Weekly words of encouragement

Jesus’ Commandments Bring Joy – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart” (Psalm 19:8, NLT). We may not normally think of God’s commandments as sources of joy. We tend to think that they are challenging and sometimes difficult and that we may not feel good as we keep them. But if we reflect a little more we realize that it is God’s commandments that bring us life and joy. A few lines earlier in this Psalm we hear that God’s instruction revive the soul (v. 7). God’s commands don’t just keep us from being destructive they also guide us into peace and maturity. They guide us into communion with God in Christ. This is why Jesus said: “If you love me, obey my commandments” (John 14:15, NLT). He wants us to follow what he taught (the Sermon on the Mount and everything else) because these directives keep us abiding in Continue Reading →

social justice

How Should We Pursue Social Justice?

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All believers agree that Jesus calls us to help the needy and to be a positive influence on our society. However, believers disagree over the ways in which Christians should get involved in society. This post reflects on biblical principles related to our call to influence our society. Some believers mostly withdraw from society and believe that this is the Scriptural approach. They do not pursue the transformation of structural injustice in their society. One reason these people take this approach is that directives for organized political involvement are conspicuous by their absence in the New Testament as compared to the Old Testament. In the Old Testament God constantly challenged Jewish political leaders and the wealthy to form a just society, including laws to relieve human suffering. But there are no clear instructions to Christians in the New Testament to gain political influence and reform unjust systems. Of course, this Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

Deliverance From Tribulation – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (Psalms 18:4-5, 19, NIV) In this Psalm King David had been attacked by powerful enemies and his reign was in jeopardy but God powerfully intervened and strengthened the king and gave him victory. How does this apply to Christians? As we mentioned last week, under the new covenant believers have no geographic kingdom in this world (John 18:36) and “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world” (Eph. 6:12, NIV). We also have the enemies of general corruption around us that damage us, the enemy of our old self which tries to Continue Reading →

rewards

The Ultimate Reward In Eternity – Rewards Part 3

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Our last two posts looked at individual rewards that believers will have in eternity. First we saw that God has promised individual rewards; second, we saw that one of those rewards will be management over God’s creation. In fact, other than God’s expressed approval of our lives, there are no other clearly stated individual rewards in Scripture. However, in this post I offer a suggestion about the nature of individual rewards. As I reflect on this, I ask myself these questions: “What kind of reward would our loving God give to his children?” Answer: probably whatever is most valuable in eternity. “What is most valuable in eternity?” Answer: partaking of God’s nature, for there is no higher bliss than God himself. “So how could God make a reward out of partaking of his nature?” Answer: we already know that when he fully restores his image in us he will make Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

Victory Over Trials Leads To Jesus’ Throne – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.” (Ps. 18:29, NIV) In this Psalm King David is rejoicing over his victories that God gave him over his political and military enemies. Under the new covenant believers have no geographic kingdom in this world and “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world” (Eph. 6:12, NIV). This sounds like a daunting task, for mere humans to defeat unseen rulers and authorities! And yet, “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37, NIV). How can we be conquerors? With the full armor and weapons of God. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done Continue Reading →