April 7, 2026 · 4:12 PM

A Sign From God

They asked Jesus for a sign, something to prove that he had God’s endorsement. By asking for a sign, they were rejecting all the miracles that Jesus had already performed. It’s as if they were saying, “We know that you’ve performed miracles, but we want a sign from heaven. We want a different kind of miracle, our kind of miracle!”

What kind of miracles had Jesus already shown them? He healed the sick, cast out demons, calmed a storm, fed the hungry, and raised the dead. When he was baptized God spoke from heaven and his Holy Spirit came down on Jesus like a dove. What more do they want?

Jesus’ miracles would never be enough for those with hard hearts. But they were more than enough for those with open hearts hungry for God’s healing power. Jesus’ miracles are signs pointing toward God’s plan for eternity, previews of heaven. When he fed more than 5,000 people with barely enough food for one, he was previewing God’s kingdom. There will be no food stamps in heaven. Hunger will finally be wiped out.

When Jesus healed a man who could not hear or talk, and when he healed all kinds of other illnesses with simply a touch or a word, he was previewing God’s kingdom. No healthcare premiums or trips to clinics or hospitals in heaven. Sickness will be no more.

When Jesus forgave people their sins, he was previewing God’s kingdom. There will be no temptation or disobedience in heaven. Guilt will be gone. Everyone’s conscience will be clear.

When Jesus cast out the legion of demons from the man living in the cemetery, he was previewing God’s kingdom. Satan and his demons will not bother us in heaven. There will be no rebellion, no evil, no police departments, no prisons or jails.

When Jesus calmed the storm with his simple rebuke, he was previewing God’s kingdom. There will be no natural disasters in heaven, no need for insurance policies or FEMA.

And when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, he was previewing one of the greatest things of all about God’s kingdom. There will be no cemeteries in heaven. Nobody will die. No funerals to attend!

Of course, Jesus himself walked away from his tomb after giving his life on the cross. What greater sign could there be?

Why couldn’t they see God’s hand at work in Jesus? Their personal agenda blinded them from God’s greater plan. Jesus came to rescue them from Satan. They wanted to be rescued from the Roman Empire. Jesus died to forgive their sins once for all. They were content with their animal sacrifices. Jesus arose from the dead to give them new life. They were already impressed with the lives they were living.

Jesus’ miracles are previews of God’s promises about heaven. In this world, we live in a sort of preview of both heaven and hell, God’s kingdom and Satan’s kingdom, the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness.

We don’t have all the goodness of heaven yet. People still get sick and die. Bad things still happen to good people. But as bad as things can be on this old earth, it’s not hell. And as good as it may sometimes get, it’s still not heaven.

Each of us must choose our allegiance, our loyalty. Do we want to spend eternity with more of what’s good in this creation or with more of what’s wrong with this creation?

When Jesus returns he will separate everyone according to that choice, like sheep from goats—some bound for heaven, and others for hell.

May we see the signs that God is giving us, and choose to follow the Savior he sent,

Brother Richard

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March 6, 2026 · 3:15 PM

Why Our Prayers Should Be Confident

Do you ever lose heart in prayer?

Jesus taught about prayer on one occasion by telling a parable. In the parable, a man has an unexpected houseguest (Luke 11:5-8). It’s late and he has nothing to offer the weary traveler. So he goes to his neighbor for help.

The neighbor is unhappy about the interruption. It’s late. “Don’t bother me!” he says. His door is locked. His children are in bed. “I can’t get up to give you anything!” the neighbor tells the man.

Sometimes it seems as if God is like the unwilling neighbor in this parable. It seems as if God is saying, “Don’t bother me!” As if the door to his blessing is closed and locked. As if God is busy with those on the inside, and I am on the outside, empty-handed.

But I know God is not too busy. His door is not locked. He cares for all his sons and daughters, including me. I know it. I don’t always feel it. But I know that God is faithful. And I know that God is able.

Jesus concluded his parable by saying that the man would eventually get out of bed and offer help. Why? Not because the man was his friend, but because of the man’s shameless boldness.

