Bible League: Living His Word Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.Although we live in a world full of trials, troubles, and tribulations, we do not live in a world that only has trials, troubles, and tribulations. We live in a world where there is also the comfort of God. In the midst of the difficulties of life, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort sends us the comfort we need to help us go through everything that comes our way. Indeed, He sends us the comfort we need to overcome all these things. What are these comforts that the Apostle Paul has in mind? He does not specifically identify them. This is probably because, so it seems to be the case, they could be virtually anything. In one instance, for example, the Apostle Paul was in Macedonia and he was downcast because of the afflictions he suffered there. He was comforted, however, by the coming of Titus and by the good news Titus brought with him about the Corinthian church's longing, mourning, and zeal for him (II Corinthians 7:6-7). The reason the comforts of God could be anything, then, is because He seems to design them specifically for the situations we find ourselves in. People who have received the comfort of God in the midst of affliction are better able to be used by God as a source of comfort to others who are going through the same kind of affliction. There is little doubt that the best comforter is the one who has already been comforted by God in the relevant area of life. Such people know the comfort of God can help overcome Satan's attempts to harm us and know how to help others in need to receive the comfort of God. Like everyone else in this troubled world of ours, you have been going through various and sundry afflictions. The God of comfort, however, is preparing to send you the very thing you need to help you persevere and overcome. Keep your eyes and ears open, then, for the comfort that is about to come your way. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 96, 97, 98 Psalm 96 -- Psalms of Praise (1Ch 16) NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 97 -- The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 98 -- Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 12 Romans 12 -- Offering yourselves as Living Sacrifices; Revenge forbidden NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.Insight Everyone was talking about Jesus! But when it came time to speak up for him in public, no one said a word. All were afraid. Fear can stifle our witness. Although many people talk about Christ in church, when it comes to making a public statement about their faith, they are often embarrassed. Challenge Jesus says that he will acknowledge us before God if we acknowledge him before others. Be courageous! Speak up for Christ! Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Genesis 9:15 And I will remember my covenant.Mark the form of the promise. God does not say, "And when ye shall look upon the bow, and ye shall remember my covenant, then I will not destroy the earth," but it is gloriously put, not upon our memory, which is fickle and frail, but upon God's memory, which is infinite and immutable. "The bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant." Oh! it is not my remembering God, it is God's remembering me which is the ground of my safety; it is not my laying hold of his covenant, but his covenant's laying hold on me. Glory be to God! the whole of the bulwarks of salvation are secured by divine power, and even the minor towers, which we may imagine might have been left to man, are guarded by almighty strength. Even the remembrance of the covenant is not left to our memories, for we might forget, but our Lord cannot forget the saints whom he has graven on the palms of his hands. It is with us as with Israel in Egypt; the blood was upon the lintel and the two side-posts, but the Lord did not say, "When you see the blood I will pass over you," but "When I see the blood I will pass over you." My looking to Jesus brings me joy and peace, but it is God's looking to Jesus which secures my salvation and that of all his elect, since it is impossible for our God to look at Christ, our bleeding Surety, and then to be angry with us for sins already punished in him. No, it is not left with us even to be saved by remembering the covenant. There is no linsey-woolsey here--not a single thread of the creature mars the fabric. It is not of man, neither by man, but of the Lord alone. We should remember the covenant, and we shall do it, through divine grace; but the hinge of our safety does not hang there--it is God's remembering us, not our remembering him; and hence the covenant is an everlasting covenant. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Corinthians 1:28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, • Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, • in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. • Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. Titus 3:5,6 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, • whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Isaiah 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |