“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”(Heb. 4:12 NLT)

It is God breathed!

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17 NIV)

Do what it says

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (Jam. 1:22 NIV)

Preach the Word

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Tim. 4:2 NIV)

"When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, 'Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?' But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor." (Matt. 27:12-14, NIV)

Don't respond to negativity

I have a friend who has a very large, successful, and public ministry. Along with it comes much criticism and many personal attacks. There are entire blogs and sites dedicated to negativity about him and his ministry. The attacks are often hateful and filled with character assassination. But, my friend doesn't respond to a single charge! He totally ignores them. When asked why he or his staff don't answer his critics, he says, “I have an important job to do, which is to reach as many people in the world as I can with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have no time to give to meaningless distractions." He is right! You only give energy to accusations when you add fuel to them with any kind of an answer. Jesus, in the passage at top didn't answer his accusers, either. “Not to a single charge” (Matt. 27:14 NIV).  Billy Graham had a similar policy, he said, “We don't accuse or excuse. Period!"

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. (Prob. 29:25 NLT)

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” (Luke 6:35 NIV)

God has a different standard of behavior than most

Most of us behave like goats. If you push on a goat, it pushes back hard. If you pull a goat's horns, it will pull back hard. Most people react negatively to those who act negatively towards them. It's human nature. But God has a different way. He forgives those who are negative towards Him. He gives love to the ungrateful and wicked. In fact, He expects, even commands, the same kind of behavior of us toward others.

Love your enemies!

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.  And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:27-36 NIV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13 NIV)

We have a different kind of hope

A Biblical definition of hope is far superior to that of the world’s definition of wishing or hoping for something to happen. A believer knows for sure that their hope is solid, concrete evidence because it is grounded in the Word of God. And, we know that God cannot lie (Heb 6:18; Num 23:19). The Christian has a hope that is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). It is a hope that is like faith, which cannot be moved by circumstances or by what the eyes see, because our God is faithful to His Word and you can have a solid hope in it!

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 NIV)

A multitude of sins is a lot!

Multitude is defined as a great number; host; crowd; throng, horde, a mass, a swarm, an abundance, a profusion; scores, quantities, droves; slew, lots, loads masses, stacks, heaps, piles, tons, dozens, hundreds, thousands, millions, gazillions, bajillions, and more! But, no matter how many, love has them more than covered!

Love is defined in the Bible this way

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. ... Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.  (1 Cor 13:4-7, 13 NLT)

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8 KJV)

Now that is very, very, very, good news for all of us, indeed!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30 NIV)

There are a number of wonderful benefits mentioned within this passage.

First – there is an invitation to “come to Jesus”. Yes, He is available and waiting for you!

Second – there is an answer for those who are “weary and burdened.” No matter what you may be facing, He is the answer!

Third – there is the promise of rest from burdens. You can give them to Him.

Fourth – you are invited to take His yoke and learn from Him. He not only has the answers, he is the answer!

Fifth- He is humble of heart. You won't face a harsh judge, but he is very kind and attentive to you.

Sixth – you will get rest for your soul. So relax and receive.

Seven – for His yoke is easy. You don't have to work to get it, so reach out to Him.

Eight - and His burden is light. It won't be too much to carry, He has made it a promise!

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17 NKJV)

You must be a member of God’s family to hear Him.

“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” (John 8:47 ESV)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27 ESV)

The Spirit speaks what he hears the Father say

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13 ESV)

When you hear the Word, you must Mix it with faith to profit from it.

“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” (Heb. 4:2 KJV)

“God sets the solitary in families…” (Psalm 68:6 NKJV)

God determines boundaries of our dwelling places

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.” (Acts 17:26 ESV)

God adopted us into His family

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Eph. 1:5 NLT)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:2 NIV)

A hope and a future

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer. 29:11 NIV)

It's good and pleases God

“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim. 2:3-4 NIV)

In all circumstances

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thes. 5:18 NIV)