Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Men, the righteousness we have in Jesus Christ not only fulfils the law on our behalf, but also far exceeds the law on our behalf. The righteousness we have in Christ works in us love and reconciliation towards those who oppose us. Instead of anger and retribution reigning (often without a just cause), we discover through our abiding relationship in Christ a desire to reconcile.

In Matthew 5:22-26 we find that in Christ’s righteousness we are to actively seek an agreement with our adversary as quickly as possible, before the matter deteriorates. Despite all our faults, weaknesses, and failures, the righteousness we have in Christ is not to be seen as something separate from us. On the contrary, the Holy Spirit, actively involved within us, sanctifies us with the righteousness found in Christ Jesus.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:30: ”And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” I don’t think Jesus actually intended people should pluck out their right eye or cut off their right hand because of heart adultery (which is the lust of the heart), but realize the absolute seriousness of appropriating the righteousness of Christ in order to deal with lust, fornication, and adultery.

The truth is that even as we actively seek to apply the righteousness of Christ to ourselves we must never plead our own righteousness for we miss the mark in so many ways.

The old hymn by Edward Mote says: “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” I love hearing our grandchildren sing this hymn with all their hearts.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The teaching of Jesus relating to righteousness and the law makes it very clear that man is hopelessly lost and in desperate need of a righteousness that is not self-generated. We have no righteousness of our own. 1 Corinthians 1:30 states: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

The scribes and Pharisees were all about keeping the law. They prided themselves in their strict adherence to the law, even though they had all broken it one time or another. However, Jesus explains that even the letter of the law did not fully convey the depravity of sin. In the Sermon on the Mount He explained that those who thought they were righteous according to the letter of the law, e.g. the scribes and Pharisees, were hopelessly lost. Although they had not committed murder physically, they revealed the spirit of murder through anger and evil accusations against their fellowman. On the basis of this teaching we are all murderers as far as the righteousness that EXCEEDS is concerned.

The Pharisees and scribes were very strict about committing adultery, but Jesus explained to them that the sin of adultery is much deeper than the act. Jesus stated in Matthew 5:28: “But I say unto you, That whosever looketh on a woman to lust after he hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Therefore they were also guilty of adultery and needed a righteousness which EXCEEDED what they had.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

James 2:17: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

James 2:22: “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?”

1 Peter 2:12: "Have your conversation (manner of life) honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Acts 9:36: “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.” This resulted in her being raised from death.

Acts 10:1, 2: “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius . . . a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always . . . And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers AND THINE ALMS are come up for a memorial before God."

Men, even though this man was not born against at this time, his prayers and his GOOD WORKS came up as a memorial before God. I believe it is very important to be full of good works, firstly to our own wives and families, and secondly to our friends and strangers. Galatians 6:10 says: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Acts 10:38: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Jesus “went about DOING GOOD.” Most of us just “go about.”

Whatever was good, right, and appropriate for Jesus to do while here on earth should also be good, right, and appropriate for His disciples and followers to do.

Let’s pray that God will make us more observant and sensitive to the needs of others.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Ephesians 2:8-10 says: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

James 2:17, 18 teaches us that saving faith, which is a gift, results in good works: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” Good works are the gift of faith in action.

In a sense, good deeds themselves are wrought by the grace of God working through us. To do good works with the motivation to boast in ourselves is not acceptable to God. All Christian good deeds should only be done to bring glory to God.

Good question: do we cheat God of His glory by our failure to be full of good deeds?

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Our Lord Jesus Christ who confessed He was, and is, the light of the world gives life to those who follow Him. John 8:12 says: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” In Christ Jesus we have abundant life so that we can shine forth abundant light.

Jesus said in John 10:10: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Jesus is abundant life. Why therefore, do many Christians not experience abundant life? The answer lies in our personal relationship to Jesus Christ.

We’ve all heard the saying, “Bread is the staff of life.” We also know that Jesus Christ is the Living Bread” (John 6:35). Therefore, if we do not experience abundant life it is because we do not feast on the Living Bread. We have such small appetites for Christ. Therefore, instead of abundant life, we have stunted life. This results in weak light.

