Dear Remnant Believers: "Take Heart!"

In today’s world, Christians who love God’s truth are constantly under attack and are pressured to accept lies in disguise. It can be discouraging at times. 

I often feel overwhelmed with the amount of deception and persecution Christians face and the task of speaking up in an increasingly hostile world.

I need to remember that I can still have peace and joy in Christ.

So I'm writing today's devotion for me and for any of you who also feel weary from the battle. Let's build our courage and perseverance by remembering what Jesus told His disciples:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! 💙 I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Sometimes we need to “cultivate” that peace and remind ourselves that: 

1. Suffering in this life is insignificant when compared to the joy and peace we have waiting in eternity.
2 Corinthians 4:17; Romans 8:18; 1 Peter 1:6-7; James 1:2-4.

2. Others have persevered, and we can too if we remember how much Christ suffered for us. 
Hebrews 12:1-3

3. Our Lord is aware when we stand firm, speak truth, and suffer persecution, and He promises to reward us.
Matthew 5:11-12; James 1:12.

So let’s listen to Christ and “take heart!” He knows what we're suffering, and He is with us.

See full text Scriptures below.

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For more encouragement, see Be Prepared: Understand Why Christians Are Never a Majority and Be Prepared: Don't Neglect These Three Essential Elements of Remnant Faith. And if you have time, read the whole Prepared for Persecution Collection.

2 Corinthians 4:17: For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Romans 8:18: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

1 Peter 1:6-7: In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

James 1:2-4: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Hebrews 12:1-3: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Matthew 5:11-12: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

James 1:12: Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

 

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T.G.I.G.F. - Thank God It's Good Friday

Christ's incredible sacrifice on Good Friday...

For thousands of years, one Friday has been called “good” above all others. 

What's so good about Good Friday? (Matthew 27:26-56) 

• Soldiers flogged our sinless Lord with bits of bone and metal attached to leather straps until he was hardly recognizable as a man (Isaiah 52:14).
• They mocked him and stuck large thorns into his bleeding scalp.
• They forced him to carry a ninety-pound wooden cross against his torn flesh.
• They drove six-inch nails into his wrists and feet and hung him on a cross.
• He had to scrape his torn flesh up the splintered cross to catch each breath for six hours until He died.

And why are these horrible things good?

Jesus did this for you and me…died for your sins and mine…gave us our only escape from death and hell.

Let’s rejoice in that wonder! T.G.I.G.F.

Christ's resurrection is worth celebrating every day of the year!!

"Good" cannot begin to describe the wonder of Good Friday.

The story of Good Friday is found in Matthew 27:26-56. I encourage you to prayerfully read through it today, thanking the Lord for His loving sacrifice.

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I also encourage you to check out the one-minute devotion, A Unique Way to Remember Christ's Sacrifice on Good Friday. 
 
If you liked this devotion, please sign up for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION to Bible Love Notes HERE. And please check out these two helpful resources: 

WISDOM FOR LIFE: Do you know the story behind my book Wisdom for Life? You can read it HERE. 

LIES IN DISGUISE: Check out the subject of each chapter, the endorsements, and the important purpose of Lies in Disguise HERE.

 

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Bible Fluff Is Not Enough

I signed up for a daily devotion from a best-selling Christian author, and every day she wrote of God's love, comfort, and approval. It was biblical, but she never mentioned sin nor challenged her readers to resist cultural lies. It was basically a feel-good-about-yourself pep-talk.

We need pep-talks, but they are not enough to bring us to a mature faith in Christ. God's Word "is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Many popular Christian resources aren't preparing us for our cultural challenges. Nor are many pastors.

I recently listened to a seeker-friendly sermon on Romans 1, and the pastor proudly told his congregation he hadn't preached on homosexuality for eight years. Like many other pastors, he's avoiding clear teachings in Scripture that Christians need to understand. He's failing to prepare his congregation for the increasing propaganda in our world.

When was the last time you heard your pastor teach God's loving warnings regarding LGBTQ lifestyles, abortion, universal salvation, leadership roles in the home and church, etc.? 

It's important that Christians are reminded regularly of Scriptural teachings so they can discern and reject anti-God propaganda. 

Half-truths have always been one of Satan’s most effective tools in drawing people away from true doctrine. That’s one reason I’ve written Lies in Disguise, Half-Truths Many Christians Believe.

