Posted on by Paul N. Merideth

How’s Your Pulse?

Let’s start with the obvious: if you don’t have a pulse, you’re in trouble. No heartbeat? That’s not just bad news—it’s fatal. So what about the church’s pulse? If we pressed two fingers to her spiritual wrist, would we feel a strong, vibrant beat or a troubling stillness?

Paul Merideth

The church in Corinth, the one Paul wrote to, was showing some signs of spiritual arrhythmia. It was a congregation under siege, pressured by a surrounding pagan culture and infected by internal conflicts and divisions. Satan has always tried to convert the living body of Christ into a lifeless shell. And in Corinth, unfortunately, he was making headway.

But Paul didn’t write them off as spiritually dead. He didn’t rush in with condemnation or a clipboard to pronounce time of death. He opened his letter with something surprisingly hopeful: thanksgiving. That alone tells us the situation wasn’t terminal. There was life still beating in their chest.

He reminded them, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

There it is—the pulse. The steady rhythm that sustains the body of Christ. Faithfulness. Fellowship. These are not abstract theological ideas. They are the vital signs of Christian existence. They are not generated by our effort or enthusiasm but gifted to us by the One who gives life itself. We live because He is faithful. We thrive because we’ve been invited into a living, breathing, grace-filled connection with the Son.

So take a moment. Check your spiritual pulse. Is there a beat of gratitude in you? Can you sense the divine rhythm of grace pulsing through your spirit—God’s mercy, His provision, His redemption, His direction? These are not spiritual luxuries. They are signs of life. If they’re present, you’re alive. If they’re faint or missing, it might be time to consult the Great Physician.

And here’s the beautiful irony: even when our spiritual health falters, God remains steady. His faithfulness is not reactive. It doesn’t rise and fall with our performance. His grace does not ebb when ours does. It flows freely, relentlessly, keeping the body alive even when it stumbles.

Paul continues his note of thanksgiving with a cascade of affirmation:
“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus…” (1 Corinthians 1:4-8). He goes on to describe how the Corinthians were enriched in every way—speech, knowledge, spiritual gifts—and not just enriched, but confirmed in their faith. They had what they needed to endure. And not only to endure, but to mature.

It’s important to remember that spiritual vitality is not measured by perfection but by direction. Are we moving toward Christ? Are we leaning into grace and growing in love? Is the pulse of our faith stronger today than it was yesterday?

In other words, the church wasn’t dead. She was bruised perhaps, confused at times, even spiritually reckless—but her heart was still beating. And Paul wanted them to hear that heartbeat loud and clear.

And yours is too, if you are in Christ. So take courage. Give thanks. God’s not done with you, and He’s not done with us. You and I are not sustained by sheer willpower. We are sustained by a faithful God who will hold us fast and bring us safely to the finish line.

As Paul says, He will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8). That is not just a heartbeat. That is a promise. And that promise is pumping life into the church even now.

So again—how’s your pulse?

Posted on by Paul N. Merideth

Accepting God’s Gifts

Paul Merideth

God is excellent at giving good gifts. I can’t say that’s always been true of me. My track record for gift-giving is demonstrably defective by the sad array of useless appliances and discarded tchotchkes at our house. But God knows us so well; he knows what we need and how best to meet those needs. The gifts that God gives are wholesome, valuable, and lovely. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father” (James 1:17). His gifts are never a flop. Odd, then, that anyone would refuse God’s good gifts. Wouldn’t it be strange to be approached by a friend who offers us a beautifully wrapped present, a gift chosen with care, and then wave them away with a barely cordial “no thanks.” That actually would be quite rude. Why would anyone refuse a gift, especially one from our Creator? Maybe God’s gifts have gotten lost in the clutter? Perhaps they’re not what we think we asked for? Could it be the wrapping doesn’t suit our style, so we refuse? Maybe we’re confused and have mistaken a blessing for a curse.

I can’t detail all the varied gifts God may offer you; there are just so many. I suppose, however, I could try mentioning a few. He provides forgiveness through Jesus, strength through the Spirit, and encouragement through the church. He has gifted us with his Word, the Bible, so that we may know his will and learn the historical record of his ways. His redeeming grace fills us with hope and guards us against defeat. He brings light and love into our lives with joys, both small and great. He often works through others to bless us with compassion. God’s gift-giving abilities are impressive.

My advice is that you be open to receiving the gifts he offers you. Don’t shake your fist in the face of a gracious God who desires to bless you. Don’t be rude; receive with a glad and humble heart what the Lord offers you. C.S. Lewis said, “God gives his gifts where he finds the vessel empty enough to receive them.” Perhaps, if you’re having a hard time seeing the gifts, then adjust your focus and look again. The problem is likely your poor attitude, not God’s negligence.