Men, we must diligently encourage the appetites of our children, as well as our own appetites first, to feast on Christ day by day.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

We thank God that the sun still rises and sets faithfully as the earth circles around it. Without the sun shining there would be no life on earth for most things require light to live. How amazing it is that even in creation God ordains divine illustrations of how we Christians should be exposed to Jesus Christ who is like the Sun of our world, remaining steadfast and unmovable, while the earth and our solar system revolves around it.

Jesus Christ is indeed the center of the Christian’s universe. How absolutely important it is to keep exposing ourselves to His life and light. We should not hold any area of our lives back from exposure to His light. Jesus’ life gives light to all those who receive it. John 1:9 states: “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

Proverbs 20:27: “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” God has given to every man a spirit (candle), but only Christ can light it. The devil who masquerades as an “angel of light” cannot light the candle of man’s spirit. The devil’s light is false and paradoxically only brings darkness and deception. Hence, all other religions that do not expose themselves to the Son of God cannot be true light in order to light up the world.

If we do not not expose ourselves willingly to the life and light of Christ, we cannot be the manifested sons of God doing His good deeds.

John 3:19-21: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Without doubt we are in a major contest between light and darkness. It seems that the light in many Christians is dim. Yet there is only one way God has ordained to scatter all spiritual darkness and that is through each one of us shining as brightly as possible.

When Jesus said: “Ye are the light of the world,” He was saying that there is no other source for the world to receive light except through us.

Jesus Himself was described as a “great light” Isaiah 9:1-2 and Matthew 14:16 state: “The people that sat in darkness have seen a GREAT light.” The disciples of Jesus Christ should also be GREAT lights.

Jesus said: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” We should never underestimate the importance of bright, shining, light-giving Christians.

Currently, the light is focusing on “Planned Parenthood” and exposing its dark, evil practices of selling unborn babies parts through abortion. There are so many areas of darkness in our nation that need the light of each one of us Christians.

We must shine, resist, and scatter these evils of darkness.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

God definitely intends the world to be spiritually salted. The truth is that without God’s people being involved, the world cannot be salted, hence the question: “Wherewith shall it be salted?”

Men, we have to be real salt, the best salt possible. The world is intolerable to God if the salt is not fulfilling its purpose. No wonder Jesus said to the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:16: “Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” Jesus cannot stand luke-warmness and He cannot tolerate Christians who are ineffective in salting the earth.

As husbands and fathers, we must be more salty, in a good sense. We are to raise influential families for God and His kingdom.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, the truth is that if people are being healed it shows the salt is good and working its healing power. But if the people are not being healed there has to be something wrong with the salt. Everywhere Jesus went the people were healed of EVERY sickness and EVERY disease.

Everywhere God’s people go people should also be healed. The salt in Jesus healed the people and the same salt should do the same through us. It may not be only physical healing, for there are many areas where people need healing. People’s spirits and souls also need healing. In a sense, whatever the problem is, there is an answer for it in Christ. And when that answer comes there is healing. Obviously the people saw Jesus as the healer of all problems.

The question is: do they see the same anointing flowing through us? Do we bring healing to the people around us? This is why we all need to claim in an active way the same anointing of the Holy Spirit. As fathers we must teach our children to pray that the healing power of Christ is for today.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

In much of today’s church, God’s people do not want to be exposed to any preaching that may make them feel condemned, guilty, or convicted. Many do not want to be exposed to any preaching that is likely to sting their conscience. Many in the church only want preaching that makes them feel good about themselves. Of course, there is a time for encouragement, but only after the stinging salt of God’s Word brings repentance.

In this hour the conscience of our nation needs to be deeply stung like David was. Unfortunately no one wants to be stung. The stinging must start with God’s people first. Sadly, when many are confronted with truth, instead of humbling themselves like David, they squeal and scream and throw a fit.

David welcomed the stinging salt when he cried, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).

Although the salt stings, it also cleanses and heals the wound. Men, we must never be afraid of exposing ourselves, as well as our families, to the stinging salt of God’s Holy Word. If the preaching to which we expose ourselves and our families has no stinging affect, or very little pricking of the conscience, we need to ask, why? Are we not in any need of adjustment? Are there still some areas of our lives where we fall short of righteousness? Are we willing to expose ourselves to the x-ray ability of God’s Word to convict of any behavior that God wants to change?

We should welcome the salt so we will be convicted of anything that does not please God. A saltless church, family, or individual is insipid, without conviction , and powerless.

