2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Encouraging Words

We often wonder why God allows us to go through different trials and tribulations. There are as many answers to this question as there are people asking it. One important thing that Paul points out to the Corinthians, and us, is that what we do with our trials and tribulations is also extremely important. One of the most important things that we can do is to use our experience to provide comfort and guidance to another who is going through a similar trial or tribulation. We have been through it. We have survived. We can offer compassion to the other that is a sincere and experiential compassion. We can be God’s hands, feet, and arms to offer comfort, support, and guidance to another. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Isaiah 26:7

The way of the godly is straight; and the way of the godly is prepared.

Personal Challenge

We are told here by Isaiah and later reminded by Jesus in the parable of the ten bridesmaids, that one of the characteristics of a godly person is to be prepared. We know that our Lord will be returning to take us home with Him. In that knowledge, we should be doing whatever we can to be ready and worthy for Him. This requires us to be living lives that are focused on Him and the fact that He could arrive at any moment. Glory be to God.

Isaiah 12:2

Behold, God is my Savior and Lord. I will trust in Him and be saved by Him. I will not be afraid, for the Lord is my glory and my praise. He has become my salvation.

Encouraging Words

Our Lord is not just some man that was great in his time, died, and left followers behind that are keeping his teachings alive. Our Lord was fully a human being like every one of us, but He was also fully God. He is the only human to have lived His entire life sinless and pure. He is also the only Lord who freely gave up His life for mankind, was put to death in a horrible way, and then resurrected from that death, with scores of witnesses of Him in His resurrected body. He is the only Lord that lives this day, 2,000 years later. He is our Savior and Lord. We can put our trust in Him and not be afraid, for He is our salvation.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

Personal Challenge

Our fallen, human nature leads us to be self-focused and self-serving. Our Lord calls us to be like Him, loving. In order to do this, we must watch ourselves and all that is going on around us, lest we fall to the worldly temptations. We must stand fast in the faith that He has planted within us and be brave and strong as we stand contrary to the ways of the world. And by doing this we do all that we do with love for our God and others. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Isaiah 26:2-4

Open the gates; let the people enter who keep righteousness and guard the truth, and who lay hold of the truth and keep peace, because they hope forever in You, O Lord, the great and eternal God,

Encouraging Words

The gates of heaven, eternal life, are opened through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has both opened the gate and become the gate by which we can become joint heirs in the kingdom of God, something that no man on woman or principality can ever take from us. Glory be to God!

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Personal Challenge

The life of a follower of Christ is not a passive life. We are expected to labor aboundingly in the work of the Lord. We do this knowing that none of our work, no matter how big or how small, is ever done in vain. With our Lords’ help, we can remain steadfast and immovable in our love for Him. Glory be to God.

1 Corinthians 14:33a

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace,

Encouraging Words

God is the author of peace. He is not the creator or author of confusion or disarray. We can look at the order of how His creation works and functions. We can apply this to every aspect of our lives, whether it be that which is going on in our heads and hearts or that which is going on around us in the world. If we find that we are encountering confusion or disarray we can turn to Him and seek His peace to sort things out and to give us His peace. Glory be to God!

Isaiah 9:6

Great shall be His government, and of His peace there is no end. His peace shall be upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order and establish it with righteousness and judgment, from that time forward and unto ages of ages. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this.

Encouraging Words

One of the problems with taking the scripture in with only a literal translation is that you miss out on so many of the other teachings and meanings that our God wants us to receive from His living word. This verse is a great example of that. So many people see this as some future kingdom that Jesus will set up some day in the distant future. This is part of the promise of this prophecy, but Jesus Himself said that His Kingdom had arrived when He arrived. He also told us that He gives us His peace. So rereading this verse with that perspective in mind it is easy to see that His government is already great. His Church has been strong and growing for 2,000 years. There is no end to the peace that He bestows on His followers if we choose to accept it and let it permeate our lives. There is an order established in our world based on righteousness and godly judgment by the Church, the Bride, that He established. His Kingdom was established 2,000 years ago and we are members of it. Glory be to God!