Where do we often focus our attention? If we are honest, we like to think about ourselves — how can I improve my life? Why did this happen to me? Why aren't others more aware of how I feel? Because of the selfish, sinful nature still present in our lives, we all too often focus our eyes and our thoughts inward.

Psalm 121 is described as a song of ascents. As travelers from all over Israel would make their way to the city of Jerusalem, they would sing praises — often Psalms — while ascending the mount where the capital sat. Naturally, their gaze would be focused upward as they looked at the majesty of the Temple and the glory of the true God they worshiped there. "I lift up my eyes to the mountains..." begins the psalm writer.

Our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Not just the day-to-day providence that comes from God, but the eternal & spiritual redemption our God has purchased for us. Every moment of our lives, we can lift our eyes to the mountains or fix our eyes on the pages of Scripture, where we see again and again that our God loves us, our God has forgiven us, our God has taken the selfish, sinful, wretched state of our hearts and washed us clean with his own blood shed on the cross. Let us continue to lift our eyes and rejoice in the one who has done all things for us! Our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth!

"It is written..." replied the Savior to the futile efforts of the enemy.

In perfect obedience to his Father's will, the Son of God stood firm, resisted temptation, and showed himself to be the fulfillment of the oldest prophecy ever written. The offspring of the woman had arrived, the head of the serpent was soon to be crushed.

As generations of God's people read, studied, and marveled at the pages of Scripture, they were holding the strongest weapon against the lies of the ancient serpent. God's very words filled the scrolls of prophets and kings. The TRUTH of God's gracious promises given and fulfilled gave certainty and hope to countless sinful generations. This same Word reminds us today that God's power, love, and forgiveness have utterly destroyed the work of the enemy. Sin, death and the devil have been defeated at the foot of the cross and in the reality of the empty tomb.

It is written — the promise was made; the promise was kept; salvation is ours. And there's nothing that can change God's final Word.

"It is good for us to be here," came the hasty words from Peter's lips.

Although the words were not well thought out, Peter's first reaction to seeing his transfigured Savior speaking with legendary prophets of ages past was quite understandable. This is good! We'd like to stay! Let's make this mountain our new home! Peter was stunned, amazed, and frightened. Isn't the same often true for us as we read the pages of Scripture?

It is good for us to be here — in God's house, in His Word, enjoying the message of gospel grace and forgiveness, bowing in humble penitence & rejoicing in loving absolution. We can echo Peter's words, not because we wish to stay on the earthly mountain, but because God has promised us a home far superior to hilltop tents. We have the sure hope of an eternity with our Savior, where trouble, pain, and sadness are long forgotten. Where we will live in eternal bliss and joy with our glorious King.

As we live here on this earth, awaiting with eager anticipation the joy that awaits us on the heavenly mountain, let us continue to share the message that God the Father spoke from the cloud, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." The victory is won; we are God's own children. It is truly good for us to be here!

"You are the light of the world," spoke the very Light that entered this dark world.

When Jesus delivered his great "Sermon on the Mount" as recorded in Matthew, he was shining brightly as the Light of the World who came to seek and save the lost. As Jesus explained that HE was the fulfillment of the law and prophets, the gospel rang out clearly: He is the Son, He is the Savior.

And with a gracious command, Jesus told his followers that they would extend His light to the sin-darkened world. They would be reflections of the perfect light of the gospel as they lived for Him. God be praised that He still uses His people to reflect His light! We too are the recipients of the life-changing gospel of Christ, and we too are those through whom God shines His light. Let us live boldly for our Savior, knowing that God has given us the very Light of the World — Let your light shine!

"You think you're something special..."

Perhaps this is all too familiar a phrase for us who live in a world of social standing, importance, and influence. The world around us tells us that we should strive to be special — to be seen by others and recognized by many. The world wants us to look inward to find importance... and that self-reflection inevitably leads to disappointment.

In today's lesson, Paul reminded the church in Corinth that many of them had nothing to brag about by human standards. It was a church made up of the regular crowd, the ordinary and average by worldly standards. But Paul also reminds them that God's standards are different. In fact, God's standard is perfection... and nobody, not even the richest and most influential in this world, even comes close to that standard.