I’ve heard some people pray who sounded like they were giving God commands, barking orders. Is this what Jesus is calling for? If so, we should find examples of prayer in the rest of the New Testament where people were brash and pushy with God. We don’t.

Prayer in the New Testament is often bold and confident, but never demanding or demeaning to God. If I start telling God what to do, then my prayers have gone from seeking “Thy kingdom” to chasing “my kingdom.”

Jesus continues his teaching about prayer by telling his disciples to ask, seek, and knock. Ask is a word that describes the heart and soul of prayer. We should ask. But Jesus doesn’t stop there.

Jesus says that prayer is also seeking. The Bible tells us that if we seek God with all our hearts we will find him. This makes sense. If we want to ask God then we must first approach him.

Since God is everywhere, seeking him may be more a matter of setting aside the world so that we can be aware of him, and so that we can be aware of our constant need for him. To seek God means that we must put aside our many distractions.

Jesus goes one more step and characterizes prayer as knocking. Knocking implies that a door is closed and must be opened. The Bible speaks about God opening the storehouses of heaven, God opening the floodgates of heaven.

If a friend who doesn’t want to get up and help can be persuaded by a little bold persistence, then how much more so will God answer our prayers when we ask, seek, and knock! Jesus continues by saying that God will give his Spirit to those who ask.

The Holy Spirit is God himself. The Holy Spirit is God’s invisible, personal, powerful presence in the world today, dwelling in the hearts of his people, his sons and daughters, followers of Jesus. God himself is our greatest need because he is the ultimate source of all our provisions and blessings.

We go to God and ask him to help us with our needs. God responds, I’ll do more than that! I’ll come and walk with you. I myself will be with you to meet every circumstance, every enemy, every challenge! The best thing we can have, the greatest gift of all is God on our side, God with us, God in us.

May we ask, seek, and knock, and may God’s Spirit answer by filling us and empowering us,

Brother Richard

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February 12, 2026 · 3:45 PM

Do You Have A Biblical Worldview?

Do you have a biblical worldview? What is a biblical worldview? People offer various ways of defining and measuring one’s worldview. One easy approach is to use three questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going?

Our answers to these fundamental questions will indicate whether we base our view of reality on God’s revelation in Scripture or not. For instance, an atheist is likely to answer the first question by saying that humanity is the result of happenstance, the product of a surprising unsupervised and somewhat random sequence of natural events.

The honest and consistent atheist is forced to answer the second question by admitting that humanity has no real meaning or purpose. Any meaning or purpose in life must be supplied by us. Finally, the atheist would answer the third question by saying that we die and decay. Our consciousness ceases to exist. We simply turn to dirt and we are forgotten, some sooner than others.

The atheist’s answers are at odds with the Bible. The atheist worldview is not a biblical worldview. The biblical view of our world begins with God: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). God made our universe, fine-tuning it for human life on planet Earth.

The climax of God’s creation is humanity. Genesis 1:27 tells us that God made us in his image and that he made us male and female. A biblical worldview begins with the understanding that we are a special act of creation by God. Where did we come from? We are created by God in his image.

The Genesis account proceeds to tell us that God made us to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:26-28). But we learn in Genesis 3 that our relationship with God was broken when Adam and Eve chose to disobey him. Humanity fell into a state of rebellion against God.

The remainder of Scripture unfolds God’s great work in history to save repentant sinners and to defeat evil. The climax of God’s plan is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The finished work of Jesus opens the door of God’s grace. Now sinners can be forgiven and have new life as sons and daughters of God.

The biblical worldview answers the second question of meaning and purpose in this life. We are here to be reconciled to God (to be eternally saved) and to help others do the same (2 Corinthains 5:17-21). Once we are made right with God, we can enjoy his blessings and live fruitful lives.

The Bible also answers the third question. Our future includes a day of judgment before God when everyone will answer to him for the things done in this life (Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 12:26). Those who trust in God’s promised Savior Jesus will be judged by God’s grace (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Those who reject God’s offer of salvation by grace will be condemned by their own actions (Revelation 20:11-15).

