Encouragement Urging others to persist and persevere in their efforts to attain their goals; stimulating others toward love and good deeds. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:24)
Encouragement for Believers and All Others Too!
I guess I am still feeling as musical, as I did last week. I know that I am revealing my age and era with these musical references, but I am fine with being 65…so far. Brenton Wood, who recorded the hit song, “Gimme A Little Sign”, was asking for his “girl” to let him know for sure to “show me that your mine, girl, oh darlin.”
In that same line of thinking, I wonder if God wants us to give Him and others “some kind of sign” to show that we are His children. I think He does! I know He does!
Simply stated: Matthew 13: 34-35 34: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35: By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
In order to encourage us to live and love this way, Jesus gave some encouraging and challenging instructions of what it means to live a happy, enviable life where His love abounds. Last week we asked you to look into the first 2 Beatitudes: Matthew 5:3 and 5:4. This week let’s finish the process and see if the life we live going forward is even more “enviable” as God defines it. Let’s go for the “True Gold” Christ offers and forget about the Fool’s Gold offered by the enemy of our souls.
Introduction to Observation #4: Bullying your way to the top may seem to be the best way, but being under authority with a right heart attitude is God’s long-term approach to life and eternity.
Jesus stated it this way : Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth . (Matthew 5:5)
Many of us have worked for a variety of bosses through the years. Some have been pompous and loud. Others have been steady and strong but in a quiet, respectful way. For which type of boss have you had the most respect and appreciation? Also, don’t you appreciate a person who does what he says he will do? In Satan’s way of doing things, his “promises” are empty and never give what we truly need = Fool’s Gold crumbles under pressure and over time. God keeps His promises and delivers “exceeding, abundantly above everything we ask or imagine”.
Observation #4: Being “Loud and Full of Pride” may move you up the ladder of success, but God prefers that we trust Him, speak truth in love, and leave the promotions and ladder climbing invitations to His will and ways.
Question Set #4: After reading the intro and the statement of Observation #4 please answer the following questions privately then discuss the answers with your spouse or friend.
- How did Jesus’ life and ministry illustrate this observation?
- Where in the scriptures do you find examples of this observation?
- From your own experience how have you seen the observation illustrated or refuted?
Introduction to Observation #5: Satisfaction Guaranteed
Don’t you just “love or hate” the constant barrage of commercials advertising the product that “changed my life” or was a “God-send?” I know some of those deliver on their promises, but too often they don’t or, at least, not for long. This observation #5 is so powerfully permanent. God promises and delivers righteousness through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 states that we have “an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness” and will “reign in life through the One Jesus Christ”.
Observation #5: Right Standing with God is Jesus’ Gift to Those Who Believe and Receive Him.
Jesus actually gives us His righteousness as a gift. We can’t earn it and will never deserve it. Receiving right standing with God as a gift is the only way to be truly satisfied. Obedience to God, loving relationship, and humble service, flow from knowing He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Matthew 5:6 6: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Question Set #5 After reading the intro and the statement of Observation #5 please answer the following questions privately then discuss the answers with your spouse or friend.
- How did Jesus’ life and ministry illustrate this observation?
- Where in the scriptures do you find examples of this observation?
- From your own experience how have you seen the observation illustrated or refuted?
Introduction to Observation #6 You can’t give what you don’t have. What would you say to that? When I am merciful to others who have offended, hurt, or otherwise damaged my life, possessions, or reputation, that indicates that I have worked through some of the pain and have forgiven them. They no longer control me because I have not allowed that offense or the offender to reside in my thinking to control it or rule my emotions. Even if they never ask for forgiveness or admit their wrong I can and will be free of their control as I forgive and heal.
Observation #6: Promised Mercy – Forgiving Others From the Heart Frees Me to Live an Abundant – True Gold Life.
As I forgive others and find healing, the mercy I show returns to me in new areas of my life that were formerly under the control of other people or “gods” such as addictions, wrong relationships, and distractions from God’s true authority over my life. I gain more of God’s mercy while others may still be walking in their own sin or unforgiveness.
Jesus said it this way in Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Question Set #6: After reading the intro and the statement of Observation #6 please answer the following questions privately then discuss the answers with your spouse or friend.
- How did Jesus’ life and ministry illustrate this observation?
- Where in the scriptures do you find examples of this observation?
- From your own experience how have you seen the observation illustrated or refuted?
A long Introduction to Observation #7 We must be prepared for differing responses.
Followers of Christ must be ready to be celebrated, ignored, or persecuted. We are empowered to speak the truth in love and to love others as Jesus loves us; we are not promised that others will love us in return. In fact Jesus said that in this world “we will suffer persecution” but to be of “good cheer” because He has “overcome the world”. Read John 16:32-33
To prepare us for this reality, Jesus gave us clear directions on how to have a pure heart. Through recognition and admission of our desperate need for God and interdependence with others, we know that we will be both blessed by some and hurt by others. We know we will be a blessing to some but will hurt others…even unintentionally. We must be prepared to “mourn and receive comfort” from God and others He sends our way. We must also be prepared to mourn the hurt we cause and seek forgiveness both from God and the ones we hurt.
We must also recognize that God keeps His word. He promised that the “meek will inherit the earth” and that His promises are sure and always kept…in His time. We are blessed to know that right standing with Him is a gift not something we deserve or earn. Ephesians 2:8-10 makes that clear. Ultimately, we will come to understand that we do not live life perfectly, love exactly as He loves us all the time, or respond in unconditional obedience 100% of the time as Jesus did in His relationship with His Father. However, in all that “falling short” we are loved, we are kept, and we are secure in His adopting us into His family.
Therefore, we have mercy on others in the same way God has mercy on us. We forgive others, not because they deserve it, but because we have the grace and power to release others from the debt they owe us as we have been forgiven in Christ. Ephesians 4:31-32 is clear.
As others are released from the prison of our damaged heart by the grace of forgiveness and mercy, our hearts become pure vessels for the Holy Spirit to inhabit and control. Rivers of living water flow from our hearts because He is Holy and He is the treasure in our vessel. He is in us, our “hope of glory”. That glory is a growing revelation of the glory of Christ in us living, loving, changing us, conforming us, giving us rest as He does in us what we could never do for Him or without Him.
Hearts that are being purified are now ready for the peacemaking role in life. We are useful to help connect “warring factions” by being the one to show love, to speak truth, to be the living epistle both known and read by all men.
Finally, we must be aware…..peacemakers are not always welcome. Are they? We are not peace keepers or peace enforcers. We make peace where God inserts us into the battles of life. Maybe you are called to serve children, infants, students, adults, singles, homeless, divorced people, orphans, marriages, parents, the aging population, victims of sex trafficking or slavery or poverty. Wherever God inserts you, it will be vital that your heart is as pure as possible so that His love is seen in you.
We will be tested and tried. The work is hard even impossible without Him, but the reward in this life and in the one to come is worth the sacrifice.
Observation #7 – Serving Jesus is worth it but it may be incredibly difficult at times.
Knowing the risk, Jesus took up His cross and finished what He started. You and I must count the cost because we will be tested and we will be rewarded in God’s way and in His time. Jesus thought we were worth dying for and He died then rose again. Do you believe Jesus is worth living for and loving others in His name no matter the cost or the reward? Loving others as Jesus said and empowered us to do will be met with a variety of responses – some welcomed and some unwelcomed.
Jesus said it this way in Matthew 5: 8-12
8: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12: Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Question Set #7: After reading the intro and the statement of Observation #7 please answer the following questions privately then discuss the answers with your spouse or friend.
- How did Jesus’ life and ministry illustrate this observation?
- Where in the scriptures do you find examples of this observation?
- From your own experience how have you seen the observation illustrated or refuted?