 | ENCOURAGING WORDS |
| | ENCOURAGING WORDS |
"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty'" (Luke 17:7-10).
(Jesus speaking) "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire'" (Luke 16:22-24).
Jesus says, "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched'" (Mark 9:43-48). Jesus says, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). Jesus says, "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:40-42).
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own"
" (Matthew 6:25-34).
(Jesus says); "This, then is how you should pray:
"'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one'" (Matthew 6:9-13).
"You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask you do not receive because you ask with the wrong motives..." (James 4:3).
Remember God is in control!
"Yet not one (sparrow) will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of head are all numbered" (Matthew 10:29,30).
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have,
because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with
confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5,6).
"Paul the Apostle says 'I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely,
and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes
minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked,
I spent a night and day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.
I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits,
in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in
the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and
have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and have often gone without food; I have been
cold and naked'"
(2 Corinthians 11:23-27).
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul ... Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23).
Prayer: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts."