Steady on

Friends,

We can stand strong in the face of attack, for we can cry out to the victorious LORD of Hosts.

Psalm 22:11 [NKJV]
Be not far from Me,
For trouble is near;
For there is none to help.

Truly, there is no one else that can fight for us. Our worldly "friends" will abandon us when we are persecuted for believing on Christ. We already see how governments will be an instrument of affliction. And our own courage simply cannot outlast the relentless assault of doubt, envy, and fear.

But the LORD has won greater battles. He will come through and bring us through. Stay faithful, brothers and sisters. Stay strong.

Be encouraged, Jose

Prepare for the harvest

Friends,

The world will never give you permission to pursue righteousness. Among the enemy's greatest desires is to make following Christ hard ... really hard. What is "easy" is to focus on the challenges and obstacles ... and then give them the power to stop us from seeking the Kingdom of God, from digging into His Word, and from joining forces with fellow believers int the fight against evil.

Proverbs 20:4 [NKJV]
The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

The LORD admonishes His people - you and me - to prepare for the harvest by persevering in adversity. Let no act of the enemy deny you the opportunity to be in God's word. Overcome the flesh's desire for the easy path.

There will come a time when we reap the rewards of those actions. That will be a time of great joy and abundance. A time of unchallenged intimacy with Christ the King.

Be encouraged, Jose

Friends,

We are naïve if we believe that we are immune from persecution and trouble. The world hates Christ. Therefore the world hates the followers of Christ. We should not be surprised when the violence of muslims and atheists is condoned with silent appeasement. We should not be surprised when the slaughter of Christians is accepted as left unchallenged.

But this will not last forever, brothers and sisters. The LORD has told us what is coming ...

The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made;
In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.
The LORD is known by the judgment He executes;
The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.
Psalm 9:15-16

Be not intimidated nor afraid. Fear not the persecution of this world. Look ahead to the coming victory of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Be encouraged, Jose

No surprise ... How the world sees us

Friends,

Christians around the world continue to endure persecution. Here in the United States, what we are subjected to is barely a nuisance compared to the physical torment that our brethren experience in other countries. Nonetheless, being the butt of jokes, being ridiculed and shouted down, and being scrutinized for every slip-up is all part of the suffering which comes being part of the Body of Christ.

1 John 3:13 [NKJV]
Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.

We are admonished to expect this treatment. It is evidence that the world is at war with Christ, just as our Lord told us it would be. We can look forward to His victory and ours.

Be encouraged, Jose

The source of joy

Friends,

You know how some people so enjoy their jobs that it doesn't seem like work to them? Well, that's not me. I like what I do, and I consider my work to be of value to my clients and their businesses. But it's work. It is not the source of my fulfillment and great joy.

Here is where I find my joy ...

1 Thessalonians 4:17b-18
And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. [NKJV]

The day will come that we enter in our Lord's presence. And that knowledge is the source of my strength, my endurance and my joy.

Be encouraged, Jose

Results from Truth

Friends,

It seems as though no one can be believed. News stories, expert opinions, even scientific research. All of it is tinged with an agenda. All of it clouded by the ambition for money and power. No institution is safe from this influence; it has certainly infiltrated the pulpit.

2 Timothy 3:13-14
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them ... [NKJV, emphasis added]

We must persevere in the sound doctrines of scripture. Not because we have judged and found them to be acceptable. Our judgment is pathetically limited and our acceptance is irrelevant. After all, we are the ones deceived by the politicians, the preachers, and the pundits.

No. We persist in these beliefs because their source is infallible. Christ Jesus defined them. It is He who has imparted them to us. Our interpretations will not be perfect, of course. But as we continue to seek the One who is the Truth, the One will transform us.

When that transformation is completed, we will no longer be deceived. We will know and see the truth.

Be encouraged, Jose

Retain the reward

Friends,

There is an old proverb ... "Don't believe everything you hear."

In every country, culture and society, we can find men and women of high moral standards. They demonstrate great integrity. They attend church faithfully. They earn the respect of their neighbors everyday. And when they speak, those around them stop and listen.

2 John 1:7-8
For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
NKJV

It is far too easy for us, as believers, to fall prey to the logic and smooth words of people that the world holds in esteem. After all, they are respected in the community. Remember, friends, that the world hates Christ Jesus. If worldly men and women are falling over themselves to show honor and respect to someone, then chances are pretty good that they are not speaking the whole truth.

Be aware of these deceivers. You and I have every right to desire to keep the reward of salvation that Christ has earned for us. To do so, we must be watchful over the words we accept as "truth." The Lord Jesus Christ was not just another great man in our history. He is the Son of the Living God. He conquered death. He is seated at the Father's right hand. And He will return in victory to judge the living and the dead. Remember these truths and hold fast to them.

Be encouraged, Jose

The goal during affliction

Friends,

In this world, we are sure to encounter great affliction. We will be persecuted for our faith. We will endure suffering because we will not accept the "shortcuts" of this world. We will be targeted for attack because we will tolerate sin.

1 Peter 2:20b-21
But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. [NKJV]

We can read about what Christ endured in obedience to the Father. There may even come a time when we will experience a tiny bit of that same suffering.

But remember, sisters and brothers, that when we do, we are finally fulfilling what we are meant to be ... the very image and likeness of Christ our King.

Be encouraged, Jose

Darkness has met its match

Friends,

The days are quite short during this time of year, with less than 8½ hours of daylight today. It can seem as though everything is happening in the dark. We wake up and it is dark. We drive to work, and it is dark. We drive home again in the dark. We look outside during supper and it is dark.

But we know that in just a few weeks, the sun will begin to rise a little earlier each morning, and set just a few minutes later each evening. And gradually, more and more life takes place in the sunshine. For me, it is a hopeful prospect.

But this world continues to be dark, despite the best efforts of the sun. Sickness, deceit, murder, hatred, adultery, thievery, and strife run rampant across every nation. And, just as the sun shines just a little less each day, the world seems to get worse with every passing night.

And we have the same expectation. Yes, these days are dark and getting darker. But one day, that darkness will be defeated by the Light.

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. -- Revelation 22:5 [NKJV]

Be encouraged, Jose

The Reward of Repentance

Friends,

Repentance is hard. It means giving up that with which we have grown comfortable. It means turning away from the familiar and moving into something new and untried. And yet, the reward of repentance is remarkable...

Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. [NKJV]

Jesus proclaims that all of heaven rejoices over your repentance and mine. He is both describing this and commanding it.

Imagine all of God's Kingdom rising as one to cheer and celebrate each act of repentance that takes place. Having this vision should give you and me the encouragement and strength to overcome any obstacle that the enemy places in our path.

Be encouraged, Jose