Celebrate the truth that Jesus is winning

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “A season of celebration”

Our Bible verse for today: “… I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Matthew 16:18 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Celebrate the truth that Jesus is winning”

Sometimes it can appear to us as if the church in the United States is on the ropes. Church attendance and the influence of Christianity had already been in decline long before the COVID 19 pandemic. Then during the pandemic, it took a nosedive and hundreds of churches even closed their doors for good. Others never fully recovered to their pre-pandemic numbers. Now, more than three years after the end of the pandemic, the decline in attendance and of the influence of the church on society seems to be continuing. We are becoming what anthropologists and historians would label “a post-Christian society.”

So, we could conclude that things look bleak for the church. But I believe that would be a misreading of the situation. For almost two thousand years Christianity has repeatedly gone through seasons of trial and struggle. Powerful leaders, governments, even entire societies have been aligned against Christianity. Churches have been destroyed; Bibles have been burned; Christians have been persecuted, imprisoned, and executed. There have been times of wars and famines, plagues and natural disasters. But through it all the church of Jesus Christ has survived and thrived and there are more Christians on this planet today than there have ever been at any time in history.

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus declared that He would build His church and the gates of hell – even all the forces of Satan – wouldn’t be able to prevent it from happening. That was two thousand years ago and here we are today, even after having to face all that opposition, and His church is bigger and stronger across the globe than ever.

Despite how discouraging the situation may appear to be in any country or region at any time in history, Jesus is still on the throne, we are still saved, the message of the Gospel is still being shared around the world, people are still coming to faith in Christ, and the church is still growing worldwide. That has always been the case, it is still the case today, and it will continue to be the case until the day that Jesus comes back.

Jesus said He would build His church, and He has, and He still is, and He will continue to. Despite Satan’s best efforts to prevent it, Jesus is winning and we are a part of His victory.

Now that’s something to celebrate!

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Share this:

Related

Leave a comment Cancel reply