Highlandtown Church

09/11/2026

The Gift of Eternal Life

1 John 5:11–12 “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Sometimes we wonder, “Am I really saved? Does God really love me, or can I know that I have eternal life?” Thankfully, God does not leave us guessing, and John reminds us of a beautiful truth: eternal life is found in Jesus Christ and Him alone.

It is not something we earn by being good enough, working hard enough, or trying to live a perfect life. It is a gift God gives to those who have placed their faith in His Son.

“God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” — 1 John 5:11
Verse 12 makes it very personal: “Whoever has the Son has life.” Our hope is not found in our accomplishments, our feelings, or our circumstances. Our hope is found in Jesus.

Some days we feel weak, discouraged, or uncertain. But God's promise does not change with our feelings. When we belong to Christ, we belong to Him forever.

Today, remember this simple truth: Jesus is life. If you have the Son, you have eternal life. That promise is worth holding onto—and a gift worth sharing with others.

09/10/2026

Chosen
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Have you ever found yourself questioning your worth? It is too easy to feel overlooked or to feel like you're not contributing much to the people around you. Life can sometimes give us a hard time and make us feel inadequate. But the truth is, God sees you differently. You are chosen, and you matter more than you can imagine to Him. You belong, and you have a unique purpose.

Peter reminds his readers that when we put our faith in Christ, we are not just individuals; we are a "chosen people," a "royal priesthood," and "God’s special possession." These terms aren't just fancy phrases; they reflect our true identity in Christ.

Our value isn't determined by our accomplishments, our position, our age, our past, or what other people think about us. Our value comes from the One who created us and called us His own.

And notice that Peter doesn't stop with who we are. He tells us why God has called us: “that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” God has brought us out of darkness so that our lives can point others toward His light.

Today, remember who you are. You are chosen, loved, belong to Christ, and your life has a purpose. If God has called you His own, don't let the world tell you otherwise.

09/09/2026

Keep In Step With the Spirit

Galatians 5:25 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Following Jesus isn’t just about what we believe on Sunday; it is how we live out the Gospel every day.

Paul reminds us that if the Holy Spirit is living within us, our lives should begin to reflect His presence. That means learning to listen to God, follow His direction, love others, show patience, forgive freely, and make choices that honor Christ.

Sometimes we want God to show us the whole road ahead. But often, He simply asks us to take the next step with Him. When we keep in step with the Spirit, we don't have to figure everything out on our own. We can trust God to guide us one step, one decision, and one day at a time.

Today, ask yourself: “Am I walking at my own pace, or am I keeping in step with the Spirit, taking up my cross daily, and following Jesus? Take the next step with Him. He already knows the way.

09/08/2026

As Far as the East Is from the West

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Have you ever done something you regretted and wished you could take it back? Maybe you said something you shouldn’t have said or made a choice you regretted. Maybe you fell short of who you know God wants you to be. We all have moments we wish we could erase.

But Psalm 103:12 reminds us of something wonderful: God doesn't hold our forgiven sins over our heads. When we come to Him with a repentant heart, He doesn't just forgive us a little bit. He removes our sins “as far as the east is from the west.” That is a distance we cannot even measure.

Sometimes, the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. We keep replaying the past in our minds and wondering if God could really forgive us. But if God has forgiven us, we don't have to keep punishing ourselves for what He has already removed.

Your past does not have to define your future. God's grace is bigger than your mistakes, His mercy is greater than your failures, and His forgiveness gives you a fresh start.

Today, don't carry what God has already taken away. Receive His forgiveness, thank Him for His grace, and walk forward in the freedom He gives.

09/04/2026

Tomorrow is the day!

09/04/2026

Christ Lives in Me

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 really drives home the message that being a follower of Jesus goes beyond just going to church, praying, or reading the Bible. It’s about letting Christ transform our lives from the inside out.

When Paul says, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me,” he isn't saying that his personality or identity disappeared. He is saying that his life is no longer centered on himself. Jesus is now at the center.
When we encounter tough situations, we can take comfort in knowing that He’s always by our side. Instead of reacting in anger when we're provoked, we can turn to Him for help in responding with kindness. When we feel worn out, down, or just unsure, we can remind ourselves that we don’t have to carry all the weight on our own.

Perhaps the most beautiful part of this verse is the reminder that Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us. His love isn't something we have to earn. It has already been demonstrated at the cross.

So today, let's ask ourselves a simple question: “Am I living my life for myself, or am I allowing Christ to live through me?” May our words, choices, attitudes, and actions reflect the One who loved us enough to give everything for us.

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

Christ Is Everything We Need

1 Corinthians 1:30 “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

We live in a world that constantly tells us we need more; more success, more possessions, more recognition, and more answers. But Paul reminds us that what we truly need is found in Jesus.

Christ is our wisdom when we don't know which way to go. He is our righteousness when we realize we could never make ourselves right with God. He is our holiness as He continues to shape our hearts and lives. He is our redemption, reminding us that our past does not have the final word—Jesus does.

We don't have to prove our worth or try to earn God's love. Because of Christ, we are already loved, forgiven, and being made new.

Today, remember where your hope comes from. Jesus isn't simply part of our lives—He is the foundation of everything we are. What more could we truly need then Christ is our wisdom, our righteousness, our holiness, and our redemption.

09/02/2026

No Condemnation In Christ

Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

There are times when we carry the weight of our past, our mistakes, and the things we wish we could change. Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. We may know that God forgives us, yet we still allow guilt and shame to tell us that we are not good enough.

Romans 8:1 reminds us of a beautiful truth: when we belong to Jesus, condemnation no longer has the final word. This does not mean we have never failed. It means our failures do not define us. Jesus does.

Because of Christ, we don't have to spend our lives looking back at our past and what we did wrong. We can look forward with confidence, knowing that God's grace is greater than our sin and His love is greater than our failures.

The enemy may whisper, “You are not good enough.” God reminds us, “You are Mine.” The enemy may remind us of our past. Jesus reminds us of His grace.

So today, let go of the guilt that Christ has already carried for you. Receive His forgiveness. Walk in His grace and remember that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.