“ . . . comfort one another with these words”
(1Thessalonians 4:18)
We will never fully fathom God. To an infinite degree, He possesses every conceivable attribute of perfection and greatness. He alone is worthy of the sincerest praises of men and angels. His power is without limit. His authority is without equal. He is from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2), the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the One which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8). The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the Creator of the world and the sovereign judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 58:11; 98:9); “in righteousness he doth judge and make war” (Revelation 19:11). “It is a fearful thing,” declared the writer to the Hebrews, “to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). It is proper that we think of God in these terms. He is, in the truest sense of the word, awesome, and having a reverent fear of Him is the first and necessary pre-condition to right thinking (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). Even so, we ought not to forget that the Sovereign Ruler over the created order is a personal agent Who genuinely cares about us (1 Peter 5:7). Our great God disclosed Himself to His creatures maximally, perfectly, in the Person of His beloved Son (John 14:9; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 3:16). In Him we see a God Who not only exercises unrivaled authority, but kindness, mercy, and self-sacrificial love towards us, His fallen image-bearers. As if securing our eternal redemption were not enough, the Lord desires to give us emotional and mental health even in this life. He cares for us deeply (1 Peter 5:7). He does not want us anxious and over concerned, crippled with fear, doubt, and regret. “Peace I leave with you,” said Jesus, “my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). There is definitely a supernatural element to this. Paul refers to this as a peace “which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Remarkably, God has chosen to work in us to provide comfort to others in the household faith. Paul himself was a recipient of this precious ministry. “I am filled with comfort,” wrote Paul to the Corinthians, “I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side . . . Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more” (2 Corinthians 7:4-7). Rest assured, dear saints, the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3) will comfort us in our challenges and trials, even as we are called to be a comfort to others. Praise the Lord for His tender care and provision!
God bless you,
Pastor John
English