Month: February 2026

By Glen Elliott

God has always required obedience. Yet, God
requires that obedience which rises out of a heart
of love and gratitude. Paul spoke of the love of
Christ as that which ought to motivate us to live
for the One who died and rose again on our
behalf (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

Jesus identified the greatest command, saying,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
mind” (Matthew 22:37). Without love in the
heart, our service to God is but empty ritual
(Isaiah 29:13).

On the other hand, genuine love will express
itself in complete and unconditional obedience
to the commands of our Lord. Jesus says, “If you
love Me, you will keep My commandments”
(John 14:15). If we say we love the Lord, while
deliberately disregarding His word, our religion
is nothing but pretense. Jesus questioned those
who were living according to human tradition,
asking, “And why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). God has
always desired obedience from the heart.

When King Saul failed to obey the voice of the Lord,
Samuel explained the significance of his disobedience,
saying, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to
heed than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). A lifetime of
worshipping God means nothing without a daily walk in
obedience to His will. Hebrews 5:9 tells us that Jesus
became to “all those who obey Him the source of eternal
salvation.” If we would truly please God, we must learn
and practice obedience from the heart.

By Kenny Westmoreland

I once saw a cartoon reminiscent of the scene from
Mark 8:34 in which Lord Jesus challenged believers to
“take up your cross.” Within the cartoon, numerous
figures were dragging large crosses. Each moved
slowly under the weight of the oversized burden.
Suddenly, a character spoke out and asked, “Is there a
way to lift some of this load?” The next depiction
showed the cartoon character sawing off a portion of the
cross, thereby lightening his load. From that moment
on, the cartoon character (with his “new and improved”
cross) moved out ahead until he reached a large
crevasse. The huge gap had no bridge, thereby stranding
the character. Others arrived, lowered their crosses onto
the crevasse, bridged the gap, and then resumed the
journey. Suddenly, the character discovered that his
new and improved version did not reach the other side.
He found himself stranded. Realizing his mistake, the
character fell to his knees in prayer. This story may be
fiction, but it mirrors a common problem: a lack of true
dedication among church members. Rather than being
devoted to Lord Jesus, some choose to take a non-
committal approach. Sadly, the “short cross lifestyle”
often leaves people unprepared and unequipped for the
tough times. Such a choice is inconsistent with the
words of Christ when he exhorted: “If anyone desires to
come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23, NKJV).
Don’t be a cross cutter!

By Glen Elliott

Optimism is an essential ingredient for the growth and
well-being of the body of Christ both individually and
congregationally. Leroy Brownlow writes, “The world
is not going to follow the man who has a gloomy
outlook. We like the person who enjoys the donut rather
than griping about the hole in it.”

Optimism is a byproduct of hope. The Christian’s hope
is not rooted in this world, but is anchored in the next
(Hebrews 6:19). It is a hope that “does not
disappoint…” (Romans 5:5). When life grows dark and
dreary, threatening to dampen our enthusiasm, we must
set our “mind on the things above, not on the things that
are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). Easier said than done.

An optimistic outlook requires a disciplined mind. Paul
says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever
is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if here is any
excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your
mind dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Output is determined by input. So long as we fill our
minds with polluted, negative thoughts, we will enjoy
little success maintaining a positive attitude. By
contrast, when Paul sought to fill his heart with things
lovely and noble, he was able to rise above physical
hardships and proclaim, “I can do all things through
Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Wouldn’t you rather look at life through the hopeful
optimism of faith in Christ? We will not always be treated
fairly in life. Hardships will come even into the lives of
Christians. But, in Christ, we have the resources to deal
with life at its worst and still maintain our hope for the
future. Remember, “This is the day which the Lord has
made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Unchanged Tactics

Satan didn’t tempt Eve to murder, steal, or even tell a lie.
He tempted her to doubt the word of God. Just know his
tactics haven’t changed.

By Randal Metheny

The obvious ceases to be obvious when we listen
to voices that are misinformed or spouting false
teaching.

It was the latter who were bellowing in the first
century, leaving the true children of God
confused, when John wrote his first letter. “You
are from God, little children, and have conquered
them, because the one who is in you is greater
than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4.4).

Excuse me for repeating this so often, but God is
in us when we obey the word of Christ (John
14.23). In a dissolute and perverse world (as it
has always been), which gives itself,
unrestrained, over to carnal passions and
personal pleasures, the followers of Christ do
God’s will and receive in their hearts the
presence of the Lord

Through his living in us, his power works to give.
us the victory. If we do not have the victory
(note: the verb conquered is in the past tense!),
we need to ask ourselves why. It is entirely
possible that we are still rebelling against
complete obedience to the Lord.

In what area do we still refuse to submit ourselves to hi
will? Or perhaps we do not recognize the nature of thi
victory.

It is not freedom from trials and suffering, nor is it
comfortable financial situation or a healthy body. Th
victory does not consist of physical comfort.
We have victory when our hearts are secure in God an
spiritual peace possesses us, even when the storms of lif
throw their worst upon our heads.

We enter into victory because God is greater than the ev
one and because he is within us, reigning in and over us.