Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

This post includes an excerpt from my new book “A Quest for the Ultimate.” After reading from Revelation 21 Pastor Jacob asks: “What does this tell us about the bride?” Ashley responds, “She’s glorious and glitters like a huge jewel. And she has 12 gates and there’s an angel at each gate. It’s hard to picture this. How can the believers be a city?” Jacob responds, “I agree. The city represents God’s people, but it is also the dwelling place of his people, so the symbolism is complicated. But for now, let’s think about the appearance of the bride. Have you noticed a theme yet?” Ashley answers, “Earlier in the chapter it said the bride was beautifully dressed. In these verses it says she has God’s glory and she’s like a jewel. Revelation keeps emphasizing the beauty of the bride.” DeShawn adds, “And yesterday Revelation 19 said the bride was Continue Reading →

“My Father will honor the one who serves me.” John 12:26, ESV. Jesus promises that when we become the servant of Jesus then God will honor us one day. God originally made humans with honor and he wanted this honor to grow. He made us in his image and though it is broken he gave us a new self with a restored image of God. This is our true self and one day it will be fully developed. God rejoices when we display his image in our lives. So, like a good father, God will honor us for our faithfulness. Scripture states in many places that God will honor us, usually by saying he will glorify us! (For example, Matt. 13:43; Rom. 8:17, 21; 2 Cor. 4:17; Col. 3:4; Phil. 3:21; 1 Pet. 5:10; 2 Pet. 1:3.) Originally, as image-bearers of God we were supposed to be fruitful and fill Continue Reading →

Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32, ESV). He also said that he was the “truth” (John 14:6) and that “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36, ESV). Knowing Jesus means that we know the truth, that he is from the Father and he is the Savior. We find truth in Jesus’ teachings, for he said: “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63, ESV). Believing his words allows us to experience true life, which sets us free from sinfulness, which is the power that enslaves us. “Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34, ESV). As we know the truth and walk by his Spirit, we walk in growing freedom from sinfulness and freedom for goodness. We are also free from the influence of this Continue Reading →

“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:14 (NIV). Jesus said the same thing in Luke 14:11! This time Jesus said it after he told the parable of the Pharisee who praised himself and the tax collector who prayed for mercy because he was a sinner. Thus, Jesus’ point is that those who imagine that they are good enough on their own that they deserve honor before God are sadly mistaken. They exalt themselves now but God will bring them low one day. On the other hand, those who admit that they are weak and have faults will have a different fate. One day God will exalt the humble and they will be the ones who live a blessed life. Self-exaltation can be subtle. We may not exalt ourselves with public statements, but we are still tempted to exalt Continue Reading →