Culprit or Comfort?
When we experience adversity and trials, we may blame
ourselves and feel we have done something wrong to deserve punishment. While
honest self-examination is healthy, we should not become preoccupied with our
faults and failures.
It's even worse if someone else tries to load guilt on us
when we are going through a tough time. That was the mistake of Job's friend
Eliphaz, a man with a high view of God and a great respect for His moral
standards. He correctly observed that when we do what's right we are doing only
what God requires. Therefore, we shouldn't expect special praise or reward (Job
22:3). But Eliphaz mistakenly insisted that Job's trouble was the result of his
own wickedness (v.5). He was also wrong in promising Job that God would bless
him and give him immediate relief if he would repent.
Most of our troubles are the result of living in an imperfect
world. God uses these adversities, however, to prepare us to help others. Paul
said that God comforted him in his trials so that he could comfort others (2
Cor. 1:3-4).
When trouble invades our lives or the lives of others, let's
not immediately conclude that the culprit is sin. Instead, let's seek God's
comfort so we can comfort others.
Oh, comfort us, Lord, when life's trials assail--How often we
stumble, how often we fail;
But You would renew us, and help us to grow That others Your
goodness and comfort may know.
God can transform trials into triumphs.
“To Serve’ and ‘to
give’ should define your life.
“For Christians, service is not something to be tacked onto
our schedules if we can spare the time. It is the heart of the Christian life.
Jesus came ‘to serve’ and ‘to give’—and those verbs should define your life on
earth, too”
Confess
Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who
love it will eat its fruit.
Quotes on Obedience
True spiritual life depends not on probing our feelings and
thoughts from dawn to dusk but on “looking off” to the Savior! Watchman Nee
Follow Him as well for the bitter cup of His passion as for
the loaves. Jeremy Taylor
The history of all the great characters of the Bible is
summed up in this one sentence: They acquainted themselves with God, and
acquiesced His will in all things.
Richard Cecil
We do not understand and then obey: that is instruction. We
obey by faith, and then we understand: that is illumination. Warren Wiersbe
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