Seasons of Sorrow: Giving And Receiving Comfort Graciously
When it comes to giving and receiving comfort, the matter can be perfectly summed up in just two words: “It’s complicated.” Grief is an intensely personal struggle. No two circumstances are the same. No two people are the same. This means that what is helpful and comforting to us as we work through the emotions and resist the temptations that come with grief may not be the same for others. This has led to the false notion that no one can understand your grief and you cannot understand anyone else’s, and that leads to further isolation and loneliness rather than comfort.
Complicating the issue further is the fact that, because we are sinners, our attempts to comfort each other are often spoiled by sinful attitudes and desires of both the giver and receiver.
There is Someone who understands your grief perfectly and offers you perfect comfort. God is “the God of all comfort,” and the grace of God is sufficient to overcome the hindrances to giving and receiving comfort. Furthermore, God has commanded those who have received His comfort to comfort others with the comfort that He gave them. By God’s grace, we can learn the skills of giving comfort properly and avoid the mistakes that are commonly made when trying to comfort others. By God’s grace, we can be patient with others when they try to be a comfort but do a poor job of it. Through God, we find common ground in our grief, and we can give and receive comfort graciously.
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- Dec 15, 2024Seasons of Sorrow: Giving And Receiving Comfort Graciously
Seasons of Sorrow: Giving And Receiving Comfort GraciouslyWhen it comes to giving and receiving comfort, the matter can be perfectly summed up in just two words: “It’s complicated.” Grief is an intensely personal struggle. No two circumstances are the same. No two people are the same. This means that what is helpful and comforting to us as we work through the emotions and resist the temptations that come with grief may not be the same for others. This has led to the false notion that no one can understand your grief and you cannot understand anyone else’s, and that leads to further isolation and loneliness rather than comfort.Complicating the issue further is the fact that, because we are sinners, our attempts to comfort each other are often spoiled by sinful attitudes and desires of both the giver and receiver.There is Someone who understands your grief perfectly and offers you perfect comfort. God is “the God of all comfort,” and the grace of God is sufficient to overcome the hindrances to giving and receiving comfort. Furthermore, God has commanded those who have received His comfort to comfort others with the comfort that He gave them. By God’s grace, we can learn the skills of giving comfort properly and avoid the mistakes that are commonly made when trying to comfort others. By God’s grace, we can be patient with others when they try to be a comfort but do a poor job of it. Through God, we find common ground in our grief, and we can give and receive comfort graciously.
- Dec 8, 2024The First to Hear (Luke 2:8-20)
The First to Hear (Luke 2:8-20)
- Dec 1, 2024A Carpenter of Character (Matthew 1:18)
A Carpenter of Character (Matthew 1:18)
- Nov 24, 2024A Saint in all Seasons Part 4 Young Men (Titus 2:6)
A Saint in all Seasons Part 4 Young Men (Titus 2:6)
- Nov 10, 2024How Jesus Handled Suffering (Psalm 22)
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- Oct 20, 2024Christ-centered Care (Acts 9:32-35)
Christ-centered Care (Acts 9:32-35)Jesus performed numerous miracles when He was on the earth, many of which involved healing the sick. Those miracles proved that Jesus was God the Son and the Savior of the world. They were the stimulus for many conversations that led people to have saving faith in the Gospel.
The apostles of Jesus followed His example with the Holy Spirit working through them to heal many who were sick. The way that the followers of Christ cared for physical needs as they preached the gospel is instructive for us today.
One story is found in Acts 9:32-35. In it, Peter went to a town called Lydda, and there he met a man who was lame. When Peter saw him, he first had compassion for the cripple. He did not overlook this man’s need.
The way Peter met his need was with Christ-centered care. Peter knew that the solution to the man’s problems could only be found in Christ, so he announced, “Jesus Christ maketh thee whole.”
The result of God’s work in the man’s life was the conversion of two cities to Christianity. When people saw a walking example of the power of God, they turned to Christ in faith and were saved.
As we seek to reach the world with the gospel, we must show genuine compassion for the lost by noticing their needs and working to meet them. Our care for them must be Christ-centered so that they may be drawn to the Savior. As we do, God will bless, and others will also see that we, like our Savior, love them “in deed and in truth.” - Oct 13, 2024A Healthy Church Part 2 (Acts 9:31)
A Healthy Church Part 2 (Acts 9:31)Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.When we are first introduced to Saul in the New Testament, he is the ringleader of the persecution of the church. But one day, he met Jesus, and that changed everything. He stopped persecuting Christians and started preaching the gospel.After Saul’s conversion, the believers enjoyed a season of less persecution. But while they were resting, they were still very active. Acts 9:31 says, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”This verse describes four characteristics of a spiritually healthy church: Edification, Sanctification, Consolation, and Multiplication. We can also say that these traits will be found in the life of a spiritually healthy Christian since the character of the church is a reflection of the character of its members. The church will only be as healthy as the members who make up the church. Therefore, we must each be growing spiritually and walking with God.
- Oct 6, 2024A Burden For Missions
A Burden For MissionsMissions Conference 2024
- Sep 22, 2024Light Living
Light Living
Salt And Light Living
Matthew 5-7 records for us the greatest sermon ever preached, the sermon of our Savior. We call it the sermon on the mount and Jesus is speaking to his followers on the characteristics of the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. He starts by describing the character they ought to have in what we call the Beatitudes. When we have these attitudes, we become a living testimony of God’s work in our lives.
Jesus illustrates this in his sermon by using two common objects: salt and light. These symbols of salt and light refer to the enriching and preserving influence that we as believers are to have on the world around us by showing and sharing Jesus Christ. Salt speaks of our character as believers, that inward work of God in us. Light speaks of our conduct, that outward work as God works through us, that others may see our good works and glorify our Father, Who is in heaven.
Salt and light give us illumination and instruction in our daily lives as Kingdom citizens in a sinful world. God has left us here for a purpose. His desire for each of us as his children is for us to be a positive spiritual influence on the world around us for the glory of God.
- Sep 1, 2024Burden For Believers
Burden For Believers
- Aug 25, 2024Listen Up (Malachi 3)
Listen Up (Malachi 3)
- Aug 11, 2024Why Loosing Everything Is The Best Thing (Philippians 3:7)
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- Jul 28, 2024Bloody Hands Or Blood Cleansed Heart
Bloody Hands Or Blood Cleansed Heart
- Jul 14, 2024Stir Up The Gift (II Timothy 1:6)
Stir Up The Gift (II Timothy 1:6)
- Jun 23, 2024The Teaching Ministry in the Church (Romans 15:6-7)
The Teaching Ministry in the Church (Romans 15:6-7)
