Headlines   News       Link to Home Page

-Small Groups -  Click here for information or to sign up for a Small Group

-The Music Man will be presented as our fall theatrical event...click here (www.ChristMemorialProductions.org) for full details and audition information. 

      Performances: November 13, 14,15 at 7:30 pm and November 16 at 2:00.

      Auditions: August 16 and 17 from 1- 5 PM..

Devotions

Refiner’s Fire

Destroys All Evil

Readings: Malachi 3:2-3 and Luke 3:17

When you read the newspapers or watch the evening news, you can’t help but notice the terrible and vicious evil that occasionally manifests itself—senseless acts of hatred against racial minorities— horrific acts of violence against innocent children— Christians who are tortured because of the faith—women who are repeatedly abused and subject to unspeakable degradation—if you dwell on such thoughts long enough (sometimes not long at all), it can bring you to tears. The power and the scope of evil can be over- whelming. There seems to be no end in sight.

Throughout the ages God’s faithful people have pleaded to heaven, “O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, O LORD; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless. They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed” (Ps. 94:1-7; see also Ps. 10 and Hab.1:2-4).

Where is God? Has He deserted us (Ezek. 9:9)? Is He unaware of what is going on (Ps. 94: 9)? Is He asleep (Ps. 44:23)? The Good News is that God hears the cries of his people (Ex. 2:23-25, Ps. 34:17-18). He is fully aware of the wickedness in this world, and He has sent His Son to destroy all evil. Malachi looked forward to that day when he wrote, “‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Mal. 4:1-3).

That day is the end of the world. But it already has begun to come through Christ—right now! Through His suffering and death on the cross, Christ has conquered the forces of evil. A new age of love and forgiveness has begun in Christ. This new reign of Christ is powerfully manifest in the hearts and lives of all who believe in Jesus. But this is just the beginning. The day is coming when Jesus will return, and we will see the fulfillment of our salvation. His reign will be clear and visible over all creation. At that time, all evil, hatred, and cruelty will be destroyed. Right will triumph over wrong. Good will be victorious over evil. There will be no more pain, hunger, or suffering. This is the day for which all creation longs (Rom. 8:22).

Prayer: Lord, it is not easy being patient. Help me to trust in Your timing. Never let me doubt Your power or Your love. Strengthen me so that with Your might I stand firm against the evil in this world. Come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen