Pastor Fari Maghami

We are like a person drowning in the middle of a vast, storm-tossed ocean with no land in sight. We cannot save ourselves. Our only hope is for a rescuer to come. Christ has come to rescue us, and we receive that rescue not by our own efforts, but by placing our faith in Him.

From incarnation to crucifixion, from burial to resurrection, the life of Jesus changed history and eternity. His resurrection doesn’t just promise a future heaven; it shows that God’s kingdom has already begun to break in, transforming our world and our lives, even as we await its full fulfillment.

Regardless of our ethnicity, calling, spiritual gifts, or socioeconomic standing, Christ calls people to be disciple-making disciples, advancing His gospel, which is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16). We are called to share the gospel through our words and deeds, as we reflect Christ’s love, mercy, and glory in the world (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12).
May we continue to marvel at the glory of God revealed in Christ and live as people who intentionally shine His light, empowered by His Spirit, in a world that desperately needs hope, peace, and salvation.

Sometimes bearing burdens simply means being present with someone in their struggles. Be quick to listen, slow to speak, pray with them, and offer biblical encouragement. Often, I have found that one’s presence alone is enough. Every person who is a follower of Christ is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we need to let others experience the fruit of the Spirit in us—such as peace, kindness, and patience—especially in the midst of trying and stressful times.

One of the most important truths in the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully divine. This is called the hypostatic union, the doctrine that Jesus is one Person with two distinct natures, God and man. These two natures are united without mixing, changing, dividing, or separating. Jesus is not half-God, half-man. He is fully God and fully human at the same time. But this is not merely a deep, complicated theological idea for scholars to study. It is central to the gospel, to our salvation, and to how we relate to God every day.

The truth is, lasting peace amid anxiety comes only from the one and only God of peace (Romans 15:33). However, asking, seeking, and knocking for God’s help requires both faith and humility. That’s why, in the previous verse (1 Peter 5:6), the apostle Peter instructs persecuted and suffering Christians to “humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” True and lasting peace comes when we approach God in faith, humbly cast our anxieties on Him in prayer, and patiently wait for His response in His perfect timing.
Find three truths to hold onto as we manage our anxious thoughts.

Unity is not about being comfortable, keeping peace, or simply avoiding conflict. Biblical unity is about something much greater: making the historical Jesus of Nazareth known, the one who alone can give us true peace with God and with one another.

Today, the church is called to proclaim the Gospel through our being, doing, and telling. The good news is that the only way we find our way back home is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, and for God’s glory alone. This message is for all people, regardless of nation or socioeconomic status.

As Christians, we are called to think and meditate on God’s Word so that our thoughts align with His revealed will and way of thinking. The Bible and the Holy Spirit serve as our mental and spiritual guides and safeguards, helping us take every thought captive and expel damaging, sinful, and God-demeaning thoughts and behaviors (2 Corinthians 10:5). However, this is something we must pursue intentionally and actively. The Spirit enables us, but we must willingly obey God in the process of renewing our minds.

Hospitality is more than just a kind gesture—it’s a command and a reflection of God’s love for us. As God in Christ opened His arms and heart wide on the cross, giving us access to Himself and His home in heaven, we too should open our hearts and homes to others. By doing so, we not only fulfill a biblical command but also create spaces where God’s grace can flow freely through us. Let’s be intentional in our hospitality, knowing that through it, we might just be entertaining angels (Hebrews 13:2).