Amid Jesus’ public teaching ministry, he once talked about having an open attitude to the gifts God gives. Jesus made the point that we, even fallen humans, find delight in giving good gifts. If we can demonstrate generosity, albeit in an inexpert way, imagine how much more capable God is to gift us with blessings. “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11). God is offering you his gifts, and it’s your choice to receive or reject them. I encourage you to accept.

  • 16th Week of 2024 Reading: LUKE 9:23-24. And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
  • Prayer to God: “Lord, guide us on the path of discipleship, that we may follow your teachings with humility, serve others with compassion, and spread your love to all. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
  • Helpful Resource: Check out the articles at Christian Courier. I have vivid memories of hearing Wayne Jackson teach and preach whenever he visited F-HU. Although he passed away in 2020, his legacy of excellent bible teaching remains alive on the Web.
  • Sermon Preview: I’ve been thinking a lot about the notion of divine authority vested in the Bible. It is a really tough sell today to convince folks that God’s Word has the final say in all matters of faith and practice. I suspect a sermon along these lines will emerge soon, likely Sunday. You’re invited to come and worship with us.
Posted on by Paul N. Merideth

Flight to Egypt

Not a modern jet flight with first-class comfort and convenience; no, not even coach. They weren’t gazing out the window at the beautiful turquoise of the Mediterranean from 30,000 feet up. Instead, it was a harrowing trip by foot, taking them through the Sinai desert along long stretches of barren terrain at night. Not an easy trip for any young family. But Joseph has a precious treasure to protect. Here is infant Jesus, guarded by Joseph and Mary, escaping to an unlikely place of refuge from a maniac king.

In Matthew’s account of the flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:11-21), we read of a journey marked by adversity, fear, and, ultimately, the unwavering faithfulness of God’s providence. What is in one moment a beautiful scene of worship and adoration to the newborn king by the magi quickly turns to a pressured escape from a lunatic Herod. “Flee to Egypt (the angel says to Joseph)… for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” It was a narrow escape. “And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt.”

Here we see divine action, the angelic warning, and their instant obedience. Joseph obeys the angel’s instructions precisely and immediately, even waking his family in the night to flee. They followed directions well.

Yet why would Herod want to kill an infant? He made the bizarrely cruel decision to slaughter dozens of young boys to exterminate the one he thought could dethrone him. Did he feel his petty power threatened? What kind of egomaniac, what sort of tyrant, what kind of madman could commit such bloodthirsty crimes? Maybe Satan knew God was up to something big and leveraged all his demonic might to try to stop humanity’s redemption at its most vulnerable moment. We don’t know for sure. But we do know that at the divine direction, a messenger of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you.” This is Joseph’s mission. His purpose moment. Take, flee, remain. What a good father.

If entrusted with something valuable, it must be protected. In this moment of urgency, Joseph, who doesn’t get a lot of airtime in the text, steps up to do his duty. This is his shining moment to serve the Lord at a crucial time in redemptive history. He fulfills his mission.

And so for us, when we are entrusted, sometimes even unexpectedly, with something valuable, we must cherish and protect it. Maybe for you, it means being a responsible parent prioritizing the precious young faith of your children. Perhaps you are in the season of life where God has entrusted you with care for a senior parent. And though their memory is fading and their dependency ever increasing, you obey your mission from the Lord to honor your father and mother. And consider, maybe it’s your own faith that needs to take a flight to Egypt to protect it from being murdered by temptation.

Thankfully, we know that God is faithful in his promises, and we do well to flee to him in our dark moments. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).

The flight to Egypt is a powerful demonstration to God’s providential care in the face of adversity, and the obedient response of God’s faithful servants. As we navigate the challenges of our own journeys, let us remember that God’s plans often unfold in unexpected ways. Whether in moments of adoration, seeking refuge, or facing the sorrow of a broken world, God remains faithful, guiding us through the shadows toward the light of His redemptive purpose.

May we find solace in the assurance that, just as God protected the family on their journey, he is with us in our own pilgrimages of faith. Trust in God’s providence, obey his directions, for in him we find our refuge and our hope.

Paul Merideth

  • 49th Week of 2023 Reading: LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
  • Prayer to God: “Heavenly Father, please give us peace to still today’s anxieties, help us be generous with forgiveness to quench our bitterness against others, and inspire us with passion to pursue kingdom work faithfully. We confess our sins and appeal always to Christ as our savior. As we are watched, help us show the way, through our attitude and actions, for others to better know your righteousness. We commit anew to you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
  • Video Devotional Spotlight: Two Advents
  • Christmas Gift Recommendation: Why not give a small book in the stocking of that 5th grader you love? “Twenty and Ten” by Claire Huchet Bishop tells the story of ordinary kids, inspired by the Bible’s story of the flight to Egypt, deciding to shelter ten Jewish children from Nazi brutalization.
  • Sermon Preview: Throughout December I’m preaching a series based on Matthew’s Gospel. Coming next is a dive into chapter 10, where we see Jesus who is himself on mission, giving a mission to his select apostles. You’re invited to come and worship with us.