Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:6 (NIV). Hmmm, we are seated in the heavens with Christ? When did that happen? What is Paul talking about? It sounds like he is saying that Christians were resurrected with Christ and ascended into heaven with Christ. And being “seated” includes the idea of having a place of honor; we are sitting together with the highest authority, the king of all, so we have been placed in a position of great honor. But, obviously we don’t see or feel this physically; this is why it is hard to grasp. Paul is teaching us a spiritual truth that may feel dim, but he continually teaches that we are united with Christ (“in Christ”) in his letters; our heavenly induction is another aspect of our union with Christ. Though we do Continue Reading →

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. Rom 12:4-5  (NLT) In God’s community everyone gets to play.  God loves us enough to make everyone important. He does this by giving everyone specific gifts and functions in the body of Christ. Regardless of our limitations, we are still valuable in the church. The desire to be productive is a basic God-given drive; God wants to fulfill this drive in everyone. We have a role that matters to God; something that makes him smile and satisfies our hearts. This truth is a powerful tool for encouraging others. We see people come into our congregation who are new to Jesus, all beaten up Continue Reading →

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Rom. 8:37 (ESV) In all these things (tribulation, distress, persecution etc.) we ARE more than conquerors. It doesn’t say we will be one day (though we will). Rather, it says that we are now more than conquerors. No matter what happens to us now we have victory. We are like the Roman generals who returned home in great victory processions, displaying all the fruits of their victory. What is our victory? That nothing separates us from the love of Christ; we can always defeat the forces that try to harm our relationship with God in Christ. In spite of whatever happens, our hearts are safe and victorious; we still have peace and holiness. We are still connected to the Ruler of All. He maintains our goodness in a dark world. Trials don’t defeat us; we are Continue Reading →

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Rom. 8:32 (ESV) How amazing that God promises to give us “all things”. This is one of the most extravagant promises in scripture and should be a source of constant encouragement. What are the “all things”? We know from scripture that this does not mean fame and fortune. A few verses earlier in vv. 17-18 Paul explains that we are co-heirs with Christ. In other words, whatever Jesus inherits from the Father we also inherit. This includes the kingdom of God which will one day be perfected on earth. Mind-blower. Paul then states that we will “share in his [Christ’s] glory” (v. 17). In other words, the perfections and luminescence that Jesus received we will also receive  (though we are not divine). Second Continue Reading →

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1 (ESV) Before Jesus we were judged according to the law of sin. This law declared that because we sinned we had to be declared guilty of sinning – no lawyer could win an argument against that. And God held us responsible for our sins. Since we were guilty there had to be a sentence, a punishment of condemnation. The punishment was spiritual death and separation from God; this was our sentence, our condemnation. We were condemned to death because of our sins. But when we accepted Jesus and his death for our sins then the law of sin was defeated. This was because Jesus took the punishment for our sins. So now there is no punishment of death for our sins. Now there is a great divide between guilt and condemnation. We may be “guilty” Continue Reading →