Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

“For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” Luke 9:48, NIV. Once again Jesus declares that his kingdom is an upside-down kingdom. Humans strive to be great in this life but our status in the kingdom of God is not dependent on our status in this world. God is not interested in our worldly status or even in our popularity among believers. Instead, it is the one who is least among us who will be the most important in the next age, they will be great in the kingdom of God. In this passage Jesus was referring to children as being great. But based on his other teachings it appears that anyone who is willing to humble themselves like a child is great in the kingdom of God (Matt. 18:4). James says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James Continue Reading →

“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Luke 8:15 (NIV) This is Jesus’ promise at the end of the parable of the sower. The seeds that fell on good soil produced a huge harvest “a hundred times more than was sown.” We all want to live fruitful lives for God and produce as much as God allows us to produce. So, what do you do so that you can be fruitful, how do we bear a bumper crop for God? This verse mentions five responsibilities. First, have a noble heart. Desire what is excellent and honorable. Second, have a good heart. That is, our hearts embrace and abide in goodness and discard anything harmful. Third, we hear the word; we take time out of our schedule to read or listen Continue Reading →

At the beginning of his ministry Jesus quotes from Isaiah to describe his ministry. “He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18, NIV). The poor no longer need to despair about their condition because Jesus brings the good news that they will be greatly blessed (Matt. 5:3). Those who are oppressed or imprisoned by their circumstances will now be free. Those who are blind will now see. Thus, Jesus will reverse the effects of the Fall and start restoring everything to the goodness and harmony of God. This is the coming of the kingdom of God; Jesus inaugurated it when he came and will complete it after he returns. God will restore those who suffer. This means that everyone who is disadvantaged or Continue Reading →

“For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35, ESV). Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, and someone told Jesus about it. Despite the powerful bonds that families had in ancient times Jesus reduces the significance of family bonds in comparison to one’s bond with God through Jesus. Anyone can be a sibling of Jesus! One reason this is encouraging to many is that even if your family was dysfunctional or destructive, the family of God is far more important and valuable. This leads us to the biggest reason that this verse is encouraging: we have the privilege of being “relatives” of Jesus! If we do God’s will we are his brother and sister and mother. Consider Romans 8:29: For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he Continue Reading →

Over and over again in the Old Testament the prophets predicted that God would bring his kingdom of peace, love and holiness to earth. God would eliminate everything that was ungodly or destructive. This kingdom would be led by a Messiah and God’s people could live in God’s kingdom forever. The Jews waited hundreds of years after the prophets for God’s kingdom to come; the coming of God’s kingdom would be the arrival of utopia, so naturally, devout Jews constantly yearned for the kingdom. Finally, Jesus announced that the time of waiting was over. He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15, NIV). The kingdom of God had now arrived. But it didn’t come in its fullness because God wanted to allow for an overlapping time when the kingdom was hidden, but those who would believe would live in God’s kingdom forever. Continue Reading →