December 31, 2022 • Scott Stevens • Psalm 119:105, Daniel 1:6–9, Daniel 6:22, Luke 5:1–11
What does legacy mean? Legacy is defined as something that is passed on. Whether it’s your faith, your core values, assets, etc., a legacy can guide others into their futures and impact the world. Daniel in the lion’s den is a great example of a Biblical legacy. It’s believed that Daniel was in his 70s or 80s when he was dropped into the den. His legacy wasn’t built in the moment he arrived in the den. His legacy was built over decades of faith with setbacks and celebrations marking it. Daniel endured exile as a teenager and followed God at the risk of his own life. He remained faithful to God, and his faith changed a king’s heart and passed a love for God down through generations. Daniel was steadfast, focused, and always giving credit to the Lord, and God honored him for it.
Marriages are filled with expectations and desires, but we’ll never meet our spouse’s desires fully and completely. In your marriage, who’s the real savior and who’s the real enemy? We are not called to be the savior for one another, but instead, point to the Ultimate Savior. Our fight isn’t against each other; it’s against the devil himself. Marriage is a picture God uses to point us to an eternal reality. Marriage is a tool God uses to conform us to His character. Faith is our greatest defense because it anchors us to our real Savior and protects us against our real enemy. We lift up the shield of faith together to extinguish Satan’s flaming darts about God, ourselves, and our spouse. We can build a marriage protected in faith by regularly praying together and recalling God’s faithfulness in our lives.
Singles: Know Your Purpose, Change Your Perspective
December 31, 2022 • Vince Giordano • 1 Corinthians 7:32–35, 1 Peter 2:9, Romans 12:1–2
What is your attitude towards singleness? Are you frustrated? Disappointed? Longing for marriage? These feelings are natural, especially in the culture we’re surrounded by today that pushes for self-fulfillment. But self-fulfillment isn’t God’s goal for marriage. Paul helps us understand God’s purpose for our lives in the book of Romans. Our purpose is to know who we are, whose we are, and live on mission for the work of the Gospel. Single or married, our purpose is the same. We are God’s chosen possession—set apart people sent to reflect the Gospel. When we know who we are and whose we are, our perspective changes on our relationship status. Soon, our behaviors and decisions follow suit. We date differently, wait differently, and see our seasons differently when we have a Godly view of singleness and marriage.
