The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Corinthians 7:5-7,
"When we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him... my joy was greater than ever."
As Paul carried his ministry forward, taking the gospel to new regions and later revisiting those places, he encountered much opposition at times. The spiritual forces of darkness always resist the penetrating light of the gospel and those who carry it to others.
Here Paul talks about being comforted in the midst of fatigue, harassment, conflict and fears. Titus came with a good report about the believers in Corinth which brought comfort and joy to Paul in the midst of difficulty. Paul ascribes the comfort as coming from God himself.
At the beginning of this letter Paul describes God as the "Father of compassion and the God of all comfort". Here we see Paul recognizing the events around him as having, at least in part, their origin in God for the specific purpose of encouragement and comfort.
I suspect many of us can recall times of difficulty when we sensed a gentle nudge or tap on the shoulder from God through someone or something that touched us in a way reminding us of his care, his compassion, his love for us personally – something to let us know he is here with us, we are not alone and that he loves us with a boundless love. Like Paul, at times our "joy was greater than ever."
How can I not worship a loving heavenly Father such as this?!
As Paul carried his ministry forward, taking the gospel to new regions and later revisiting those places, he encountered much opposition at times. The spiritual forces of darkness always resist the penetrating light of the gospel and those who carry it to others.
Here Paul talks about being comforted in the midst of fatigue, harassment, conflict and fears. Titus came with a good report about the believers in Corinth which brought comfort and joy to Paul in the midst of difficulty. Paul ascribes the comfort as coming from God himself.
At the beginning of this letter Paul describes God as the "Father of compassion and the God of all comfort". Here we see Paul recognizing the events around him as having, at least in part, their origin in God for the specific purpose of encouragement and comfort.
I suspect many of us can recall times of difficulty when we sensed a gentle nudge or tap on the shoulder from God through someone or something that touched us in a way reminding us of his care, his compassion, his love for us personally – something to let us know he is here with us, we are not alone and that he loves us with a boundless love. Like Paul, at times our "joy was greater than ever."
How can I not worship a loving heavenly Father such as this?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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