Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

“He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” II Pet. 1:4 (ESV) This is one of the most astonishing verses in the Bible and has been one of the cornerstones of spiritual growth since the earliest centuries of Christianity. The Greek-speaking fathers of the Church were devoted to the idea that we could regain the original image of God because we can actually participate in God’s nature now. God promises that we are forgiven, that we are united with Christ, that the Holy Spirit works to purify us and that we will be citizens of the New Earth in the next age. We depend on these promises and we mature, which means we are actually acquiring divine nature (without becoming divine Continue Reading →

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” II Pet. 1:3a (ESV) What a sweeping statement! God supplies everything we need for true life and for becoming godly. Sometimes we wonder if God is really going to change our faults, especially our most persistent one. We try for years to change a fault and we only see a little progress. Is this something that we just have to live with? This verse promises that there is a way to overcome because He provides all things needed for godliness. So what do we do when we’re stuck? The best thing to do is to find a mature Christian who knows how to give good counsel for growth. Together you can start peeling back the layers until you get to the core problem. Whether you find such a person or not you will almost certainly need Continue Reading →

“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 →