THE GOD OF PATIENCE AND COMFORT

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, (Romans 15:5 NKJV)

 We all need patience and comfort, especially in times of stress and difficulty. Patience under long-drawn-out trials; Comfort, when the heart is at the breaking-point; and God is the source of each! The God of patience! "I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry." The God of comfort! "As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you." Let’s hush all other voices of consolation that we may listen to the still small voice of the Comforter, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

But notice that He speaks through the patience and comfort of Holy Scripture. "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope." What the Bible has been to the martyrs, to the sufferers on the rack, and to the harried Covenanters of the Scottish moors; to the myriads of unknown souls, who have been persecuted, to lonely exiles and bereaved hearts, can never be told.

If we were condemned to banishment, and could take only one book of the Bible with us to Patmos, or to prison, we should find it extremely difficult which to choose. Some would select the Psalms, some the fourth Gospel, some would probably decide on that wonderful anonymous writing, the Epistle to the Hebrews. And in each they would have matter enough to explore for a lifetime. Always His Spirit will be teaching and enabling us. Always His Shepherd rod and staff will lead us to living fountains of water. He is always realizing more deeply in us the divine ideal, and increasing our capacity for God.

Isn’t this comforting! The minister, to whom you owe your conversion, or who has helped your Christian growth, may die or be removed; the friend on whom you depended for help and guidance may have to leave you, but our Savior will continue His care of us, His nurture of our growth. His unfailing intercession, when the sun has ceased to shine and the universe is wrapped up as a worn-out garment. His ministry is unchangeable. The God of patience and comfort will never fail us!

PRAYER

Comforter of the comfortless, bind my soul with Your intercession! Wherever there are broken hearts, bind them: captives, release them. Bless especially my loved ones. Visit us with Your salvation, and suit your gifts to our several needs. This I pray in Jesus' name, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #326:
My children will overcome the world through their faith.  

1 John 5:4 (WEB)
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.