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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Friday,
February 3, 2023
"The
God Of All
Comfort"
Message
summary: Today,
may those of
you impacted
by situations
that “make no
sense” find
great peace in
these words
from the
apostle Paul:
“Praise be
to the God and
Father of our
Lord Jesus
Christ, the
Father of
compassion and
the God of all
comfort, who
comforts us in
all our
troubles, so
that we can
comfort those
in any trouble
with the
comfort we
ourselves have
received from
God” (2
Corinthians
1:3,4). He is
indeed "the
God of all
comfort".
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“Godly
men buried
Stephen and
mourned deeply
for him” (Acts
8:2). “And we
know that in
all things God
works for the
good of those
who love Him,
who have been
called
according to
His purpose”
(Romans 8:28).
“Praise be to
the God and
Father of our
Lord Jesus
Christ, the
Father of
compassion and
the God of all
comfort, who
comforts us in
all our
troubles, so
that we can
comfort those
in any trouble
with the
comfort we
ourselves have
received from
God” (2
Corinthians
1:3,4).
We
have mentioned
several times
about my
cousin*, who
passed away
last week
during
surgery, a
complete shock
to her family.
Her service
was this
Monday and we
watched it
online. It was
very moving
with her two
brothers
sharing of
their love for
their younger
sister.
But
one very
candid
statement
stood out; one
brother shared
how he was
angry. I don't
believe it was
evidence of
any loss of
faith but
rather raw,
candid emotion
as the
grieving
process
proceeds. Each
of us can
probably
recall a time
when we've
been angry
about hurtful
or sorrowful
circumstances
that pains us
so deeply
anger soared
within our
emotions.
Years
ago Dr. James
Dobson wrote a
book titled,
“When God
Doesn’t Make
Sense”. That’s
sort of a
titillating
title, but for
many of us it
does express
well our own
thoughts in
regard to the
mysteries of
God’s
providence, especially
when it
personally
affects us.Some circumstances hit home that affect our immediate or extended family. Other situations may involve close friends. Virtually all of our readers can scroll back through their memory and recall such a time. My first exposure occurred when I was as a child and one of my cousins was in an automobile accident and his wife, a young mother to several children, died. I so poignantly recall my grandfather loudly wailing when he received the news.
But
there have
been many “It
Just Doesn’t
Make Sense”
experiences
since then and
of course in
regard to our
pastoral and
chaplaincy
ministry we have
frequently
sought to
console those
going through
various
traumatic
situations
when it just
doesn’t make
sense (not
even to us).
People,
at any given
time, are
experiencing
heartache of
some type that
just doesn’t
make sense.
Due to the
size of our
planet most
never make the
news or at
most only the
local news.
For many, events like this either becomes a crisis of faith (for believers) or an excuse not to believe (for unbelievers).
Consider
John the
Baptist. He
was specially
called to
serve God from
his very
conception. He
had prepared
the way for
Christ to
appear in
human flesh
and even
baptized Him.
He had taken a
bold stand for
truth and
righteousness
before an
ungodly king
and was
beheaded as a
result.
Consider his
disciples.
They had the
grisly chore
of taking his
body and
burying
it. What
were they
thinking?
What a great
test of faith
they endured.
Surely, like
us, they
wondered, “Why
did God allow
this to
happen?”
For many, events like this either becomes a crisis of faith (for believers) or an excuse not to believe (for unbelievers).
Consider
John the
Baptist. He
was specially
called to
serve God from
his very
conception. He
had prepared
the way for
Christ to
appear in
human flesh
and even
baptized Him.
He had taken a
bold stand for
truth and
righteousness
before an
ungodly king
and was
beheaded as a
result.
Consider his
disciples.
They had the
grisly chore
of taking his
body and
burying
it. What
were they
thinking?
What a great
test of faith
they endured.
Surely, like
us, they
wondered, “Why
did God allow
this to
happen?”
Or
consider
Stephen who
stood boldly
for Christ and
was stoned,
the first
named
Christian
martyr.
Afterwards, “Godly
men buried
Stephen and
mourned deeply
for him”
(Acts 8:2).
Have you ever
really
pondered this
verse? "Godly
men",
what a
descriptive
designation.
Unnamed and
unknown men
have been at
the core of
the church
from the
beginning (as
well as
unnamed and
unknown
women!)Surely
their emotions
were no less
intense than
they are for
us in our
personal
losses. To
“mourn deeply”
has the sense
of great
lamentation.
