Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:32 (ESV). Jesus 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 walk by his Spirit we walk in growing freedom from sinfulness and freedom for goodness. We are also free from the influence of this world that tries to live without Continue Reading →

“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14, ESV) Jesus promises that he will give water that produces never-ending life to those who believe in him A few sentences earlier Jesus referred to his water as “living water” (John 4:10). When we drink his water we will never thirst to find God again because we have found him. This water is like a spring flowing up out of the ground that just keeps flowing, and for us it is a flow of the true life God originally intended for us. Sometimes we can’t feel it but it is the place deep inside where we desire God. This is where his Spirit dwells and where we have a new self, made in Continue Reading →

“To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12, NIV). Consider how amazing it is that God designed a plan that would allow sinful humans to become actual offspring of God. When we believe in the Son we become God’s daughters and sons. God is now our chief parent. He watches us, communicates to us, looks for ways to bless us, shows us how to become mature, corrects us and warns us, and makes us successful in his kingdom, his nation. This is a great encouragement that we are secure in his family. Even though he doesn’t protect us from all suffering he is making us more like his Son and we will spend eternity in a New Eden with him and his entire family. God Is With Us – Weekly Words Of EncouragementOctober 20, Continue Reading →

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30 (NIV) Here Jesus promises that when we make sacrifices in order to seek the kingdom of God he will give us far more than we gave up. Even in this life, we will receive peace and the Holy Spirit because we are devoted citizens of the kingdom. We also receive the blessing of friendship with others who love God and love good. We receive purpose and meaning and satisfaction. And in the next age, we will have a harmonious, corruption-free life with God and his followers forever along with eternal rewards that we have stored up. So the encouragement is 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 at 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 those who humble themselves and they will be the ones who live a blessed life. We may not exalt ourselves with public statements but we are still tempted to exalt ourselves in Continue Reading →