God promises a new heaven and a new earth for his people, all who are saved by his grace through faith in his Son Jesus (Revelation 21-22). There will be no crying or dying, no sadness or sorrow, no pain or suffering. Sin will be eradicated. God’s people will see him face to face and enjoy him and his blessings for eternity.

A biblical worldview affirms that we are made by God in his image. We are here to be saved by his grace and help others do the same. And we are going to heaven where we will enjoy his love and presence fully and forever.

Do you have a biblical worldview? If you don’t, I urge you to accept it. If you do, I urge you to share it!

May the God who was, is, and is to come bless us with his truth and love,

Brother Richard

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January 13, 2026 · 11:57 AM

Determined To Be Like Jesus

The days were being fulfilled for Jesus’ ascension. That is, the time was drawing near for Jesus to return to the Father in heaven, the climax of his God-given mission in the first century.

Before his ascension, it was necessary for Jesus to go to Jerusalem, to suffer many things and be rejected by the religious leaders, to be killed, and to be resurrected on the third day. Then, he would ascend back to heaven.

Luke tells us that Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem. In other words, he was determined to go there and fulfill his mission. It took determination to carry out his mission because Jesus faced opposition.

First, Jesus faced spiritual opposition. The devil tempted him to choose an easier path to success than the one chosen for him by God. Jesus rejected the devil’s advice.

Second, Jesus faced opposition from his own followers. When Jesus first spoke about his mission to be God’s promised Suffering Servant, Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Jesus forcefully responded to Peter, telling the former fisherman that he was mistaken to try and change Jesus’ mind.

Two other disciples, James and John, wanted to call down fire and destroy a Samaritan village because they would not receive Jesus. Jesus rebuked his disciples for their suggestion. He refused to be distracted from his mission by personal insults and power struggles.

Third, Jesus struggled with his own humanity. As his suffering at Calvary loomed ever closer, Jesus prayed in anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking God to change his mission. But prayer strengthened Jesus and gave him the resolve to carry on and fulfill his calling.

Jesus was determined to do God’s work God’s way, despite the sacrifice. When he completed his God-given mission, Jesus enjoyed a great victory, a victory he wants to share with us.

In 2026, we will need determination to carry out our God-given mission. We will face spiritual opposition. We will face opposition and distraction from our own desires. We may even face opposition from fellow Christians.

Like Jesus, we can set our face to do God’s work God’s way, despite the sacrifice. We can be determined to avoid fighting the wrong battles the wrong way, despite the temptation.

Like Jesus, we can find confidence through prayer and experience the inspiration and empowering of God’s Holy Spirit. And, like Jesus, we can be sure to share in a great eternal victory, one that brings glory to God and blessings to many.

May the Lord give us determination to fulfill our gospel mission and share his great victory,

Brother Richard

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December 3, 2025 · 4:19 PM

Christmastime: A Glimpse of Glory

Jesus took three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, with him up a high mountain. While he was praying, he was transfigured before them. Jesus’ face shone like the sun. His clothes became white like lightning.

Moses and Elijah appeared in glory speaking with Jesus. Peter was so impressed by the experience that he wanted to squeeze every possible moment out of it. He wanted it to last as long as possible. He suggested makeshift shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah so they could stay on the mountain.

Can you imagine? What shelter can mere mortals possibly construct for those who are in glory? Why cover the shining splendor of Jesus Christ with the work of human hands?

Through the prophet Isaiah, God says, “Heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool. Where could you possibly build a house for me? And where would my resting place be?” (Isaiah 66:1).

While Peter ponders his foolish idea, God’s glory appears on the mountain like a bright cloud, enveloping the small group. They hear God’s voice, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5). To hear the voice of God! What does that sound like?

Despite Peter’s efforts to prolong the experience, the glory departs. Jesus leads his disciples down the mountain, back to the valley. There, the daily toil awaits them, problems and all.

But Peter, James, and John are changed, profoundly and permanently. The world will never look the same for them. They have a renewed vision of Jesus and new hope for what lies ahead.

