Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” I Pet. 4:14. Society increasingly views Christians with suspicion. In some places Christians are respected but in others they experience outright hostility and prejudice. Many Christians experience discrimination in their workplace because of their faith. Of course, this is very sad since most of what is good in America came through Christianity. But it is encouraging to remember that God blesses us when we are rejected for Christ. In fact, this passage promises that just the fact that you are insulted, or suffer in some way (I Pet. 4:16), brings blessing on you. The glorious Spirit of God rests on you, which is a treasure that far surpasses anything you have lost in your suffering. So rejection by others is actually a confirmation that you are Continue Reading →

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” I Peter 2:5 (NIV) It is hard to picture what a living stone would look like but we are living spiritual stones and God is carving us into perfect pieces of a magnificent spiritual temple of God’s presence. Just as the Garden of Eden was a temple of God’s presence so now the collective of all believers is the new garden of God, the superior temple of God. And we are priests with direct access to God and we offer our hearts and actions to God which God gladly welcomes because we come to God through Jesus. This is our spiritual reality. Whether we feel it or not this is God’s revelation and encouragement for us. Application: Put your name in the verse and repeat Continue Reading →

“You have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith . . . may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” I Pet 1:6b-7 (ESV) This passage encourages us with three experiences believers will have if their faith passes the test of trials in their life. Some of us have difficult external trials, some of us have difficult internal trials and some of us have both, but I have never known anyone who doesn’t have some trials. We all have the opportunity to grow our faith through trials. When Jesus returns and reveals himself to all then he will bless His people for enduring trials in ways that may even embarrass us because of their lavishness. First, Jesus will actually praise us for passing the trials.  How melodious will be the sound of Jesus actually speaking Continue Reading →

“Your faith [is] more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire.” I Pet 1:7 (ESV) Consider how joyful many of us would be if we discovered a stash of gold in our yard. We could get rid of our mortgage, help the needy, do whatever we want in ministry and not need any income from it, give donations to other ministries we value and put our kids into the best schools. But as valuable as that gold is, it will perish. This is in spite of the fact that someone went to a lot of trouble to purify the gold with fire. Most things – like people, animals, plants – can not survive a fire. Gold can. And yet, as valuable and strong as gold is, our faith is more precious than that. In fact, gold will perish one day, but the fruits of our faith 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. 1:3b-4 (ESV) God is keeping a reservation for us in heaven. He already paid for it by the death of His Son. It will be the vacation that never ends and He will shower us with amenities and activities that will leave us with uncontainable joy. No one can take this vacation away from us. It will never expire. There will be no missed flights, lost luggage, mixups or disappointments. This is the final purpose and destination for the new person God made us. We are just traveling through. Using Relationships In Evangelism – Part 2October 24, 2025God Is With Us – Weekly Words Of EncouragementOctober 20, 2025Using Relationships In Evangelism – Part 1October Continue Reading →