Even as Christians we will go through trials and struggles. Our challenge is to continue to seek God's grace and to love fervently in the midst of our life, no matter what it looks like.

As you're going through trials, don't grow weary and look to find your own way to seek out your own comfort and happiness. Keep going to God and searching His Word, keep seeking out ways to love and serve others around you. God's grace will carry you through. 

The message today is from John 4: 1-42, the story of Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman. 

How do you view people? In this passage Jesus demonstrates how we should view and interact with people around us. Jesus broke every norm and every reason that Jews followed to share the gospel. He saw someone who needed the gospel and He brought it to her. 

Do we do the same? Or do we let society or worries about what others might think keep us from sharing the gospel with someone in need?

The miracles and signs of Jesus are recorded in the gospels to show us about Jesus. To reveal something to us to help us believe that He is the Sovereign Lord over all. 

The first step in coming to a saving faith is to recognize the deep dissatisfaction in your life, over your spriritual condition. To develop a longing for eternal life. 

Where are you looking for satisfaction? Bow to Jesus, confess Him as your Savior and Lord. And then go back to Him every day, feed on Him, the Bread of Life, and He will satisfy. 

In our passage today Jesus warns about the coming of the Son of Man. Jesus taught the disciples about His future return and what their responsibilities were in light of it.

Are you prepared for the Jesus' second coming? Do you live expectantly? Are you consistent and faithful? Do you live for this world or in light of the next world? 

How do you respond to authority?

Who has authority in the world and in your life? 

God should be the authority over your life. We struggle with this, we want to be our own little king, we want things our way. Its time to give up my thinking and accept God's way. Submit to Jesus, live intentionally aware of the sacrifice that Jesus made for you.

Do you prefer to serve or be served? 

We have learned this Christmas season that Jesus is the Son of God and He came to preach the gospel, to call sinners to repentance and to serve.  Jesus came to serve, selflessly and sacrificially. 

How do you respond? Do you have a heart to serve? Are you living a life looking to Jesus as your example of how to serve selflessly and sacrificially?

The scripture today shows Jesus preaching in Galilee. He heals a leper and forgives a paralytic man. Jesus calls Matthew to be a follower and goes to eat with tax collectors and sinners. The religious leaders were angered by this and Jesus said He came not to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance. 

We are all sinners and desperately need Jesus everyday. He calls sinners to repentance, that is great news! 

The other gospels all tell us how Jesus came, but the book of Mark tells us why Jesus came. We learn that Jesus is the son of God who deserves our worship in every way. 

What will be your focus this Christmas? Will it be on Jesus? Will the others you encounter be able to tell that you're a Christian?

For what are you thankful for? Having just celebrated Thanksgiving we take some time to look at Psalm 147. 

Our life should have a foundation of praise. We can praise God because He works providentially in our lives, heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. He lifts up the humble and casts down the wicked. He delights in His people and He is worthy of our praise!

In today's reading Paul goes before Felix to defend himself after the Jews accused him of trying to profane the temple. Paul defends himself by telling Felix his motivation from the gospel. Felix postpones making a decision, but spends years asking Paul to talk with him and his wife about Christ. Paul kept his focus on the gospel and never lost his purpose.

How about you? Do you keep your purpose and your focus on the gospel, no matter what is happening to you? May we have a life marked by humble obedience to the Lord and a passion for the gospel.