give Me Patience!... And Give It to Me Right Now!” 

#6233

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"  (Esther 4:14 NIV)

This past weekend my wife and I attended the retirement celebration for a former colleague and friend at the church I served for 25 years. In very specific ways, she told of her calling in regard to the many roles she has served there for the last eight years. I mentioned that God had called her “for such a time as this… and this… and this… and this.”

In moments of uncertainty, when fear or doubt whispers louder than faith, the biblical story of Esther reminds us that divine purpose often hides within ordinary circumstances. Her courage wasn’t born from confidence in herself -- it was rooted in the possibility that God had placed her exactly where she needed to be. “For such a time as this” isn’t just a phrase -- it’s a call to awaken to the sacred opportunities tucked inside our daily lives. Whether we stand in palaces or pews, boardrooms or kitchens, sports arenas or schools God invites us to respond with boldness, trusting that our presence, our voice, and our obedience may be the very answer to someone’s prayer.

My colleague’s presence, her voice and her obedience were the answer to many people’s prayers, mine included. Thanks for responding to your call, Lina. 

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry™ 

#6232

YES AND NO

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)

Terror seized me by the throat a few months into my engagement to be married. Ardor turned to horror. Hot pursuit suddenly got cold feet. This came with a fundamental realization: If I had this woman, I couldn't have any of the others. If I said "yes" to one, I was saying "no" to millions. Not that this was the breadth of my options, mind you -- but whatever options I might have had before I said my vows, they were no more after I said them…

Every yes contains a no. And if you can't learn to say one, you won't learn to say the other. It certainly describes the way Christians and churches can drift into heresy and confusion…

Learning to say the yes and the no: Few issues portend so much for the future of the church, because none carries so much potential to fly in the face of the spirit of the age… It's the "Who's to Say?" syndrome: Who's to say what is right? The answer, it seems, is everyone, or no one, or both. Whatever. It's cool.

Faithful stewards of the household of God must practice the discipline of saying both yes and no. It's hard, it's not fun, and it doesn't usually preach to packed houses. But believers in every age have had to learn it or lose the faith…

Saying no is part of the nature of our faith… Its narrowness is the narrowness of the birth canal, or of a path between two precipices -- or of a lifetime spent loving one woman. 

-- Excerpted from Ben Patterson in LeadershipJournal.net

#6231

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” (Isaiah 52:7 ESV)

Why all of this emphasis upon evangelism?  Because evangelism is "Job One" for the church.  Do you remember those old Ford commercials which claimed "Quality is Job One"?  I believe we can modify that motto to say "Evangelism is Job One" for the church.  The church exists for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ... The church is one of the few institutions which exists not for itself, but for the world.  Yes, of course, we must share the Good News with those inside the church who need to hear the Gospel, respond, and grow in faith.  But too often we have stopped there.  We have focused only upon ourselves, our comfort, and our institution, rather than focusing upon reaching the world for Christ.

Evangelism is not about saving the church.  Evangelism is not about institutional survival.  Evangelism is about being faithful to the call of Christ.  We are called to change lives and to transform the world, and in the process we will discover the church itself becoming more vital and alive.

Yes, indeed, I am ready to say "Evangelism is Job One."  How about you? 

-- Bishop Michael J. Coyner, (1949-2020)

#6230

 

 

JESUS IS THE GOOD NEWS

“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ He said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’”  (Mark 1:14–15 NIV)

From the very beginning of His public ministry, Jesus didn’t merely announce the Gospel -- He embodied it. The “good news of God” wasn’t a distant promise or a future hope. It was standing in Galilee, speaking with authority, healing the broken, and calling hearts to repentance. Jesus is not just the messenger; He is the message.

When Jesus said, “The time has come,” He was declaring that the long-awaited fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan had arrived -- not in a scroll, not in a temple ritual, but in a person -- in Him. The kingdom of God was no longer a concept -- it was present, active, and accessible through the Lord of the Kingdom Himself.