God knows that we need encouragement to face the struggles and routines in our daily activities. He is gracious enough to give us glimpses of glory along the way. They may not be as dramatic as what Peter, James, and John experienced on the mountaintop, but God’s Spirit knows how to touch us in our inner being with great intensity, with his powerful presence.

Christmas is a perfect time to sense the wonder and awe of what God is accomplishing through Jesus Christ. The contrast between our Lord’s glory and his humility grips our hearts and inspires our confidence. The King of eternity in a manger. God does the impossible!

I pray our Lord will give you empowering glimpses of his glory this Christmas season!

May the Lord give you the eyes to see and a heart to sing at his marvelous Christmas miracle,

Brother Richard

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November 4, 2025 · 11:51 AM

The God of Abundance

God gave Israel manna in the desert. He instructed his people to gather three times a year for annual feasts. Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 in a deserted place.

Our Lord provides for our daily food and our desire to feast, reminding us that he is our provision. The Lord’s Supper is so humble that we might not think of it as a meal. But it, too, is a reminder of God’s greatest provision and it should inspire our greatest thanksgiving.

Jesus was in an upper room in Jerusalem with his disciples. They were gathered to celebrate the Passover, a feast observed annually for well over a thousand years by this time. It commemorated God’s deliverance of his chosen people from slavery in Egypt.

Passover included a meal with a roasted lamb, slaughtered as a sacrifice earlier in the day at the temple. While Jesus and the disciples were eating the Passover meal, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples.

All of this was normal enough. Unleavened bread was part of the Passover meal. It was a reminder that when God rescued the people from Egypt, they left in haste. They didn’t have time to put leaven, or yeast, in their bread and let it rise before baking it. As a result, the bread was flat and brittle like a cracker.

By the first century, the unleavened bread had taken on an additional meaning. The yeast or leaven that makes bread rise had come to be a symbol of spiritual impurity and corruption. As leaven spreads through the lump of dough, sin and unrighteousness spread through a soul, a family, a community, or even a nation. Unleavened bread had become a symbol of what is holy and pure, free of sin and corruption.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said a blessing, and broke it. He gave it to the disciples and said, “Take. Eat. This is my body.” Jesus reinterpreted the bread so that it now stands for his body. The unleavened bread is the perfect symbol for Jesus’ body, because he is sinless, pure, and holy. And as that bread was broken, so Jesus’ body would be wounded on the cross.

The Passover ritual in the ancient world included four cups of wine which the participants drank at certain times during the evening. These cups were added to the Passover ritual in later generations to remind the people of God’s promises in Exodus 6. Each cup represented one of the promises: I will bring you out, I will free you, I will redeem you, and I will take you as my own people.

The cup that Jesus used to institute the Lord’s Supper may very well have been cup number three. The third of God’s four promises was to redeem his people, the perfect symbol and reminder of Jesus’ work of redemption on the cross.

After taking the cup and offering thanks, he gave it to them saying, “Drink from it all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant for many being poured out for forgiveness of sins.” Jesus says that this cup is his blood. His life.

It is his blood of the covenant. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. The prophet Jeremiah told God’s people to expect a day when the Lord would institute a new covenant with his people, one written not on stone tablets but written on their hearts. Jesus is letting his disciples know that his sacrifice, his blood, will institute that new covenant.

Jesus’ last statement gives us the reason for his sacrifice. It is for the forgiveness of sins for the many. The many are God’s people. As God’s adopted sons and daughters, we enjoy the benefits Jesus secured with his sacrifice, including forgiveness for our sins, our disobedience against God.

“And I say to you-all I will certainly not drink from this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it with you-all new in the kingdom of my Father.” Yes, his body will be wounded, crushed, pierced, and his blood poured out, but he will again drink the fruit of the vine with his disciples. He will drink it again on that day, the day when God’s kingdom, his Father’s kingdom, is finally and fully consummated.

A day is coming when all Jesus’ followers will celebrate with him at the wedding supper of the Lamb, the Lamb of course, being Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb. Jesus assures his disciples that he will once again be at the table with them celebrating and drinking the cup.

Remember the past. Jesus died for our sins. Rejoice in the future. Jesus will come for all who belong to him. He will share his abundance and joy with us forever! Give thanks!