Thanks be to God that he chose the weak, lowly, and despised to be His own! As sinners, we recognize that we are undeserving of anything from God, but that's exactly what makes God's grace so amazing — it is truly undeserved! We can call ourselves the blessed people of God because our salvation is sure through the death and resurrection of Christ. The wisdom of God was seen in the wounds of the Savior. The strength of our God walked out of the tomb on Easter morning. Status in this world means nothing because we have received everything in Christ. We can boast in the Lord! We truly are special in the sight of God — His dearly loved children!

Where do you turn to for answers? Where do you look for truth?

In Isaiah's day, the people of Israel turned to anyone and anything except the one true God. As Isaiah laments the stubborn rebellion and faithlessness of God's chosen people, he reminds them that their current path leads to darkness... but that God has promised a light!

"To the teaching and to the testimony!" rang out from the prophet's mouth as he desperately tried to turn the hearts of the people back to God. This prophetic truth stands the test of time because God's teaching and God's testimony — His very Word — endure forever. When we see the darkness of sin that infects this world, the darkness that so easily entangles and confuses, God reminds us through the prophet Isaiah that He alone is the light that breaks through the darkness! He shone the light of His grace in our lives by sending the Savior to destroy the darkness. He promises the unending light of heaven as a free gift won for us by the Light of the World. We no longer grope about in the darkness because Christ is the one true light!

"... on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt 13:18 ESV)

Jesus' response to Peter's confession was a concrete confirmation of what he had been telling his disciples time and time again — I am the Christ, the fulfillment of promises and prophecies spanning generations. I am the true foundation!

This foundational truth about the eternal God who had entered the world in human flesh was not a puzzle to be solved, it was a gift of faith that was given. Jesus made it clear that even Peter's simple answer was a profound gift of God's grace. The truths of our salvation upon which the entire Church is built have been revealed to us through the very Son of the living God, spelled out in the Word of God we read daily. Along with Peter, through the gift and grace of the Holy Spirit, we too proclaim, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!"

Many in today's world scoff at the idea of an afterlife or an existence beyond the here and now. The concept of heaven, an eternal life in God's gracious presence, is an outlandish tale presented in an outdated book. For Christians, the hope of heaven is not only a future longing, but a present reality through faith in the sure promises of our almighty God. We are living life after death.

In the letter to the Romans, Paul makes it very clear that Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary removed the guilt of sin forever. The Savior's triumphant resurrection brings new life both now and into eternity. We have been freed from the bondage of sin, and through faith in the Savior we are "alive to God in Christ Jesus." Heaven is our home, and we eagerly await the eternal bliss that our Creator has promised and won for us!

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In the vast darkness of the night sky, stars shine as beacons of brilliant light. Isaiah compares the glory of the Lord to a glorious light — a light that cuts through the sinful darkness of this world with the brilliance of salvation!

As we celebrate Epiphany and remember the miraculous star that guided faithful travelers to the feet of the infant Jesus, we are also reminded of the true light of the Gospel. The Savior shines brighter than any star, planet, or heavenly light. He shines radiantly with the truth of forgiveness, life, and salvation won for us through His own sacrifice. Arise, shine! The light of salvation is here!

The arrival of the baby Jesus at Christmas, swaddled and laid in a lowly manger, is often called our Savior's "first coming". The King over all creation humbled himself by taking on human flesh and dwelling with us in this broken, sinful world. He came on a mission of love; he came to save us.

During this season of rejoicing and celebration of our Savior's first coming, we also anticipate the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to come back to this earth — not as a humble child in a manger, but as the all-powerful, glorious and victorious King of Kings! With readings from Isaiah, Galatians, Matthew, and Daniel, we explore the awesome story of salvation unfold, and we marvel at God's plan and promise for the future. We await the return of Christ when all those who trust in Him will enter into eternal bliss. He will come again in glory, and we eagerly await that day!