So let's make sure we aren't satisfied with pep talks. Let's seek out teachers and resources that strengthen our discernment and prepare us to fight the good fight of faith (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 3:15). 🠄 Please read these passages.

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Lies in Disguise

by Gail 😊

Bible fluff is not enough

The gospel is built on stronger stuff

Scripture is meant to prepare and train 

Protecting us from sin and shame

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We must refuse to redefine sin

Let's reject those half-truths again and again

We sometimes do need assurance and praise 

But we must be prepared to stand firm in God's ways

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So let’s find resources that make us grow strong

Helping us judge what is right and what’s wrong

Learning God's truth which so many deny

Rejecting false teachings that are lies in disguise

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I also recommend The Results of a Sugary Gospel and Sugar-Coated Truth. 

If you liked this devotion, please sign up for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION to Bible Love Notes HERE. 

 

And check out Lies in Disguise, a book that can improve your discernment. You can find subjects of each chapter, reviews, and places to order Lies in Disguise HERE. 

 

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Five Glorious Blessings of Easter

By Dawn Marie Wilson

Easter wasn’t simply one glorious event. Because of Resurrection Day, Christians experience many blessings that promote wonder and gratitude. Here are a few.

1. The Glory of Resurrection

Resurrection Day means victory over death—first Christ’s, and then believers’ (1 Corinthians 15:20-23; Romans 8:11). Believers’ resurrected bodies will be perfect and glorious (1 Corinthians 15:43; Philippians 3:21).

2. The Glory of Rescue

Christians—saved not only from death through Christ’s cross and resurrection, but also from sin’s guilt and shame (Romans 8:1)—are a testament to God’s glorious mercy and grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

3. The Glory of Rebirth

Believers are born again and renewed in Christ. Their “hope of glory” is a living hope that brings glory-filled joy (2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 1:27; 1 Peter 1:3-9).

4. The Glory of a Relationship

Believers are accepted and adopted in Christ, for their eternal good and God’s glory (Romans 15:7; Ephesians 1:5-6; John 17:22).

5. The Glory of Righteousness

Believers are made righteous, transformed—with ever-increasing glory—into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 3:3-5).

Resurrection Day brought a series of blessings that encourage believers to live for God, “to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:5-6; 12-14).

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Dawn Marie Wilson is one of my special friends. She has served in church/parachurch revival ministries for fifty-plus years. 

She writes for Crosswalk.com and Arise Daily Devos, and blogs at Truth Talk with Dawn. 

Her co-authored book is Truth Talk for Hurting Hearts: Discover Peace and Comfort in God’s Perspective.

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Good Newscasting Means Checking the Facts

It's important to get our facts straight, and it's important to get our Scriptures straight…

In 2015, NBC News anchor Brian Williams claimed that in 2003, he was in a helicopter forced down by enemy fire in Iraq. Crew members of that helicopter refuted his story, and he recanted. (source)

In 2003, in his original newscast, he reported the truth—that his Chinook arrived safely after the attack. But over the years, his story changed.

If it were a memory problem, as Williams claimed, there would have been an easy solution. He could have checked his original report for facts before sharing the story.

We Christians can also get fact and fiction confused by taking Bible verses out of context, forgetting cross-references that apply, or simply repeating popular Christian sayings without making sure they're accurate.  

God never lies (Numbers 23:19). His Word is completely trustworthy (Psalms 111:7). When we talk about God, His commands, His desires, His plans, His love, and His character, we need to check out facts by consulting Scripture.

We need to make sure we're sharing the authentic Good News, not a human version based on misunderstandings or errors.  

If we look intently into His Word, remembering what it says and acting on it, our words will be honest and true (James 1:22-25).

Let's make sure our story lines up with the "original report"—the perfect, unchanging Word of God (Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 12:6; Isaiah 40:8).

For more on this subject, see Every Verse in Context and Without the Bible, We're Lost. 

 

If you liked this devotion, please sign up for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION to Bible Love Notes HERE. And please check out these two helpful resources:

Check out these two helpful, relevant books:

WISDOM FOR LIFE: Do you know the story behind my book Wisdom for Life? You can read it HERE and find out where to purchase it online.

LIES IN DISGUISE: Check out the relevant subjects in each chapter, read some endorsements, and find out where to order Lies in Disguise HERE.

 

Picture of Brian Williams in some images is from Creative Commons. 

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