"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” (Rom. 15:5 NIV)

When I was in my early 20s, I worked as a dry wall installer, also called a sheet-rocker

You might call my partner and me highballers back then because we were fast! In fact, we often completed two houses in one day. Back then we nailed drywall on with a hammer (it's screwed on these days), and I figured out, at 48 nails per sheet, that I hammered in about a million nails every three months! That's a lot of nails! All that lifting and hammering made me very strong in those days.

Eventually I changed jobs and started doing something less strenuous

Many years later, my son John was installing wallboard on the ceiling of a house he was working on and asked me if I would give him a hand since I knew how to do it. I agreed and grabbed my old set of tools and jumped right in. I was happy to see that I could still swing a hammer and lift the heavy board! It was like I had never stopped... well, for a brief time, anyway. I soon ran out of energy and got tired. Sadly, even though I knew what to do and was willing to do it, I was no longer in my 20s and didn't have the strength or endurance I once had. I felt awful about it, but John just smiled and said, “It's okay, Dad!” I knew he was trying to be encouraging to me, and I appreciated it. I continued to assist him that day, but he took on the majority of the heavy lifting.

Endurance and encouragement

Endurance is defined as the act of working very hard without stopping, even in the face of difficult situations or pain. It is an expression of support, approval, words, or actions that assist or inspire someone or something.

In our walk of faith, God gives us both endurance and encouragement, and He expects us to do the same for others

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:25:25 NIV)

Therefore

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thes. 5:11 NIV)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4 NIV)

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.” (Eph. 2:19 NIV)

There is a lot going on in the United States about the large number of illegal aliens in our country and what to do about them. The lawful answer, although not popular, is for them to do what the law of our country requires to become a citizen. However, they want to stay in our country, enjoy all of the benefits and privileges without doing what's required to become a citizen.

Religious illegal aliens

In the same way, many religious people, who call themselves Christians, are actually religious illegal aliens, because they have not done what is necessary to become a member of God’s citizenship.

Jesus spoke about them

He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV). He also said, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9 NIV). He said, anyone who attempts to “enter any other way, is a thief and a robber”. (John 10:1). When Jesus said these things, many religious people, such as the Pharisees and other religious leaders of that day,  became very angry and plotted to kill Him.

Just because you are a religious leader doesn't mean you are a citizen of God’s Kingdom

In fact, many religious leaders will find out at the day of judgement that they were not legal citizens of God’s Kingdom. Jesus said, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matt. 7:22-23 NIV)

The great news is we can easily become legal citizens of God’s Kingdom by personal faith in Jesus!

“If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9 NIV)

Therefore…

“Our citizenship changes when we become born again, and therefore become “fellow citizens with God’s people.” (Eph. 2:19 NIV)

“I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.” (Eze. 24:36 NIV) 

Abundant showers

We replaced the small six-gallon hot water heater in our RV with a tankless one. It had been frustrating to suddenly run out of hot water while taking a shower; that was especially so for Susan while she was washing her hair. Now we have endless hot water, limited only to our RV’s water supply. And when we are hooked up to water at a camp site, our hot water never runs out!

In a similar way, as God’s children, we are connected to His supply of  blessings which will never run out!

God’s blessings come down like rain!

“May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, Like showers that water the earth.” (Psalm 72:6 NIV)

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV)

Therefore

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8)

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9 NIV”

Jesus became poor so that you could become rich!

This is called the great exchange! This is the gospel — the good news that our sins are laid on Christ and his righteousness is laid on us.

This great exchange happens for us not by works but by faith alone. When you receive Christ as your personal savior you instantly become enriched.

Here is what you get in the great exchange

·      Forgiveness according to the riches of His grace. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight, (Eph. 1:7-8 NIV) 

·      Every special blessing in Christ. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Eph. 1:3 NIV)

·      You have been brought to fullness in Christ. “And in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” (Col. 2:10 NIV)

·      Your needs are supplied according to His riches in glory. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)

·      You have a great inheritance. “To obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:4 NIV). “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” (Eph. 1:18 NIV)

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”  (Ez 26:36 NIV)

Delineation between good and evil

When I think of what it means to be hard hearted and evil, I think of some of the characters I saw as a child in old Disney films, such as the jealous evil queen in Snow White and the wicked Cruella Deville, in 1,001 Dalmatians. These early Disney films had a very clear delineation between good and evil and left no doubt as to who was good or who was evil. 

Not so much today!

The lines have become blurred. One example is the Disney movie, Maleficent, which is a sympathetic version of the evil villain of Sleeping Beauty. Instead of being pure evil in this film, she is depicted as being simply misunderstood. I imagine this fuzziness about good and evil is confusing to today's children.

