Encouragement

Antioch Believers Send Encouragement to Jerusalem - Acts 11:27 – 11:30 (commentary)

The church at Jerusalem could no longer ignore what was happening at Antioch. In this passage we find believers, with the gift of prophecy, coming down from Jerusalem to Antioch (v. 27). This New Testament gift of prophecy was unique to the early church. Their function is to be s …

Encouragement to complete the Temple - Haggai 2:1 – 2:9 (commentary)

Firmly committed to build the temple, the people were soon to face some difficult questions. How beautiful would this temple be and how would its glory compare with Solomon’s temple (vv. 1-3)? As work progressed and plans were formed for the new temple, inevitable comparisons wer …

The budding of Aaron’s rod - Numbers 17:1 – 17:13 (commentary)

In today’s passage God proves once again to the people that Aaron can be trusted and he is the High Priest of Israel (vv. 1-6). A situation was set up for a visible sign of God’s unmistakable choice of Aaron as High Priest. Each tribe was to be represented by a rod or branch of a …

Our chief aim should be to build others up - Proverbs 12:6 – 12:10 (commentary)

The wicked often seeks to destroy other people with their words (v. 6) while the righteous try to encourage those who have been attacked by gossipers and slanders. In the end, the wicked will be overthrown but the house of the righteous will stand (v. 7) because it is built upon …

Ruth meets Boaz - Ruth 2:1 – 2:13 (commentary)

Boaz is described as a kinsman of Elimelech’s (Naomi’s husband who died) although the exact relationship is not told. Ruth and Naomi are very poor and so it is fortunate that they arrive at their new home in the beginning of harvest. There are not many ways of earning a …

The Encouragement to Go On - Hebrews 6:9 – 6:15 (commentary)

It seems that the author felt that, after some heavy and solemn warnings, a word of encouragement was in order. He states that he is confident that the people he is addressing are ready for better things that come with salvation (v. 9). The words are like those of a pastor who, a …

Hold Fast Your Confession - Hebrews 10:19 – 10:25 (commentary)

The Most Holy Place in the temple was sealed from view by the veil (v. 20). Only the high priest could enter this holy room, and he did so only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he offered the sacrifice for sins. In this passage we are encouraged to boldly enter into the …

The Way That Seems Right to Man - Proverbs 16:22 – 16:26 (commentary)

For centuries people have talked about a fountain of youth. The fountain of youth was only a dream, but the wellspring of life is reality (v. 22). The choice is yours. You can be encouraged by God’s wisdom, or you can be dragged down by the weight of your own foolishness. The wor …