May the Lord inspire us to remember his abundance and express our deepest gratitude to him,

Brother Richard

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October 2, 2025 · 11:10 AM

Did Charlie Kirk Start A Revival?

I’ve heard the word revival a lot more recently, ever since Charlie Kirk’s funeral. His funeral feels like the beginning of something new, that is, something old rekindled: unashamed public faith in Jesus Christ.

Before his assassination, many people were aware of the bold public witness Charlie was living for Jesus. Others were unaware. Those of us who did not know about Charlie have been amazed and impressed to discover what a brilliant and passionate witness for Jesus Charlie was.

The early news reports after Charlie’s murder painted him as a political activist. Perhaps because the writers were from the secular camp in our culture. They always wash their stories clean of any potentially positive references to Christianity. They diligently work to present a world that is ‘free’ from any religious influence, unless they can paint religion as bad.

There is some truth to the notion that Charlie was a political activist. But it is a half-truth at best. Charlie’s political positions were inspired by his commitment to Christ. Charlie understood that Jesus is Lord, Lord of all, not just private life. For those who are true followers of Jesus, he is Lord of our public life, including our politics.

It’s true, sincere Christians don’t always agree on politics. But we should agree that our faith in Jesus is not a lamp under a bowl. We should agree that Jesus has called us to witness for him publicly. We should agree that Jesus insisted that violence is not the way to promote the gospel.

Charlie didn’t just promote the gospel on social media platforms. He personally went to places where he could engage with people face to face, eye to eye, heart to heart. Charlie was imitating our Lord. Jesus dialogued with people openly and publicly.

Jesus was accused of saying bad things. In fact, he was accused of blasphemy, of slandering God. In our culture, Christians are accused of saying bad things. We are accused of hate speech for our devotion to God and his standard of right and wrong. In fact, if we question identity politics, we are treated as blasphemers against the gods (idols) of our culture.

Jesus reminded us that the cultural leaders hated him, and he warned that they will hate us as well. Jesus modeled a loving boldness that risked personal harm out of concern for those who are lost and confused in this dark and deceptive age. Charlie followed Jesus’ model.

People like Charlie Kirk are reminders to Christians that Jesus’ words are still true. Charlie is a reminder that our task as believers is unchanged. And, Charlie is a reminder that our victory is secured. Charlie didn’t lose. He enjoyed a harvest that is still unfolding here on earth and he will enjoy the presence of our Lord in heaven forever.

When we speak the truth in love, we share the spiritual harvest. We share Jesus’ eternal victory. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16, CSB).

May the Lord inspire us and empower us to share the good news about Jesus with confidence,

Brother Richard

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August 27, 2025 · 2:39 PM

Tell People About Jesus Now

This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine! I remember singing those words. It’s a gospel song for children. It was inspired by a saying of Jesus.

Jesus told his disciples that nobody puts a lamp under a bowl or a bed. They put it on a lampstand so that it can give light to everyone in the house.

Jesus was brilliant at using common everyday experiences to reveal and explain spiritual truth. This saying is recorded in several places in the Gospels. He must have used it often.

In Luke’s Gospel, it follows immediately after his parable of the soils. In that parable, Jesus compares God’s word with seed. If seed falls on hard, shallow, or thorny soil, it does not bear fruit. When it falls on good soil, it bears fruit.

Jesus was preparing his followers for the fact that not everyone who hears God’s good news will be receptive. Some people have hearts like the hard soil, uninterested in the gospel. Others are shallow, only interested in the gospel when it feels good. They fall away when things get difficult. Still others are distracted by the things of this world. They are never really committed to the gospel, so they never bear spiritual fruit.

But Jesus didn’t want his disciples to give up on sharing the gospel. He assured them that some people have hearts that will receive the gospel and nurture it. God’s word will bear fruit in their lives. The work of sharing the good news is worth the effort.

Immediately following the parable of the soils, Jesus follows up with the saying about the lamp. He switches from comparing the gospel to seed and compares it to a lamp. Like a lamp, God’s word should not be hidden away.

When we put Jesus’ two sayings together, we get great encouragement about our efforts to share God’s good news with others. True, many will reject the good news, but some will receive it. So, we should not hide the gospel away.

Every follower of Jesus has the seed of the gospel already growing in his heart. We have the light of Jesus in our souls. Jesus has instructed us not to hide the gospel but to share it with others. God also empowers us with his Spirit, inspiring and enabling us to share the gospel.

God is not calling us all to be preachers, or teachers, or evangelists. His Spirit gives those gifts of service to the ones who are chosen by God. But every follower of Jesus is instructed to testify about Jesus, to be a witness.

We need not be Bible scholars or theologians to tell others about Jesus. Our testimony may be very simple. At times, it may be no more than a couple of sentences in a discussion at work or in the classroom or neighborhood.

The power of the gospel is not in our ability to speak well or be persuasive. The power of the gospel is in the gospel, like the seed and the lamp. When the soil is right, the seed brings the miracle of life. When the lamp is displayed, it gives light. The gospel is no different. When we scatter the seed and display the lamp, God will accomplish amazing things.

Pray and watch for opportunities to say a good word about Jesus. Ask God to give you the discernment to see the opportunities and to take advantage when they come. God’s powerful Spirit will use our feeble efforts to bear fruit for eternal life.

May the Lord inspire and enable us to tell the good news about Jesus,

Brother Richard

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August 12, 2025 · 11:26 AM

Understanding the Times and Knowing What To Do

Jesus asked the question. “To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?” (Luke 7:31). On another occasion, Jesus noted that the religious leaders knew how to read the weather, but they didn’t know how to read the signs of the times (Luke 12:54-56).

In the Old Testament we read about men from the tribe of Issachar who understood the times and knew what Isreal should do (1 Chronicles 12:32).

What about us? How should we describe our generation? Do we understand our times? Do we know what to do?

Surely most people would agree that our generation is influenced by rapidly advancing technology, especially in communications. The internet has created a virtual world that competes with the real world. Social media gobbles up more and more time and attention. Are we controlling it, or is it controlling us?

Social media can be a great blessing. It enables us to stay in touch with people who are far away, family and friends we would otherwise struggle to keep up with.

Ironically, social media can also isolate people and diminish personal contact. I can still remember the first time I saw two people sitting at the same table in a restaurant texting one another instead of talking with each other. Social media tempts us to replace personal contact with electronic communication.

This is all probably changing dramatically at this very moment. The astounding advances of Artificial Intelligence (AI) promise another great leap forward in how we communicate with one another. It seems that just as we are realizing the dangers of social media, we are being flung into the confusing world of AI.

Many aspects of technology are bewildering, but some things are crystal clear. First, advances in communication technology do not come with advances in human ethics. Bad people still exist, and they use new technologies with old evil intentions. This fact should be acknowledged and people must be warned.

Second, parents who do a poor job navigating social media will not be very effective at helping their children do so. If parents fail their kids, then that failure will likely be passed on to the next generation. We may be hopelessly falling behind.

In addition to social isolation and money scams, social media and AI have an even darker and more sinister side. AI is already being used to produce new versions of pornography. Why is it that every new communications technology is almost immediately used to produce pornography and promote sexual immorality?

Why does the world seem so hostile toward healthy marriages and families? God’s design for family is fundamental to godly life. God is faithful to his people and he wants husbands and wives to be faithful to one another, reflecting and promoting godly living. God is the loving Father to his people and he wants mothers and fathers to be loving to their children, reflecting and promoting godly living.

Our generation has changed the legal definition of marriage and doubled down on destroying unborn babies. Our generation makes it a badge of honor to say “No” to children and to say “No” to God’s design for family. Our generation is so confused and deceived that many people refuse to acknowledge the obvious natural distinction between boys and girls, men and women.

What should we do? First, we must reject pornography in all its forms and promote healthy marriages. God’s design for marriage is one man and one woman freely and fully committed to one another for life, raising their children together and enjoying their grandchildren. Christian marriage is designed by God to be a living parable of the love Jesus has for his church.

