DEPRESSION is a sad reality in this fallen, sin-cursed world. However, the remedy is not found in the world’s gimmicks or brain numbing synthetic medication. Hope is found alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He alone can bring healing, hope, joy, peace and contentment. He alone can give you purpose in life. He alone can reconcile sinners to the Holy God of heaven and earth! Look to Jesus and be saved all ye ends of the earth! Are you heavy laden and weary? Come to Jesus! He will never turn you away but He will take you up in His loving and healing arms!
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“Put that on mine account.”
—Philemon vs.18
"When St. Paul asked Philemon, in a most beautiful letter, to take back Onesimus, who had run away from him, he said, “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on my account.” Onesimus had been a bad servant to Philemon; and being willing to come back and do better, would not pay for what he had wronged him in before, and would not pay his old debts. And he evidently had nothing himself to pay them with. But St. Paul offered to pay all, so that Onesimus might be received, “not now as a servant,” but as a “brother beloved.” This is an exquisite picture of what the Lord Jesus Christ does. He not only intercedes for us with Him from whom we have departed, and against whom we have sinned; but, knowing to the full how much we have wronged God, and how much we owe Him, He says, “Put that on mine account.” And God has put it all on His account and the account has been paid, paid in blood. When “the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all,” Jesus saw and knew all your sins; and He said, “Put that on mine account.” Oh, what wonderful “kindness and love of God our Saviour!”
—Francis Ridley Havergal
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LOVE ONE ANOTHER
“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
—1 John 4:8
THROUGHOUT THE BOOK of 1 John, the apostle is very concerned to exhort Christians to love one another –not just in word, but in action. John emphasized this in many ways throughout his first epistle. For instance, 1 John 2:8-9 he calls believers to love one another because love is what God commands. In chapter 3:14-15, John wrote that believers need to love one another because true love is evidence that we have been made a new creation in Christ. Love is evidence that the Spirit of God has changed us on the inside, translated us from darkness to light, and abundantly poured forth His love in our hearts. Jesus said to His disciples in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another as I have loved you.” The Apostle Paul said that the greatest of God’s gifts to mankind is love (1 Cor. 13:13). And the love that God pours forth in the heart of His redeemed people is seen by godly characteristics: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:4-8).
IN 1 JOHN 4:7-16, John argues that we ought to love one another because God is love, and God has demonstrated His love by giving His Son for our redemption. Therefore, if we have been adopted into the family of God, and are being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, then we ought to love one another in the same manner that God has loved us. Yes, it is a challenge to manifest this kind of love in the life of the church because of the struggle against the old sinful thoughts, habits, and desires, but that’s exactly why the Scripture continually exhorts believers to love one another. “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:10-11). “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).
Tuesday Encouragement: June 3, 2025
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
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A CHRISTIAN'S SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER
My Father and My God,
Thank You for who You are, what You have done, and what You continue to do every moment of every day.
For it's "in You we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).
You uphold all things by the Word of Your power (Heb. 1:3).
You are the sovereign LORD over everything You have created (Dan. 4:35).
Thank You for redemption, forgiveness, justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification!
Thank You for Jesus, my Redeemer and Lord!
I praise You, dear Father, that You "raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification" (Rom. 4:23-24).
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being my Sanctifier.
You are the One Who molds and shapes all believers into Christ's image (Rom. 8:29).
You transform Your people and renew our minds by Your Word of Truth.
Thank You for Your blessed Word, the very means of grace that You use to make us like Jesus.
Bless Your people this day as we gather to exalt and honor the Lord Jesus!
For when Christ is exalted and honored then God the Father is exalted and honored.
As it is written, "that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him" (John 5:23).
And You, Holy Spirit, are the One who leads believers to exalt and honor Jesus!
And in so doing, You are exalted and honored as well.
Thank You, Father, for Your kindness, care, compassion, and wisdom!
Thank You that when we confess our sins to You that You are faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
You are long-suffering! You are merciful! You are gracious! Yet You are just, holy, and righteous!
O God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I love You!
You know that I love You for You are omniscient.
You have implanted Your love in my heart by the Holy Spirit!
Yet my love for You and for others is not what it ought to be.
I fail to love You with my whole heart, and I fail miserably every single day!
But praise Jesus that He never failed to love You with His whole heart, soul, mind, and strength on behalf of His people.
Thank You for imputing Christ's righteousness, holiness, and perfect satisfaction to all the sheep of Your pasture in exchange for all our sins!
What Amazing grace of Jesus! "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! For once I was lost but now I am found, I was blind but now I see."
Strengthen me, Lord Jesus, by Your Word and Spirit so that I may live solely for You!
"That if I live, I live to the Lord; and if I die, I die to the Lord. Therefore, whether I live or die, I am the Lord's" (Romans 14:8).
Bless me, Lord Jesus, to honor and glorify You in all my words and works.
Lift me up when I sin and keep me humble when I obey!
I ask this in Jesus' holy and precious name!
Amen!
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