Tag: suffering
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Prepared for Empathy
Hebrews 2:17-18 “He had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God . . .For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” I’m sure you’ve heard the expression that goes something like…
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The Rough Edges
Philemon 8-9 “Though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus” In the verses above we see the apostle Paul making an appeal to Philemon to do something that…
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Will the Trouble Never End?
Isaiah 40:25-31 “Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is…
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Why Thorns?
2 Corinthians 12:7 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.” If you are a Christian, are you one in which everything in life is wonderful? Do you have any…
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Continually Thankful
Colossians 2:7 “. . . abounding with thanksgiving.” At any time of crisis, it is a good time for believers to consider the attitude to which God has called us. In Colossians 2, Paul encourages the Colossian believers (and us) that just as they had received Christ Jesus as Lord, they were to continue to…
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The Master Sculptor
Romans 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” I heard a recording of the late Elizabeth Elliott some years ago in which she was speaking about God’s transforming work in the lives of believers. As an illustration, she was speaking about the great sculptor, Michelangelo. One day…
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Jars of Clay
2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” When the glory of God is manifested in the life of a person, it is radically different from the glory of man. When we think of the glory, i.e., the greatness, of…
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Fiery Trials
1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.” One of the greatest blessings of the Bible is how…
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Your Walls
Isaiah 49:16 “. . . your walls are continually before me.” Have you ever felt all alone? Have you ever gone through something that, although there may have people around you, you were certain that none of them could understand what you were going through, and any attempt to explain it to them seemed futile?…
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It Will Be Worth It All
2 Corinthians 1:14 “. . . that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.” One day we will all stand before the Lord of Glory. We will face the Judge of all the earth. It is at that moment that things will become crystal…
To Encourage You 