In Isaiah 46:9-10, God declared, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’”
Do you believe in a God like that? I hope so.
One year ago today, some of you lost your homes in the Almeda fire. Twenty years ago this week, nearly 3,000 died in the terrorist attacks. We will never understand the full picture and meaning of all God has allowed, but we can definitely understand that there are some things we can take away from our experiences, and apply them to our daily life. As James one affirms we will go through trials and they will evaluate our faith and mature us, so Second Corinthians 1:3-7 states that we will be able to comfort others better as we experience the comfort of God; “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.”
Recently we have witnessed the pain brought about from Covid, and other fires, and hurricanes, and even political decisions. But the question for us is this; What kind of people are we to be? Second Peter three reminds us of the patience of God as He waits for more people to be saved, but the end is coming. “The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming… make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.”
I challenge you this week to make every effort to speak, act, and think as one who is more concerned with the welfare of others than yourself (Phil. 2:3-4), meaning you do not fear death, but instead you spend your days sharing and demonstrating the love, compassion, and comfort of God toward others. May our sovereign God observe us living godly lives.
Pastor Mike
“between Sundays”
“between Sundays”