Do You Need Comfort Today?

"Nevertheless God, Who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus...." (2 Corinthians 7:6)

Some people are too "spiritual" to admit to the need for a "Titus" in their life.  Yet I hope and pray that you do have a "Titus" in your life.

"O, I don't need anybody to comfort me.  I have the Holy Spirit."  So?  Paul also had the Holy Spirit.  But he was not too proud to admit that, "....God comforts the downcast...by the coming of Titus."  Do you have some Followers of Jesus who when they are "coming" to you, give you that great sense of comfort, of joy, of "completing" something in your need for the day or "season" in your life?

Notice the situation in which Paul found himself.  "For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side.  Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.  Nevertheless God...."  Yes, and what did God do?  He sent Titus to Paul.  It wasn't the prayer meeting, the worship service, the preaching of some great preacher.  It was Titus, the one of whom I have never even heard a church named after.

But notice something else in verse 7, "....and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you...."  So we see here a sort of "chain of events."  Some "ordinary" Followers of Jesus comforting Titus, who in turned, comforted by them, passed on his own comfort to Paul.  Never, ever underestimate your "comforting" power.  There are those whom you see more than some great preacher, more often than church gatherings.  To them, just your showing up provides great comfort.  Again, never, ever underestimate this.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray this be in me, continually, daily, moment by moment.  Amen.
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* Sarah is "80%" better.  Thanks so much for your prayers.
* This week Sarah and I are in South Haven, MI.  We are staying in a vacation property owned by Jill and Scott. 
* Fall, 2017 Mission:  October 28-November 15, Berlin/Wittenberge, Germany

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"You Are A Letter Of Christ"

"....Clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of flesh, of the heart." (2 Corinthians 3:3)

I w0nder how, "clearly," this is.  I read this awhile ago, and am still in a, "Selah," mode.

The Interlinear says, "[It is] being revealed that you are a letter of Christ.., having been inscribed not in ink but with the Spirit of the Living God...on the tablets of human hearts."  How many times I have read this over the decades, yet today, as so often happens, "fresh revelation."  I submit these Words to you for prayerful consideration.

You and I are letters of Jesus Christ.  When people look at us, when we look at one another, we are reading Jesus.  Okay, yes, we can all point out our failures, weaknesses, shortcomings, etc.  Yet through it all, there is Jesus.  Maybe we need to look more for Jesus in one another than the other "stuff."  We could even say something similar to the world.  If you are really looking for God, really want a better way, really are hungering and thirsting for righteousness, then you will see something of the "answer," something of Jesus in us.

Further, I know that I am going to be more aware today that I have a great "Divine appointment" with humanity.  E. Stanly Jones once said that "The Word became flesh in Jesus, and continues to become flesh in us."  It is a sobering reality.  Maybe there are some "typos," some need for "white out," a "spell check" or two, but take great encouragement today that it is the design of the Living Triune God that since the world can no longer see Jesus as they saw Him in the Galilee, He directs them to see the Word, "inscribed on tablets of human hearts."  We need to really talk of this so much more!

Father, in Jesus' Name, Your Word today is most sobering.  I pray Who You Are will be "read" in me.  Amen.  

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Hallelu Yah!"

"Praise the Lord (or, 'Hallelu Yah,' in the Hebrew)....Praise the Lord. (Hallelu Yah)." (Psalm 146:1 & Psalm 150:6, NASB)

Each of the last five Psalms begin with, "Praise the Lord!", and end with, "Praise the Lord."  Maybe this is the way we should begin and end the day.

Our lives are full of good and evil, from beginning to end.  The, "Word of God," Jesus Himself, is telling us that a life of "summation," a victorious life is a life full of, "Praise the Lord!"  And, I might add, this is not a flippant "catch phrase," to be spoken and cliched.  This is integral praise, viz., fellowship in the Living Triune God.  It is a foundation stone in attitude adjustments, "Victory in Jesus," mutual love between the Covenant People and Our Covenant-Keeping Lord God.

Another "praise greeting" for the Church is the Biblical Declaration, "Jesus Christ is Lord."  When I was the pastor of a small congregation while in seminary, I used to answer the phone that way, "Jesus is Lord."  It is the exact same thing as saying, "Hallelujah!" or, "Praise the Lord!"  Saying, "Jesus is Lord," is just as much praise, worship, as any other "praise" words/attitude; it is declaring to the, "principalities and powers," that King Jesus reigns.  How about this?  Combine Psalms 146-150 and Philippians 2, and you get, "Praise the Lord...Jesus Christ," yes, and King of the Universe, "Immanuel..., The Author and Perfecter of Faith."  And so we say with the hymn writer, "Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus Our Blessed Redeemer!  Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim.  Hail Him!  Hail Him! Highest archangels in Glory.  Strength and Honor give to His Holy Name!"

Father, in Jesus' Name, You say, "This is My Beloved Son; hear Him."  In hearing Him, I hear You.  Thank You.  Amen.
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October Berlin/Wittenberge Mission:  October 28-November 15

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

For Those Who May Be In A Tough Time

"When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who watch over my way." (Psalm 142:3, NIV)

If you are looking for a great prayer today, pray Psalm 142.  The title in the NIV is, "A maskil of David.  When he was in the cave.  A prayer."  David spent a large portion of his life "in [a] cave." 

Of course, few talk about those days of David because they are depressing to those who don't want to face reality.  But if we would only break out of our religious trappings, we would see that what happened to most people in Bible History has happened and is happening to most today around the world.  I don't know; maybe people don't like me writing about such thing either.  But my life today is at peace in Jesus because He has never allowed me to look at life with "rose-colored glasses."  Such a world view sells books, gets you invited to speak in conferences, but it will not help anyone one iota.

Our text is most revealing of Jesus' walk with/in us.  When I can't do anything, Jesus does everything (You know my testimony).  Yet few super saints want to admit that they are ever in a place, "When my spirit grows faint within me...."  Good for them--- but not for me.  It's embarrassing to say that I had somewhat of the attitude of Job (in today's Wisdom Literature reading) when I was younger, "I thought, 'I will die in my own house, my days as numerous as the grains of sand.  My roots will reach to the water....My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand."  Then life unfolds.  What we once thought was "life" was not and is not.  We become, again, like Job, "How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me....Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house, when the Almighty was still with me...."

Well, my weary traveler, Jesus never, no never, leaves us.  Jesus is, "....still with me..," indeed, in me, over all the years, through any tears, "....months gone by...when I was in my prime...."  I too experienced some seasons of "backsliding" in those younger days, yes, even as a pastor.  "Regrets? I've had a few."  But here I am, in Christ Jesus and Jesus in me, sustaining, keeping, forever securing.  Our text today is the Bible--- "A prayer."  When you cannot pray, when you just cannot find the words, "The Word of  God," Himself will give you His Words to pray, and more, "When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You," Jesus, "Who watch over my way," whether we evaluate, "my way," as Job, some good, some ill, it has been Jesus Who has been the "Watchman," the, "....watch over..," of our souls.

Father, in Jesus' Name, what can I say today to and about "Such A Mighty God"?  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2