Bishop Kenneth L. Carder wrote, “The Gospel is a person, not an abstract argument. That person, Jesus Christ, confronts our sin and suffering by entering our guilt and pain and death. He extends an outstretched, pierced hand of forgiveness and love.”

To “repent and believe the good news” is to turn from self and sin, and to turn toward Jesus. It’s not just believing a set of doctrines -- it’s trusting a Savior and Lord. The Gospel is not merely about what Jesus did; it’s about who Jesus is. His life, death, and resurrection are the heartbeat of the Gospel; His presence is its pulse. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™, compiled from a variety of sources 

#6229

A LEADERSHIP IMPASSE

“I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me.”  (Jeremiah 35:15 NKJV)

There are numerous definitions of sin that have, at best, a partial basis in Scripture. A church that has an incomplete understanding of sin won’t understand sin to be a leadership or kingdom issue. Without the prophets’ perspective on sin as intentional rebellion and disobedience [to God’s leadership], the kingdom message of Jesus doesn’t make sense. And without the kingdom message, repentance doesn’t make sense.

This is where the leadership issue is so clearly visible. If there is something in my life that I feel I must maintain control over, I won’t give the helm of my heart to God. Take, for example, the person who refuses to forgive. Jesus knew that this kind of leadership impasse holds many outside His kingdom. He specifically said, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins“ (Matthew 6:14-15). Refusing to trust God with justice and judgment means that I think I can do a better job of it than He can. 

-- Jan David Hettinga in “Follow Me: Experience the Loving Leadership of Jesus”

#6228

AN INVITATION

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:15 NIV)

One weekend when I wasn’t preaching, one of our campus pastors -- a young, bald-headed guy with a goatee -- spoke in my place. The next week, I was at a store when I heard a lady inviting a friend to church. Curious, I crept a little closer to eavesdrop on their conversation. The first lady said, “I’m not a religious person or anything, but you have to try this church called Life Church. It’s incredible. It totally changed my life.” I was blessed to overhear a conversation of someone who’d been touched by God at the church I pastor.

Unfortunately, the lady must have noticed me listening in. She looked at me and said, “Hey you, you need to come to church with me, too. The preacher is amazing.” Still excited but slightly confused, I asked her what the preacher looked like, confident she’d recognize me at any moment. Still talking fast, she said, “He’s bald and has a goatee.” This lady, who had been to our church only one time, was inviting everyone she saw -- even me -- the pastor of the church.

You can do the same thing. Take a step of faith and invite someone to go with you where they will hear God’s love through Christ. 

-- Craig Groeschel in “The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as If He Doesn’t Exist” 

EDITOR’S NOTE: In addition to inviting someone to church to hear the good news, share SOUND BITES with them. Forward a quote that might be particularly meaningful to them and invite them to subscribe. Don’t keep the good news to yourself. – DW

#6227

THE PERSPECTIVE OF YEARS

“Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. Festus answered, ‘Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.’”  (Acts 25:1–5 NIV)

This thing going on with Paul and the Jews and the Roman court system would have hardly been a blip on the radar screen of anyone. We must discard any assumption we have that this story was somehow newsworthy. Looking back from the twenty-first century, the whole thing unfolds before us as a stunning God-sized story of cosmic proportions. At the time, who even knew it was happening, and of those who knew, who really cared?

Looking back, the only reason we even know the names of Felix and Festus and half a dozen other bit players of history is Paul -- that's why we know them. History has its way, doesn't it? That's how history happens. It often takes the perspective of years to see what really mattered and what didn't. At the time it's impossible to know.

Remember that when you think about what you are doing today with your life. In the present, it can seem oh so small and insignificant. I think that's what Jesus was trying to get across [in Matthew 13:31-32] when He talked to us about the mustard seed becoming the largest tree in the garden. Be encouraged, Christian! Don't give up! Give yourself to what may seem small today. It's worth it. It matters. You matter. Press on. Invest your resources in what many may consider a kingdom of God longshot. Every big story was once a very small story. It's why I spend so much time talking about seeds. The whole story is in the single seed.