The Bible clearly defines evil

“He went on: ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.’” (Mark 7:29-23 NIV)

We must hate and reject evil

“Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 97:10 NIV)

Reject every kind of evil

“Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.” (Isa. 1:16 NIV)

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14 NIV)

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (James 1:21 NIV)

“But test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” (1 Thess. 5:21 NIV)

Therefore

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2 Tim. 4:18 NIV)

“You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” (Nea 9:6 NIV)

God can handle anything!

In a past posting, I spoke about the complexity of the incredibly small atom, and how God Himself, is the force that holds neutrons and protons together, (see Col. 1:17). But, not only is He able to handle the smallest things, He can also handle the largest things!

Just consider the distant stars!

“Is not God in the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!”  (Job 22:12 KJV)

“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.” (Psalm 33:6) 

“For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.” (Psalm 97:9 NIV)

“This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” (Isa. 68:1 NIV)

Nothing, in fact, including any problem you may face, is too big or too small for our God to handle!

“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jer. 32:27 NIV)

Therefore

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Col. 1:15-17 NIV)

Atoms are the basic building blocks of ordinary matter 

Atoms can join together to form molecules, which in turn form most of the objects around you. Atoms are composed of particles called protons, electrons and neutrons.

The mystery of what holds the atom together

 The nucleus of an atom is positively charged while electrons are negatively charged. The neutrons are electrically neutral, and so the electric force won't hold them in. Furthermore, the protons are all positively charged and so they all repel each other. This creates a big physics dilemma. If everything within the atom is negatively and positively charged and naturally repel each other, what is it that holds them all together? The answer to the question is debated much with many theories, both old and new, involving things like quarks and gluons. Physicists all agree that there has to be some other force that holds protons and neutrons together, but that's were their agreement ends - it all comes down to guesses and theories.

The so called, “strong force”

Even though they are not in agreement as to what it is that holds atoms together, physicists have named it "the strong force." In addition, they claim the strong force is also responsible for binding the quarks and gluons into protons and neutrons.

All things were made through Jesus

All these physics discussions are frankly beyond my ability to wrap my brain around. I have chosen a simpler answer found in the Bible, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col. 1:17 NIV). That explains it to me! 

Therefore

 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made." (John 1:1-3)

"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:14 NIV)

Jesus talks to a woman at a well

The longest one-on-one conversation with Jesus, recorded in John 4:4-26, is with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. On a hot day, when Jesus was worn out and thirsty from a long journey, He stopped at the well to rest and to get a drink of water. A Samaritan woman was there, drawing water from the well, and He spoke with her. The conversation was unusual because Jesus didn't follow the well-established religious rules of the day.

First, he was traveling through Samaria rather than walking around it, as most Jews do to avoid Samaritans. Second, Jews weren't supposed to speak with Samaritans. Third, men weren't permitted to speak with women without their husbands present. Fourth, rabbis had no business speaking to shady ladies such as this one.

The woman focused on the law; Jesus focused on grace

"You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman," she reminded him. "How can you ask me for a drink?" (John 4:9 NIV).

Jesus kept the conversation focused

“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. (John 4:10 NIV).  After more questions from her, “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” (John 4:13-14 NIV).

The woman misunderstood Him

She thought Jesus was talking about the regular kind of water and therefore meant that she wouldn't have to get water from the well anymore as she usually does, so she asked Him for some. “The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.'" (John 4:15 NIV)

Living water is a different kind of water!

Like many people today, the woman at the well misunderstands what Jesus meant when he said, "The water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:14 NIV). He was actually talking about the Holy Spirit. This is made clear in the seventh chapter of the gospel of John, when Jesus identifies the "streams of living water" that flow from within those who believe in him as the Holy Spirit. “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’” (John 7:37-38 NIV).

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Heb. 7:25 NIV)

Completely saved!

That means totally, entirely, wholly, thoroughly, fully, utterly, absolutely, perfectly, unconditionally, quite, altogether, downright; in every way, in every respect, one hundred percent, every inch!

How is this possible to be saved completely?

Two reasons are given in the passage at the top of the page.

• First reason: You are saved through Jesus. The verse says, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him…” You are saved completely because It's done through Jesus. 

 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6 NIV)

And because your salvation is through Him, you can have complete confidence that He will keep it completely safe! 

 “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Tim. 1:12 KJV)

• Second reason: Jesus lives to intercede for  you! The verse says, “because he always lives to intercede for them.” To intercede means to mediate, intermediate, arbitrate, conciliate, negotiate, moderate; Intervene, interpose, step in, act; plead, petition, and advocate. This is what Jesus does for you! “

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Tim. 2:5-6 ESV)

Therefore

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil.1:6 NIV)