As You Have Been Comforted

Praise be to the God and Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2^nd Corinthians 1:3-4).

Grace, Peace, and Mercy to you! When I first began doing my devotional thoughts, blogging was in its infancy. In fact, when I began this ministry in 1995 I did it on an email listing. I began it with the focus on encouraging believers, but then also for those who are seriously seeking to live a repentant life and find significance in Christ.

I opened my current devotional blog in 2008. In the intervening years the blogging opportunities have widened, and the internet is now inundated with hundreds of spiritual websites and a searcher can be overwhelmed at the girth of available devotional media content. The amount of information can be mind-boggling and can, at times, lose us in its vastness. One needs to approach these things with a discerning spirit (1st John 4:1, Colossians 2:8)). The best commentary on Scripture is Scripture (Acts 17:11, 2nd Timothy 2:15).

I have been approached with suggestions I publish my thoughts dependent on a monetary exchange. I refuse to do so, as the gospel message is free, and I consider myself a not-for-profit prophet (as one who tells). Any word the LORD shares through His inspiration, He does so gratuitously, and so I wish to do. 

My driving passion is to exhort (encourage or urge), instruct in sound doctrine (Titus 1:9), and to stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). Understand love and good deeds do not save us. Only Christ's redemptive work can do that (John 14:6). Love and good deeds that comfort and encourage naturally flow from a relationship with Him. Paul wrote that his mission was to preach Christ, and Him crucified (1st Corinthians 1:23). That is revealed through the message of the good news of God’s redemption. That mission is my focused endeavor.

I prayerfully approach each week in study and meditation on what the Holy Spirit has helped me with in understanding and insights into a surer spiritual walk. I sincerely hope and pray all who read these words are encouraged to serve Christ in purity, devotion, love and good works. My fervent prayer is that God receive all the glory, praise and worship He is due. There is nothing in myself in which I can glory. I am an unprofitable servant as I am doing only what was commanded and nothing more (Luke 17:10).

The response is always interesting. As I write and post each Monday, my prayer is the Holy Spirit will bring those to my blog who can benefit from it or remember it at some future date when those thoughts can be an encouragement. One week I had 500 hits and in following weeks 1 or 2. But my prayer rests not in quantity, but the quality of the calling Christ has called me to, and to give help that only the Cross and risen Christ can bring to those who are searching.

Today, let me leave you with the comfort and encouragement of the truth of Scripture I have been comforted with. As always, I have nothing to hide, but encourage all to check these claims and see if what I share is true or it’s just blowing smoke. If smoke, wait for it to clear and move on with your life. Nothing to see, here. But be open-minded. Be sure. Your eternal destiny depends on it.

You are made in the image of the Living God and have a worth that is to die for. And that's why Jesus came the first time-not to judge-but to save us from sin (John 3:16-18, Luke 4:18-19). How greatly loved you are! But don’t take my word for it. Do the claims of Jesus hold water as the God-Man, who is foretold in the ancient writings of the Jewish prophets? He fulfilled over 300 of them, even to the place He would be born (Michah 5:2). Lose your mind figuring how He manipulated that one. There are plenty of historical witnesses who testify of Him, in both amiable and hostile content. John writes that the Word became flesh and lived among us. One who was testified of, seen and touched by them (John 1:14, 1^st John 1:1, 2^nd Peter 1:16-18).

Be encouraged. You can put your total trust in Him right now. He offers rest to weary souls. You’re here to hear it at His preference, not mine. Your being here is no accident. God doesn't work by coincidence. It was my prayer that the one who needed to hear this word would be led here at this moment. It’s time to drop the weapons. It’s time to quit the struggle, for unto us [you] a Child is born. And unto us [you] a Son is given upon whose shoulders will abide an eternal kingdom of righteous rule (Isaiah 9:6).

Rejoice! May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Be built up and encouraged in Christ Jesus! Be comforted, comforting one another with the comfort you have received, and again, I say rejoice in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior!

Ken