Focusing On Christ

By Rich Carmicheal
What a privilege it is to share with you this new issue with a special focus upon our Lord Jesus Christ and
the life and hope that we have in Him! The Herald staff is so grateful for the precious messages the Lord has
provided and for the way He has already encouraged and strengthened us through them. We hope and pray
that He will do the same for you.
In addition to the messages themselves, we believe you will be much encouraged by the missionary story
on page 9 and the first two news briefs on page 11 as these accounts instill much hope in what the Lord can
do even in seemingly impossible situations. How good it is to know that even in this troubling and trying time,
we can still look to our God to bring salvation and revival to many! He is a compassionate and powerful God
who is faithful to work through the faith, dependence, prayers and service of His people. So keep believing,
praying and ministering! What is impossible for us is possible with God!
Trust Him in Times of Trouble
We also include in this issue the article “Looking Unto Jesus” that includes this encouraging reminder for
those facing difficulties:
“LOOKING UNTO JESUS AND NOT AT THE OBSTACLES which meet us in our path. As soon as we
stop to consider them, they amaze us, they confuse us, they overwhelm us, incapable as we are of
understanding either the reason why they are permitted or the means by which we may overcome them. The
apostle began to sink as soon as he turned to look at the waves tossed by the storm. It was while he was
looking at Jesus that he walked on the waters as on a rock. The more difficult our task, the more terrifying
our temptations, the more essential it is that we look only at Jesus.”
How thankful we can be that when we turn our focus on Christ, He is faithful to give us all that we need to
persevere through the storms of life! In Him is our strength, encouragement, peace, comfort, healing, hope,
life, joy, perseverance and victory. Consider just a few of His precious words toward us:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
“…My peace I give to you…. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
“…In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
“…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is
my helper; I will not fear…’” (Heb. 13:5-6).
All for Christ
One of the reminders in this issue is that Christ gave His all, even Himself, for us, and that we are to give
our all for Him. He calls us to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, and to follow Him. May we, like the
Apostle Paul, be able to say, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in
me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself
for me” (Gal. 2:20).
May we draw near to Him, live fully for Him, and faithfully proclaim Him as we look “for the blessed hope
and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us…” (Titus 2:13-
14). “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with
the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1
Thes. 4:16-17).