Comfort and Good Hope
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Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts
to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
13. But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. 16. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17. comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Words of encouragement this morning. And instructions/reminders about the reason we can always be encouraged. Also, we are to be encouragers for others in our lives. Life is so full and busy and complicated these days that we find ourselves forgetting these basic truths. We were chosen by God in eternity -- before time began -- to be saved. To be so valued as to have been thought of before the first star was placed in the sky! Before Adam and Eve! We were in the mind of God -- Alpha -- just as we will return to him at the end of all things -- Omega.
I’m having a period in my life where I am breaking free of strongholds and spiritually toxic relationships. That leaves me pretty much at “square one” in some areas of my life. I have found myself thinking, “OK, now what?!” While I hope these scripture verses offer you comfort and encouragement today, they have allowed God to reveal part of that “Now what” to me this morning, and I am greatly encouraged by that revelation! Isn’t God amazing? When we seek to serve others we find that we ourselves are the recipient of a far greater service! When we reach out to others in love, we receive God’s grace!
I know, you’re probably thinking, “Mary, that’s what you’ve been telling others all along!” So often the teacher speaks from what is known, not necessary what is practiced. Except for Jesus. He was the living, breathing, perfect example for us all. He gave everything--even his life--to God. While we may think that it’s too difficult to give up our own gods--the strongholds in our lives--compare what Jesus endured. That puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?
My prayer today is that you go to God, humbly and sincerely asking him to reveal the strongholds in your life. And that you offer them up to God, just as Christ offered up his life.
Mary
