Pastor Mike Fabarez writing on a computer

Weekly Devotional

Mike Fabarez consistently promotes a biblical worldview in a culture bombarding us with a “whatever-makes-you-happy” philosophy. Pastor Mike’s weekly devotionals direct our attention to Christ so we can make Him the “focal point” of our week.

Exchanging Our Expletives

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Words reveal the heart. Jesus said, “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mt. 12:34). In our culture, expletives—words blurted in moments of frustration, shock, or excitement—often expose what fills a person’s heart. While many Christians avoid crude and obscene language, there is a more subtle problem we must face: the misuse of sacred words. The world often hurls words like “God,” “Jesus Christ,” and “Hell” as careless expressions of surprise or pain, stripping them of their intended reverence and weight. Tragically, the holy names that should lead us to worship are instead reduced to empty, common words—expletives without meaning.

This is not a minor issue. God has specifically commanded that His name not be used in vain (Ex. 20:7). Yet, the casual phrases we hear daily—“Oh my God,” “Jesus,” or “What the hell?”—trivialize profound spiritual realities. Even euphemisms like “OMG” or “Oh my gosh” flirt with the edges of irreverence. What compels us to follow these verbal habits? Is it just thoughtless tradition or the subtle pull to blend in with the world? Scripture warns us that every careless word will be brought into account (Mt. 12:36), and we should not dismiss the spiritual weight of this truth.

Let’s commit to pursuing holiness, even in our spontaneous speech. The next time we feel the urge to blurt something out, let’s choose words that neither mimic nor minimize the sacred. Let’s resist the world’s patterns and instead reflect a heart transformed by Christ, using our words to honor God. Our daily expressions, even in the heat of the moment, should display our reverence, not diminish it. May we be intentional, innovative, and distinct—always seeking to “abstain from every form of evil” (1 Th. 5:22) in how we speak.

Real Biblical Love

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“Love” may be a word we hear every day, but it’s rarely employed to describe anything resembling the virtue the Bible calls us to emulate. While there is nothing wrong with feeling good about the things, places, or people who make us feel good, the biblical concept of “love” is something entirely different…

Relativism

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After recently preaching on the problem of relativism, I am reminded of just how pervasive, yet inconsistent, this way of thinking actually is. Many loudly insist that it doesn’t matter what you believe regarding religion, because, after all, “God is loving” and he wouldn’t conclude that anyone’s views about him are wrong. It doesn’t matter, they insist, if your beliefs don’t

If It Feels Good

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Countless Christians have warned of the folly contained in the well-worn phrase, “If it feels good, do it!” But this warning should be applied to more than just the indulgent physical pleasures that would transgress the bounds of righteous and godly behavior. We ought also to be cautious…

Christianese

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Every arena of life has its own vocabulary, whether we are talking to teammates in a sport’s league or to coworkers in our profession. Christianity is no different. Some of our specialized Christian vocabulary can be helpful, providing us with a kind of verbal shorthand for more efficient communication. But it is time we realize…

Rejoice Always

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The Bible tells us to “rejoice” (Phil.4:4). While that may be expected, what comes next in that little verse is astounding—the Apostle Paul tells Christians that we are to rejoice “always.” If we didn’t know better, we’d think this seemingly unrealistic command was coming from some pampered optimist who had been blessed to live an …

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