The literal
Greek meaning
is “to beat
the breast in
grief”. Did
they
“understand”
any better
than we do? Surely
they did not.
Above all, consider the Lord Jesus Christ, who endured such opposition from sinful men and was murdered on our behalf.
Some of you have experienced great loss in your life and your faith is tested, sometimes greatly. Jesus forthrightly told us, “In the world you will have tribulation” so why are we surprised when we do experience tribulation! But at times of tribulation like this, faith is also demonstrated in such a powerful way.
Today, may those of you impacted by situations that “make no sense” find great peace in these words from the apostle Paul: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3,4). He is indeed "the God of all comfort".
Finally
let us again
recall the
great
statement of
assurance many
of us have
memorized from
Romans 8:28: "And
we know that
in all things
God works for
the good of
those who love
Him, who have
been called
according to
His purpose."
Above all, consider the Lord Jesus Christ, who endured such opposition from sinful men and was murdered on our behalf.
Some of you have experienced great loss in your life and your faith is tested, sometimes greatly. Jesus forthrightly told us, “In the world you will have tribulation” so why are we surprised when we do experience tribulation! But at times of tribulation like this, faith is also demonstrated in such a powerful way.
Today, may those of you impacted by situations that “make no sense” find great peace in these words from the apostle Paul: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3,4). He is indeed "the God of all comfort".
Finally
let us again
recall the
great
statement of
assurance many
of us have
memorized from
Romans 8:28: "And
we know that
in all things
God works for
the good of
those who love
Him, who have
been called
according to
His purpose."In
some cases
we’ll just
have to wait
for the other
side to make
sense of what
we are unable
to make sense
of on this
side of
heaven.
Through it
all, let us
stay faithful
and have a
rich assurance
of God’s
steadfast
love!
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father of All
Comfort, I
look to You
for
consolation
and peace most
especially
during times
of deep sorrow
and inner
turmoil.
Incredibly
Your
supernatural
peace does not
depend on the
physical
circumstances
seen by my
eyes or heard
by my ears.
You raise me
up out of the
gloom of
despair as I
place my hope
not in the
visible
circumstances,
but rather in
You who renews
my strength.
You enable me
to soar on
wings like
eagles far
above the
troubling
circumstances
that weigh me
down. Keep my
eyes, my ears
and my heart
lifted up to
the heavens
where Your
divine
presence
combats the
assaulting
storms of
life. I lift
up all my
brothers and
sisters who
are storm
weary, asking
You to renew
their strength
as You help
them to endure
the trials of
life this day.
Your comfort
is
inexhaustible
and Your
compassion
overflows.
Thank You,
God, Father of
all Comfort.
Amen.*
Actually a
second cousin,
the daughter
of my much
older cousin.
When I grew up
she related
more like a
first cousin
to me and of
course as you
get older the
difference in
age means less
and less. She
was at our
family reunion
this last
summer here in
Lancaster
County and
stopped by our
house for the
first time.
She will be
remembered for
her smile and
incredibly
pleasant
outlook. She
brightened any
room she was
in.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"There
is Hope"
Video
CityAlight
For several
years I have
appreciated
the thoughtful
music from
this
Australian
group and came
across this
new song that
fits well with
today's
message.
"When
Trials Come"
Video
Together For
The Gospel
Live
"God
Still Has a
Plan"
Video
The Isaacs
"I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" Video The Petersens (a family group from Branson, MO)
"I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" Video The Petersens (a family group from Branson, MO)
"Tears
Are A
Language"
Video
The Booth
Brothers
This is one of
the first song
Brooksyne sang
as a
"special".
An
interesting
response to yesterday's
message
which we
illustrated by
alluding to
the retiring
Tom Brady as
the GOAT
(Greatest Of
All Time).
Josh, a local
friend shared
that he spoke
last week at a
teen retreat
in which they
studied about
John the
Baptist, whom
Jesus referred
to in Luke
7:28 as
the GOAT. He
said the least
in the Kingdom
is greater
than John the
Baptist. We
then studied
John’s life
story
especially in
John 1 and
John 3:22-30
where his
humility and
commitment to
Jesus were so
powerfully
illustrated.
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Brooksyne
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Wordpress
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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