Luke 12:4-5

I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will point out to you whom you should fear; fear the one who, after He has killed, has authority and power to hurl (you) into hell; yes, I say to you (stand in great awe of God and) fear Him!

Jesus warns of spiritual persecution and teaches an eternal perspective. As a Christian persecution may come and pressure to turn away from Jesus, but Jesus is the key to our eternal life. The Judgement of God and the promise of eternity have more consequences for our lives than the destruction of our bodies by man. We must remain strong and keep our faith charged in the Word.

Luke 10:36-37

Which of these three do you think proved himself a neighbor to the man who encountered the robbers? He answered, “The one who showed compassion and mercy to him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and constantly do the same.”

Jesus reminds us not to show favoritism in whom we show mercy towards. When we see someone in need, we are to be a good neighbor and give them aid. It doesn’t matter our position in life but the state of our hearts. We are to show compassion and mercy to those we meet.

John 14:2-3

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may also be.  

Jesus is coming back for His people. We may not be able to see heaven from here, but the Bible assures us it exists. Jesus is preparing a place for believers just as He did for the disciples. Our promise from God is eternity for those who are saved. 

John 8:31

So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word (continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then) you are truly My disciples.

To be a Christian who follows Jesus, we are to obey His teachings and continually act in accordance with the word. We are to train up in our Bible knowledge and learn to have faith in the word of God. We are responsible for our own growth and the extent to which we pursue being a disciple.  

Philippians 1:9-10

And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more (displaying itself in greater depth) in real knowledge and in practical insight, so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent (identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences), and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ (actually living lives that lead others away from sin).

God’s kind of love leads to freedom in this life. This kind of love leads people away from sin, showing them that true forgiveness and salvation exist. We all fall short and commit sins, but our repentance and understanding of Jesus’s love are our examples to others. 

Psalm 103:2-5

Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits; Who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. 

When we remind ourselves of the benefits of our relationship with God, we step back from the negative worldview. We must push back the negative pressure with the positives of God. Where we focus our thoughts will be where our mind, will, and emotions will go. A good place to start is with Praise!

Proverbs 24:19-20

Do not get upset because of evildoers, or be envious of the wicked, for there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.  

The wicked do not get away with the evil they do to others. In the short term, it may seem that they will not suffer the consequences of their deeds, but God is still in control. Their deeds are not forgotten before God, and they will have to answer for their actions. We cannot lose heart or let their actions distract us from faith in God.

Mark 3:4-5

He asked them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save or to kill? But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at the hardness and arrogance of their hearts, He told the man, “Hold out your hand.” And he held it out, and his hand was (completely) restored.

Jesus demonstrates hope and healing to the people through a relationship with God. The love of God flows for His people even on a Sabbath day and is not bound by the tradition of man. A strict observation of the law or the traditions of their fathers doesn’t bring the Pharisees closer to God. Jesus was sent to the people to redeem them from the law.

Matthew 24:6-7

You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end (of the age). For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  

We may not know when Jesus is coming back, but we can be aware of the times. Jesus is very clear about what we are to look for and what will happen. It is often the closer a person gets to something, the more the details emerge. Jesus encourages us to keep our faith and keep strong in our hearts no matter what happens in the world. 

1 Corinthians 13:4

Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; loves does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 

When we walk in love, we have a secure ego. When our self-esteem is established, and we have no fear of rejection, this helps us be kind, thoughtful, and loving to others. If we are unsure of God’s love for us or feel insecure, we will have a more challenging time walking in love.