The question is: is there any stinging affect happening in my life? Or does the world feel comfortable around me?

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

It is tragic when Christians, for whatever reasons, allow the enemy to divide us. It is true that we may disagree on certain issues or interpretations on doctrine or behavior. It is not unrighteous to beg to differ or to disagree with one another, so along as we do not allow the disagreement to divide us on the matter of love. Love does not allow disagreement to cut each other off.

I am not talking about a major addiction to some type of immorality, which if not repented of will not only bring disagreement, but is a just cause for cutting and severing the relationship of fellowship. But even then, the love of Christ will not allow us to hate the person, only their sin. We should still continue to love and pray for them.

The devil wants Christians to be divided. He does all that he can to separate and divide us, and more than that, to actually bring us to the point of hating, gossiping, and slandering each other. In the midst of disagreement, we must never give up praying for one another because prayer enables us to keep on loving.

John 13:35 says: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Romans 13: 8 says: “Owe no many any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” All our divisions and icy, cold separations hinder our prayers and the flow of the Holy Spirit’s life, power, and anointing.

Truth coupled with love is the salt that makes for peace.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Psalm 57:6 says, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inwards parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”

Although it is important to have a mental knowledge of the truth of God’s Word, it is much more important to apply the truth deep in the heart and the spirit. David thirsted for the truth in the inward parts.

Prayer is so critically important to reading of God’s Word. For this reason we fathers must teach our children to pray/read the Scriptures. Prayer takes the Word from the intellect into the depths of the spirit. There is an intellectual thirst and there is a spiritual thirst. The intellectual thirst can be prideful, shallow, hypocritical, and without application. The spiritual thirst is more important than the intellectual. God seek worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Men, although it is wonderful to see our children memorizing Scripture, we must understand that these words must filter down into their hearts. It is only then that the Word of truth can bring change. Teaching our children to pray what they are reading and memorizing Scriptures causes them to thirst after truth and to be changed by the truth.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Truth establishes the right flavor in Christians. It provides a godly flavor that is well-pleasing to God. It balances grace. Truth is often viewed as the law only, which in itself is good if we keep it without failing. However, we continually break the law of God one way or another through our weakness in the flesh, we then fall under the penalty of the law which is death.

Thankfully, the law is not all there is to truth. The doctrine of mercy, forgiveness, and grace are also powerful aspects of truth. Jesus Christ was filled with the truth in both law and grace.

John 1:17 states: “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Grace, truth without any reference to the law, quickly becomes loose, liberal and sloppy. Law, truth without the doctrine of grace, quickly becomes religious, sterile, hard, and cold.

Jesus Christ had the right flavor. He was the salt that made people desire the truth. He was the whole truth. He was THE truth (John 14:6).

Men, as we conduct our Family Devotions with our wife and family on a daily basis all through their young lives, we must make sure that we make the truth palatable. We want our children to love our family Bible and worship time.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

In the Scriptures salt represents truth and its ability to preserve nations, cities, and individuals. Salt is directly related to the purity and holiness of the Christian who seeks to apply to the truth to keep himself pure.

Purity is the opposite to decay and applying the truth halts decay, impurity, and backsliding.

As fathers, we must at all times apply the truth, first to our own lives, then to the lives of all our precious children who can so easily be led astray by not only neighbor’s children and school children, but also children in the church or even homeschool groups.

Fathers and mothers, we must never relent on giving our children daily doses of the salt of God’s Word. God’s Word alone has the power to preserve and keep our children holy and free from decay.

2 Peter 1:4: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promise: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Hebrews 12:14: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The earth can only be spiritually salted by the disciples and followers of Christ. God ordained it and there is no other way for this to happen. The Greek word for “savor” is “moraino” which means “to become insipid, to be a simpleton, become a fool, make foolish.”

As Christians we are the truth shakers and salt shakers of the earth. The question is: How salty are we? Are we spicing the earth? Are we influencing the world? Or are we insipid? If we are insipid salt and without flavor, how can we influence the world for good?

Are we speaking the truth to our fellow man regarding the Supreme Court’s wrong decision on gay marriage? What about abortion and the selling of unborn body parts? Will we continue to stand up against this evil of murder in our society?

