In the second letter to the 7 churches, Jesus commends the church in Smyrna and has nothing against them. This should be the church we would want to be a part of. But, as believers, there is still a cost. Those who follow Jesus are often looked down upon to say the least. Many are persecuted; believers in John’s day as well as many places today are imprisoned, beaten or killed for their faith. But most of the time the church that is persecuted is the strongest. People who are persecuted have the strongest faith and have the most boldness. It is through our struggles and suffering and that we grow as people and as believers. And whatever we go through in this life will not compare to the glory we will receive in the next.
Continue reading “Jesus Commends Smyrna”Tag: suffer
Get out of the Boat
There is so much we can learn from the event of Jesus walking on water and Peter getting out of the boat to walk on water. A great study that we have done is called, “If You Want to Get Out of the Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat,” By John Ortberg. I have gone through it several times with different small groups and I learned so much from it. God can do great things in each of us if we are willing to step out in faith. And there is so much more in that story.
Continue reading “Get out of the Boat”Job and His “Friends”
Many know the story of Job, how Satan inflicted great pain and suffering on Him to try to show God that He only praised Him for His blessings. It was a test. This is a hard read, and I am sure I will not do it justice, but I will try.
As with all of us, He didn’t pass all of the test, but He kept his integrity and faith, even through his doubt and questioning. Job lost his children, his house, his wealth, his friends and family more or less abandoned him, even his wife told him to curse God and die. He was inflicted with disease, pain, and great suffering, but in the end, He stayed strong in his faith in God and eventually repented of his pride. But he had some so-called friends that came to him to explain why he was suffering based on their own experience and short-sighted knowledge. From the end of chapter 1 through chapter 31, the author writes of the debate between Job and his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, as well as Job’s complaints against God. You should read through this on your own, but I will give some of the highlights. In another post I will write about God’s reply and the encounter between God and Job, and God and Job’s 3 friends. Between these events, another person comes into the scene, Elihu, and reveals some flaws in the arguments of both Job and his friends. So this younger man, after listening and respecting his elders, gave his opinion which contradicted the other men, explaining the character of God and the shortcomings of their argument. God does not rebuke Elihu as He does his 3 , but reminds everyone who He is and His power and righteousness, and sets them straight.
Continue reading “Job and His “Friends””Events of Jesus’ Resurrection
Jesus’ ministry did not stop at the cross. In many ways it had just begun. Christ said, “It is finished.” Dying on the cross accomplished God’s goal. But part of the victory is conquering death so that we may be raised into eternal life. Without the resurrection, He was just another prophet. But Jesus is more than that; He is our God, our Savior, our Lord. He also had to prepare His disciples for their ministry. And He revealed Himself to many. One day He will return and reveal Himself to all. Continue reading “Events of Jesus’ Resurrection”
God’s Plan Through Jesus and the Cross
We have been discussing Jesus’ words on the cross. God had a plan all along. Jesus proclaimed that He accomplished it. God spoke through Isaiah nearly 800 years earlier about this time. Daniel mentions the coming of the Messiah over 400 years earlier and gives a specific date. God’s message gave hope, and that hope was through Jesus Christ. Continue reading “God’s Plan Through Jesus and the Cross”
My Daily Scriptures 