C. T. Studd put it well in the refrain from his famous poem, "Only one life, twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." 

-- Excerpted from “Wake-Up Call” with J. D. Walt 

#6226

OUR SOLID ROCK FOUNDATION

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  (Psalm 18:2)

          On Christ, the solid Rock I stand,
          All other ground is sinking sand.  – William Bradbury

If you have ever stood on a sandy beach as the waves lapped at your feet, you know that the longer you remain, the further your feet sink into the shifting sands. Eventually, you’ll be up to your ankles! On a rocky coastline, however, you can stand on the shore with wave after wave rushing over your feet and you won’t sink at all. You stand firm on the strength of the boulders beneath you.

Shifting sands don’t make a very good foundation – for our feet or for our faith. We need solid rock – strong and unchanging. Like the wise man who built his house upon a rock (Luke 6:48), we can rest secure in building our faith upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. When the winds of change blow and the waves of uncertainty rush over us, we can cling to the immovable, unchanging love of Jesus.

For this we have reason to praise. Christ is the solid rock on which we stand. We can depend upon HIs words, trust in His tender mercies, and praise Him day after day for the grace that has saved us. In Christ our foundation is firm; our salvation is sure. Praise His name! 

-- Adapted from “Change My Heart, Oh God: Daily Devotions from the Greatest Praise and Worship Songs of All Time”

#6225

AN ASSET ON OUR JOURNEY

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”  (Psalm 119:105 NIV)

In the nineteenth century, mail delivery in parts of the western United States was done by riders on horseback.  This service was called the Pony Express.  They went to great lengths to reduce the weight their horses had to carry and thereby increase the speed of the mail delivery.  They streamlined the saddles, enlisted teenagers of small stature as carriers, and disallowed rifles - all to cut every ounce of weight possible.

Yet each rider carried a Bible, even though the Bible and a rifle were not much different in weight.  Apparently, the personnel of Pony Express believed the Bible was more valuable than a rifle.  Even though they knew excess baggage was detrimental, they realized the importance of having the Bible with them.

As we make the Christian journey, we may find baggage filling our life.  But allotting room for God's Word during our journey is essential.  If we make no room for the Scripture in our day, we are carrying too much.

God's Word is not a weight but an asset on our journey. 

-- Kenny A. Noble, submitted by a subscriber in Wisconsin

#6224

BLOCKING AND TACKLING

EDITOR’S NOTE: I recently heard from a subscriber who wrote, “After 20 years of subscribing to SOUND BITES, I continue to be fed. Thank you for your dedication to this ministry!” That, and the fact that we are in the midst of the football season, reminded me of this quote from a former pastor and colleague of mine that I have shared before -- the importance of sticking to the basics and doing them daily.  – DW

BLOCKING AND TACKLING

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  (Acts 2:42 NIV)

If you and I want [our lives] to be marked by a very real newness within, we would do well to review some of the ancient practices which good people have found to be helpful over the centuries.  I pastored in Green Bay, Wisconsin during part of the period that Vince Lombardi was coaching the Packers to football immortality.  Mr. Lombardi was often asked about trick plays and the secrets of coaching; he always answered that it was simply a matter of blocking and tackling.  There were no new, clever ideas that really mattered unless one mastered the fundamentals of the game.

I've concluded that the same thing is true of the spiritual life.  Books, retreats, and religious conferences are constantly promising us some new formula for spiritual vitality.  Some of them may stimulate us for a time.  But in the end, we'll need to come back to "blocking and tackling" -- such basic matters as Bible reading, prayer, group worship and sharing, and good devotional reading. 

-- J. Ellsworth Kalas (1923-2015) in “Reading the Signs”  

#6223