In addition, we should set healthy limits to our use of electronic communications. Personal contact with other people is normal and necessary. Church is the perfect example. There is no such thing as an online church family. Church services made available online are a blessing for those who cannot get out. They should not be a crutch for those who can get out.

Christianity has always used technology to promote the gospel, from the printing press, to radio, to TV, and now the internet. But the gospel message still needs a personal touch. Jesus didn’t sit in heaven and live stream his message to earth. He came in person. Like Jesus, we must go and interact with others.

Finally, we must remember that any media can be used to corrupt God’s truth and promote deception. Media can give the false impression that God’s Word is obsolete. It is not. Jesus assures us that heaven and earth will pass away (including the internet and smart phones), but his word will not (Luke 21:33).

We can be certain that technology will continue to change. We must also be certain that God’s Word will not. Let us contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.

May God inspire us and enable us to build strong families, communities, and churches,

Brother Richard Foster

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July 9, 2025 · 7:00 PM

Should Christians Support Israel?

God promised Abraham to make him into a great nation. Those who blessed that nation, God promised to bless. Those who cursed it, God would curse (Genesis 12:3).

Why did God choose Abraham’s descendants, Israel, and give them special consideration? Through Abraham’s offspring, God promised to bless the nations. God chose to use Israel as a blessing for all peoples. How?

God gave Israel his written word. He used his chosen people to give the Bible to the world. Even greater, God brought our Savior into the world through Israel. Jesus Christ is the offspring of Abraham who was promised by God. God sent his Son Jesus to be the Savior for all the nations.

Now that Israel has given us the Bible and Jesus, is God finished with them? Does the New Testament Church take over and replace Israel?

It is true that the Church has become God’s representatives for his great kingdom work in the world today. Jesus told the unbelieving Jewish religious leaders that the kingdom of God would be taken away from them and given to those who would bear its fruit (see Matthew 21:33-46).

Is that the end of God’s plan for Israel? No. The New Testament tells us that God’s gifts and promises to Israel are irrevocable (Romans 11:28-29). God made promises to Abraham’s descendants that he will not forget or cancel. One of those irrevocable promises is to give the piece of land on the east end of the Mediterranean Sea to the people of Israel in perpetuity.

For generations Israel was stiff-necked and hardhearted toward God. Finally, after many warnings through his prophets and many disciplinary actions through surrounding nations, God expelled Israel from the Promised Land. But he sent prophets to assure them that their exile, though painful, would only be temporary.

Throughout the Old Testament, God promised to gather his scattered people Israel from around the world and return them to the land he gave Abraham. This promise remained unfulfilled for so many generations that some students of Scripture concluded it was symbolic or spiritual, not literal.

Then, after almost two thousand years, Jews returned to their homeland and established the modern state of Israel in May of 1948. What seemed impossible became a literal fulfillment of God’s ancient promise.

Not everyone was impressed. Muslim nations surrounding Israel immediately attacked, trying to destroy the Jews and claim the Promised Land for themselves. But God protected the modern state of Israel, and he has continued to do so for decades.

It is true that the modern state of Israel is largely a secular state. But the New Testament promises that all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26). A time is coming when a great revival will visit God’s chosen people and they will be blessed with saving faith in Jesus.

The New Testament Church has not and will not replace Israel. The Bible tells us that the Church is grafted into God’s promises and his plan of salvation (Romans 11:17-23). The Church is included but Israel is not excluded.

In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John records his God-given vision of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and the new earth. He sees twelve gates and twelve foundations. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel are inscribed on the gates. The names of the twelve apostles of Jesus are on the foundations. Both Israel and the church are represented in the eternal city of God, together forever.

Must we agree with every detail of every policy and action taken by the modern state of Israel? God promised Abraham he would bless those who bless his descendants, not those who agree on everything. So, we bless Israel. We choose sides with them and not against them. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).

Our support for Israel is an acknowledgement and affirmation of God’s great plan of salvation. God chose to use Israel to bless the nations, including ours. We support God’s plan because we trust him and his ways. We want his blessing for our nation. As the psalmist writes, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 33:12).

May God richly bless his people,

Brother Richard Foster

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