Be Encouraged

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36) We are told to trust Jesus forever. Everyone who chooses not to trust Him declares they cannot see Him as their eternal living. Down deep, they think God is out to get them. They cannot shake the feeling something has gone really wrong, and it is up to...

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) In Christ, everyone’s flesh-self has been judged. Likewise, Jesus’s life after death gives everyone eternal living. If we remain attached to the flesh, we remain the living dead. Jesus Himself is the life-giving Spirit of God....

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17) We have heard it said that we have eternal life in God’s Son. So then, what stops us from trusting that simple message? Pride! Pride works...

“so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.” ( John 3:15) In Him, we can trust there is eternal life. His empty tomb proves this. By trusting Jesus, we are joined to the One who already trusts Father. We are joined to His Trust. Receiving the only begotten Son of the Father is likewise receiving his sons. Father loved us way before we existed or sinned one sin. When we trust that we h...

“If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:12) Jesus could present the truth to the people of His day. Humanity was bereft of the ability to receive the truth. That is as true today as in Jesus’ day. What is this truth? God has saved humanity, or Jesus is the Truth. Jehovah has saved us in Christ Jesus. That is the truth! This...

“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.” (John 2:23) The name Jesus means “Jehovah saves.” To trust the name of Jesus is to trust He can do what His name implies. In the verse above, we learn that the people were matching up Jesus’s words and behavior. Because of this, they put their trust in His very perso...

“This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” (John 2:11) Think of it! Turning tap water into wine. The best wine. The most abundant and familiar thing transformed into a specific and unique experience. The only thing in common is that each could be drunk. So it is with us and the Christ. We are common, but when God’s angel...

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.’” (John 1:50) What was Nathaniel doing under the fig tree? Years ago, I surmised Nathaniel was praying to see the Christ. No sooner had he prayed than he was introduced to the one who heard his prayer under the fig tree. For me, nothing else explained w...

Welcome to the Face-to-Face episode titled "Good Root, Good Fruit." Let's explore the heart of Jesus's teaching titled "A Tree and its Fruit" found in Matthew 7:16-19. In this teaching, Jesus gives us permission to recognize people's true selves by the fruits they produce. Just as grapes do not come from thorn bushes and figs do not emerge from thistles, every healthy tree yields good fruit, while...

Let's break down the ideas behind Matthew 7:17-19, which talks about how a lousy root can only produce lousy fruit: What, then, is a lousy root? We know it by its fruit. What is the fruit that exemplifies a lousy root? It is a person trying to be like God. Trying to be better depends on the root suffering lack. The tree of trying produces all types of effort. Adam and Eve had all Father God wanted...

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,” (John 1:12) Have you received Jesus as your Lord, God, and Savior? Then, you have the authority to proclaim your membership in the family of God. How can you receive the Gift of God? By trusting in His name. What is so special about the name Jesus? Jesus is a statement, a life...

“He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.” (John 1:7) John’s whole reason for living was to declare the light that lights every human soul ever conceived. That light was the Person of persons, the Son of God, Jesus the Christ. Without His story, we have nothing to trust except our puny efforts to stave off fear, guilt, and shame. Why do we suffer the...

“And He said to them, ‘O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!’” (Luke 24:25) It is foolish to trust a distrusting heart. Jesus was chiding people for not trusting Him. Now, that was a foolish thing to do. Why? Because everything the human heart desires is in our union with Christ Jesus. He has been gifted, and we can receive the Gift of Grace. Like a magne...

“‘If You are the Christ, tell us.’ But He said to them, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe;’” (Luke 22:67) M any have asked me, “Who am I, and what am I here for?” I gave them the answer only to realize they did not want to know it. Why? Because to know the answer means you could not justify looking and failing to find it. Same with those asking Jesus for a direct answer. Their hearts were set o...

“‘If You are the Christ, tell us.’ But He said to them, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe;’” (Luke 22:67) M any have asked me, “Who am I, and what am I here for?” I gave them the answer only to realize they did not want to know it. Why? Because to know the answer means you could not justify looking and failing to find it. Same with those asking Jesus for a direct answer. Their hearts were set o...

Now that we've embraced our new selves, our hope has also transformed. We no longer strive to be like God; instead, we hope in His work through us. We've moved beyond the need to escape fear, shame, and guilt through our actions or by seeking a deeper understanding of God's nature. Our fresh hope is anchored in the trust that Father God can replicate His character in those who rest in this trust....

Not I, but Christ!

“but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32) Jesus says Peter’s trust in Christ would not fail Him in the long run. It did fail for a time, as seen in Peter denying Jesus three times. It was restored when the object of trust, Jesus, asked him three times if he loved Him and then said, ‘Feed my sheep.’ Je...

“I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) Was this a rhetorical question? The answer is yes and no. He was asking if He would find people trusting Him when He came. He had come. He was standing right in front of them. Many trusted Him for things for a season and greatly benefited from it. But hum...

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ And the Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and be planted in the sea”; and it would obey you.’” (Luke 17:5-6) At least five times, Jesus declared to His disciples that they had little faith. In these verses, He says the little they have is enough. They wanted more. Why? They wante...

“But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!” (Luke 12:28) I must admit that I cringe when I hear people speak as if they need more faith than they already have to get what God wants in their life experience. Jesus just said, “What little you have is enough.” Faith is not some...

“But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, ‘Do not be afraid any longer ; only believe, and she will be made well.’” ( Luke 8:50) Jesus told this man to replace his fear with trust in Jesus, declaring his daughter would be made well. This sets up a dynamic many want to ignore. Jesus did not and does not heal every person suffering some physical illness. God does not let everyone escape the hands...

Forgiveness is a path to godliness. To forgive us, to be like God, we've all endured suffering, carrying fear, guilt, and shame. The memories of universal wrongs can trigger thoughts of revenge. But at Calvary, Christ forgave us, calling us ignorant of our actions, even pleading for our forgiveness. I have a dear friend who was brutally attacked by a coworker for an unknown reason. Thankfully, the...

A heart set on perfection, passion's embrace, In Christ, fear, guilt, shame, He did erase. My passion, too, is to share God's love, Revealing His grace from Heaven above.

“And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’” ( Luke 8:48) Like this woman, we don’t have to acquire more trust to believe someone. Trust is so intrinsically one with us that we do it. The ability to trust is the ability to choose a thing and not move from the choice. Once we settle on taking the consequences of our choice, we won’t waver. Many choose to trust Christ...