Why should God protect our cities from ISIS, Al Qaeda, or lone wolves when we do not protect the earth against the shedding of innocent blood in abortion clinics all over the land? The reason why multitudes of evils prevail in our western nations is because the salt has pretty much lost its savor.

Thank God for those who stand up and address the evils of our society with the salt of truth. But compared to those who call themselves Christians, they are few and far between. Those who will not stand up for whatever reason, be it the fear of man, or they do not want to rock the boat, etc. would do well to take note of what Jesus said. They are “henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

In the following Scriptures, we see how grace is manifested in our speech.

Psalm 45:2: “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee forever.” Just as our Lord and Savior spoke with such grace, as described in this Scripture, we as His followers should always and at all times speak with graciousness.

Proverb s 10:21: “The lips of the righteous feed many.” What a blessing to feed our families and hungry souls with righteous words.

Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.” We must learn to resist the feelings of the flesh and instead respond to hurtful words and deeds against us with a soft answer that ministers peace rather than strife.

Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” If we love to slay people with our tongues, we will reap what we sow. If we love to minister life to people through loving, edifying, and encouraging words we will also reap what we sow.

Luke 4:22: “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.” It must have been wonderful to hear the way Jesus spoke. The people were amazed and astonished (Luke 2:47, 48). The word “amazed” is mentioned at least 13 times regarding people’s response to the ministry of Jesus.

Men, we must set this example before our wives and children for this how we teach them to speak with grace.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

What is the salt of the earth that Jesus talks about? We are the real “salt of the earth” if we allow our lives to lign up with what Jesus calls us for in this sermon. When it comes to judging true values, the salty words of Jesus must be the only judgment we can use.

We are only the salt of the earth when we live and practice what we believe. People can know the Bible through and through, but knowing it is not enough to make us the salt of the earth. We must live what we know.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was the greatest saltshaker in the history of the earth, but it would have no meaning if Jesus did not practice what He preached.

Men, if we do not shake the salt first with our wives and families, we fail the cause of Christ. We husbands are saltshakers, shaking out the salt (God’s truth) everywhere we go. The world desperately needs it.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

We must give what we can, even if it is just a little. We must also teach our children to be more giving than getting. The little boy gave Jesus all his lunch, but he never went home hungry! How amazing!

To cap pit all off there were twelve baskets over. I am sure they found others along the way to give them to. Ephesians 3:20 says: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

Even when we have little to give in the way of money, we can still give our earnest prayers. Your prayers are invaluable. James 5:16 says: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” God is more than able to meet every need in this entire world, but He has ordained that we should make these needs a matter of prayer. We must teach our children to pray for the great needs of the persecuted people in the world.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The devil is not a giver and apposes giving. True Christian faith is a much more godly thing than many Christians understand. Biblical faith must be tested and tried in order to be perfected. Many Christians believe we exercise faith for the material comforts of life. But the faith Jesus teaches us to exercise is a faith that is prepared and willing to forsake all material and physical comforts if God should require, follow Him, and live our lives in a way that advances His kingdom first.

How is it possible that we who live in affluent western countries should be so taken up with creating our own wealth and physical comforts when fellow believers around the world are being tortured, persecuted, cast out, and killed for their faith in Christ? Do we not understand that by living in a free society we are blessed to be generous and give to those who are persecuted, trodden down, cast out, and deprived? If we are going to believe God for finances, we should believe for “kingdom giving” to those who are in need and greatly persecuted.

We are to follow our Savior’s example in Hebrews 2:10 who suffered in his life of giving to the point of giving His own blood.

2 Corinthians 8:9: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Heavy persecution is where one’s life and blood is at stake. Being cast into prison and tortured for your faith in Jesus Christ is heavy persecution. When your home and possessions are taken away from you because you are a Christian and you cannot find food or shelter from the government would be heavy persecution.

Because of ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Qaida, Hamas, Hezbollah, El Shabaab, the Muslim Brotherhood and other terrorist regimes there are more and more Christians being heavily persecuted for their faith than at any other time in the history of the world.

Communist countries continue to heavily persecute Christians, e.g. North Korea, Cuba, and China. Hindu and Buddhist countries in parts of India and Burma heavily persecute Christians. Central and Eastern Asian countries, Islamic countries, and Northern African and Middle Eastern countries are also persecuting Christians.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell