Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matt. 25:34-36 (NIV) God has an inheritance in Christ waiting for us. Jesus described this time by explaining that God will reward us for faithfulness to Jesus’ teachings. He will bring a glorious gift for us when he returns. We will finally receive our inheritance, which is to live in God’s pure kingdom for eternity. We will no longer have to live in a time Continue Reading →

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” Matt. 25:23 (NIV). This is a tremendously encouraging promise because God is promising to reward all our efforts at following and loving him by letting us share in his happiness. We will participate in the goodness of God and taste God himself. We will find our ultimate happiness in God. This is a fulfillment of the kingdom of God that he wants to give to his people. We only have part of the kingdom now but then we will experience the whole kingdom of God. All our sacrifices, all our holiness, all our faithfulness will be more than rewarded with blissful happiness in God. This is why the Apostle Paul prays, “that you may know what is the hope to which Continue Reading →

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” Matt. 20:26-27 (NIV). This may not seem like an encouragement at first but it is a tremendous encouragement. Jesus promises that servants will be great in his kingdom. This promise encourages us because it sets us free from status-seeking in this world. Status in this world doesn’t count for anything in the New Creation to come, which lasts for eternity. Being a servant and learning how to bless others is what matters in this age because this will be invaluable, eternal fruit. This is another feature of God’s upside-down kingdom. You can be the weakest, smallest, least-educated and most neglected person in your community, but if you adopt a servant’s heart then you will be greater than everyone in your community who does not have a servant’s heart. Only Continue Reading →

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matt. 18:20 ESV). Jesus is always with us, but he promises that when two or three are gathered in his name he is among us. God loves community and he honors community by promising that God the Son is present in a better way than with a single believer. Remember that our destiny is to be fruitful members of God’s perfect community of followers on the New Earth. Jesus referred to this as the kingdom of God. God is restoring his image in you so that you can flourish in his community and contribute your gifts and personality. But God’s community does not begin in the next age – it began on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came after Jesus’ resurrection. You are part of that continuous community. Jesus is sad when we neglect his Continue Reading →