Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Bible in a Year: Isaiah 4-6 | Matthew 25

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. 

Welcome to Black Church 101, where call-and-response is mandatory, the collection plate passes by at least twice, the choir enters in unison with their voices and steps, and the program is more of a suggestion for the next 3 to 5 hours. The only time I remember service ending by noon was on March 19, 1995. Reverend Dooley said, “Don’t worry, I’m not missing Michael Jordan’s return either.” 

The lore of the Black Church is entrenched with stories that bring laughter from the church hat to the pulpit. The truth behind them derives from a spiritual connection in which people found their eternal identity and security in Christ, even as society worked to deny the Black community dignity and status. 

Yet, in the face of this denial, the Black Church nurtured a sense of worth and belonging that extends to anyone who has ever felt unseen or undervalued, reminding all that true identity and value are found in God. 

2 Corinthians 1:21-22
It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

The assurance found in this verse echoes the truth that tells us, no matter what the world says or what we experience, God ultimately secures our place with him by giving us the Holy Spirit.  

Why is this important? 

Life can seem like a balancing act between desires, abilities, and limits. You desire things and aspire to be more, but you can’t control circumstances. Hope is a passive expectation. You’ll always fall short on your own. These words sound bleak, but they don’t have to.

Jesus reminds us we cannot live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4). The idea of more can’t be rooted in earthly things … only Jesus. 

You have an opportunity to stop putting everything in your own unreliable hands - to start living securely by faith instead of placing your security in things that don’t last. When we live confidently in our eternity, failures become growth. Successes are part of the bigger picture.  

God’s wish is for you to take hold of his promises and live boldly by faith. This is the heart of Church 101.

Questions: 
Is your identity and security more about the now or the eternal? Do both fluctuate depending on the season?

Next Steps: 
Anchor your identity in Christ through prayer and Scripture. Be honest about your desires, fears, and doubts in conversation with him. Highlight and memorize Scripture. Grow in your spiritual journey by joining groups and serving others.

Prayer: 
I know my successes and failures have changed, but God, you are always the same. Guide my steps. Help me remember to find my identity in your constant love. Teach me to find security in trusting you, without worrying about what I can’t control or obtain in this world. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:
Ephesians 1:5
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

This post was written by Jaron Camp, a Findlay attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.