Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Mt. 5:3 (ESV) This is the first of the famous beatitudes which are the beginning of the famous Sermon on the Mount which is considered the core of Christian living taught by Jesus. The poor in spirit are those who recognize that they are spiritually destitute on their own,. Since this sermon is spoken to Jesus’ disciples (Mt. 5:1), Jesus is implying that when we recognize we are not self-sufficient, come to him and follow him, then the kingdom of heaven belongs to us! Even though we are spiritually rich (Eph. 1:3) our posture before God should be one of humility, like one in poverty depending on the generosity of another. This is a matter of our interior life, not our external actions, although later in the Sermon, Jesus makes it clear that without external actions, we Continue Reading →

“I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” Acts 20:32 (ESV). This quote is from Paul’s speech to the elders of the Ephesian church, and he emphasizes how important the “word of his grace” is for our spiritual growth. If we devote ourselves honestly and wholly to God’s words, absorbing Scripture, then his words will definitely build us up. This means meditating on them; chewing them until they because part of us. Then, we will be assured of gaining an inheritance with the rest of the saints of God, which reminds us of Jesus words to “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Mt. 6:20).  Below is an effective pattern for absorbing Scripture (meditation): Activational Scripture Reading. Use the four headings to remind yourself to practice absorbing Continue Reading →

“The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne” Rev. 3:21 (ESV). God wants us to “conquer” this life by overcoming the sin in ourselves and living a Christformed life. This includes being faithful in the midst of trials and suffering. No matter what happens “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37). In the end we will reign with Jesus. If we will persevere and be faithful to the end, then we will actually have the privilege of sitting with Jesus on his throne. This means that we will reign with Jesus! This seems too good to be true but it is an important biblical theme; God promises a reign of the saints in Rev. 2:26-28 and we see it fulfilled in Rev. 22:5. Jesus reigns Continue Reading →

“To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the paradise of God.” Rev. 2:7b (ESV). What kind of conquest is this verse talking about? Here are some of the words just prior to this passage: I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Revelation 2:4-5 (ESV) So, in one sense the Christian life is one of conquest: in Christ we conquer the destructive enemies of our life so we can love God and help others to do the same. Sometimes conquest is hard but he makes us “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37), and if we persevere God will reward us with the great privilege of feasting from the tree God created to give true life. In Genesis Continue Reading →

“He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” I Pet. 1:3-4 (ESV) God is keeping a reservation for us in heaven; it is our eternal inheritance. He already paid for it by the death of His Son. In fact, Romans 8:17 explains: Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (NIV). We have an eternal inheritance because we are co-heirs with Christ. We get to inherit the same things he inherited! Our eternal inheritance will be the vacation that never ends and He will shower us with amenities and activities that will leave us with uncontainable joy. We will Continue Reading →