Don’t Give Up. Stay Encouraged!

Living as God’s Children of Light

“With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do You Love Me?

“After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.” ‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭33‬-‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Godly may Trip Seven Times

“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” ‭‭Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A Little Yeast Spread through the Whole Batch of Dough!

“Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Read Joshua 7 - Achan sin that cause Israelites to lose the war and his family to die.

Struggling with Sin

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