Posts by Westside Church of Christ

A panicked mother asked her twelve-year-old son, “Child, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” Of course, those familiar with Scripture will recognize these as the words of Mary to Jesus in Luke 2:48. His earthly parents supposed He was with relatives on the journey back home to Nazareth from Jerusalem. Luke says they went a day’s journey and then began to search for Jesus, only to find that…

“And He said unto him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). However, when God and His will become…

Although we as Christians have our “citizenship in heaven” (Philippians 3:20-21), we still reside on earth. Christians have to live in the world in a way that both honors God and thankfully embraces what is good, as we understand life here especially in light of the Cross of Christ (Philippians 3:10). Isolation from the world, or sinful accommodation with the world, is not the answer. Philippians 4:8-9 helps provide appropriate balance. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever…

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Earlier in 2 Corinthians, Paul had used the expression “thanks be to God” in connection with the victory God gives (2:14) and the care we ought to have for each other (8:16-17). In 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9, Paul is writing to encourage these brethren to renew their zeal and to fulfill their promise to come to the aid of those in need in Jerusalem (cf. 8:1-7; 9:11-14;…

Jesus stood before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. The ruler asked a question that all need to be concerned with answering, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22) Pilate wanted to please the people and this he did by releasing to them one prisoner at that time each year. He hoped they would select Jesus, but to his surprise, they didn’t- they chose instead to release the murderer, Barabbas. Pilate’s question, however, is one…

Think of discernment as a much-to-be desired treasure (Proverbs 2:3-5). It is was Solomon asked for (1 Kings 3:9-11), and it is what Paul prayed that the church of Philippi display even more (Philippians 1:9-11). The writer of Hebrews spoke of his readers need for greater discernment (Hebrews 5:11-14). Do we see the great need to treasure and pray for discernment? Discernment has to do with the ability to judge, examine and evaluate in a God pleasing way. It is…

No one is ever going to look good trying to “trip up” Jesus! The Son of God, the embodiment of wisdom, will not be “stumped,” outwitted or made a fool. It is Tuesday, just prior to the Cross. Four questions dominate Matthew 22. Three questions are asked by Christ’s adversaries or critics. The fourth is asked by Jesus Himself. The gospel of Matthew powerfully depicts Jesus as the long-awaited King and Messiah spoken of in the Old Testament. Jesus is…

Happy Thanksgiving! (whether it’s the holiday known as Thanksgiving or not). Christians should believe in BOTH Thanksgiving and in Thanks-Living. Our saying of thanks should genuinely be accompanied by our thinking, feeling and expression of it too. Maybe the following Scriptures will be helpful for us to better possess the attitude of gratitude. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits (Psalm 103:2) What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?…

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name,” (Psalm 100:4). Twice in this one verse, the Psalmist connects the thoughts of thanksgiving and praise. As a country, we find that at this time of year ‘Thanksgiving’ or ‘the giving of thanks’ is on our minds as we prepare to celebrate a holiday. However, as Christians, everyday must be filled with the giving of thanks and praise. For what…

That the Son of God marveled is in itself a marvel! The Lord’s work in creation, salvation, and providence ought to cause all humanity to marvel and be awe-struck! (Psalm 8; 19:1; Acts 14:17; Revelation 5:8-14). In a world that’s too easily “amazed” at times and not enough in others, there’s a place for restoring biblical amazement. The people of God must not suffer from blindness and “awe amnesia” when it comes to contemplating the wonders of God’s character and…

Psalm 16 is a psalm every Christian should soak in and let sink deeply into every fiber of our being. Ultimately, Psalm 16 can be summarized in one word – Confidence. But the confidence expressed in Psalm 16 is not personal pride or arrogance; it is confidence in God (cf. John 15:4-5; 2 Corinthians 3:5). God is our treasure! (Matthew 6:21; Colossians 3:11). He is our present trust and future hope. Few have understood this as well than this psalm’s…

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Life can be full of “trouble” (Job 14:1) and “tribulation” (John 16:33), but God’s children can go through the tough times of life with a sense of…