Be Encouraged

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You were the “plan” and You continue to be the “plan” for the eternity of mankind. You are the God’s mysterious plan—and I place my hope in You. I have confidence that just as God has promised, You will call us all home to heaven to spend eternity with You. It will be wonderful! 

Just as the butterfly shows us new life...
we have hope in God's eternal plan.

I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. Colossians 2:1-4 (Underlined for emphasis.)

 

Meditate. Consider encouragement and unity.

 

Do you know where Laodicea is?

            All the churches mentioned in Revelation are in modern Turkey. They form a ring around what was earlier Asia Minor. A rich Roman city about ninety miles from Ephesus, Laodicea was the last church mentioned of the seven churches in Revelation, and it was very close to Colossae to whom Paul had written this letter known as the book of Colossians. He was advising them to encourage and be united in love with others. He felt it was important for them to understand the mysteries of God’s plan. Isn’t that what people still need today? So many people are confused about Revelation, the information presented in that book, and the timing of the coming events. God has always told people about His plans, but we just have to dig into that treasure in the form of words of wisdom and knowledge He has hidden for us. He promised that Christ is coming back—although who knows if it will be in our lifetime. That depends on how long we’ll live! Your guess is as good as mine.

            God’s plan is mysteriously hidden within His scripture—but it centers on Jesus Christ. Paul had complete confidence that they (Laodicea) would understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. Just as Paul advised: Don’t be deceived. We each have a choice to make, day by day, to search God’s word and then to believe what we read. What is your choice today?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5

 

Be Thankful with Love in Your Heart

 

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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