Encouragement for Followers of Christ!

This is a place where you can put up verses/thoughts on Scripture passages that you think will encourage other believers.

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today', that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." -Hebrews 3:13

This morning, I was thinking about the opportunity that each of us, as believers, have to live another day for Christ. Two verses that came to mind, were Philippians 3:14 and 2 Timothy 2:4 - " I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." and "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.".

Now, think of any army (please, the kind that fought in the medieval ages, not the ones now…) in the field, early in the morning. You're in that army - because it's Christ's army. It is another day to live for your Master and King - Jesus Christ. Just as soldiers of a regular army have many things to remember in time of war, so do we, as soldiers of Christ. Let us not take this day lightly, but make sure that we are doing ALL to bring glory to God!

Here are a few things that I thought soldiers in an army would need to remember/act out -

1. No retreating! (Satan will never have the victory - Christ will! 1 Corinthians 15:57)

2. No complaining (Think of the blessings we have in Christ! What is there to complain about? Philippians 2:14)

3. Encouraging others (We are all in this battle together - may we encourage our fellow soldiers to continue fighting! Hebrews 3:13)

4. Standing your ground (Sin will not reign over us, as we have victory through Christ! Romans 6:1-2)

5. Seeks the leader's advice (Pray! The Lord hears everything you say. 1 Thessalonians 5:17)

6. Helps those around (Serve others - it will build them up! Matthew 20:25-28)

7. Obeys everything commanded (This is twofold - 1. When you hear a command, act on it! 2. When you hear a reproof, take it the right way - it is for our good! Matthew 3:8)

8. Remembering the command (A soldier would not forget them, instead making sure that they remember them carefully. We need to meditate on the Word because it is the Word of God! Psalm 1:2)

9. Do everything for the leader (Doing all for the GLORY OF GOD! 1 Corinthians 10:31)

I hope this has encouraged you all to continue pressing on for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus! May we all live for our KING, in a way that is pleasing to Him! Press on, fellow soldiers!

Because He lives,
Bethany

Romans 1:16

Thank you for sharing, Bethany! That was very encouraging to read.

Here is a verse I would like to share with everyone. Psalm 37 is a very encouraging Psalm because it tells us that even though it looks like the wicked prosper the righteous actually prosper better.

The wicked may have the "good" earthly things in this life but we as Christians have the wonderful spiritual things in this life and in the life to come. We may ask why the wicked always get the "good" things but we need to remember that the Lord has actually given us better things then they have. Ours will last forever while their pleasure will only last a little bit and then after life they will have eternal punishment.

For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. - Psalm 37:9-11

Great words of encouragement! Now here are a few of my own. :)

Always remind yourself, every day, the reason why you are living–to glorify God! And just as important, remember why you are living to glorify God–because He has saved you! We all were wicked, miserable, rebellious, sinful wretches, fully deserving to be punished eternally in hell; but "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"! He came to our miserable, sin-cursed world to live in a human body for thirty-three years; and at the end of His life, He was put to death in an extremely brutal way "by the ones He came to save." Not only this, but on the cross He bore the infinitely heavy weight of all our sins, rejected by His own Father. Then, three days later, He rose from the dead, conquering death for us!

We as Christians have our infinite debt of sin canceled because of Christ's death; and not only this, but we are also credited with the perfect righteousness of Christ! Therefore, we are seen as holy as Jesus in the sight of God! Daily reminding ourselves of this should always renew our gratitude-filled devotion to God. :)

P.S. MERRY CHRISTMAS!! :) :)

Christmas was 5 months ago?!

Anyway….any encouragement? :)

Here's a passage I memorized for BB last year - although I memorized it in KJV, not NIV :)

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
1 Chronicles 16:8-12 NIV

I greatly enjoyed memorizing that passage. :)

Me too! :)

We need to get this topic up and going again!

Just an encouragement to you all for this coming week:

Seek hard after Christ! He says in Hebrews 11 that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Keep your eyes on Christ, who is the author and perfecter of our faith.

Thank you for sharing that, Bethany!

Some encouraging verses I recently read:
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
-Ephesians 2:4-10

That was one of my favorites as well. ;D Do you memorize KJV for Bible bee?

Yes, I do! What about you?

That's cool! So do I. ;D

I like the KJV :) How long have you used it?

I like the KJV too. I have used it all three years of Bible bee and before that to memorize passages from the Bible. :) What about you? Do you read from a KJV also?

I have used KJV all my life :) Yes, I read from it.