Thought for Today
Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (KJV)
Psalm 91:1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."
Acts 9:31 Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.
Where do you find comfort? In the storms of life, when things go bump in the night, where do you look to be comforted? The author of today’s devotional in These Days found comfort in the words of the psalmist, in Psalm 91. That author also mentioned the song He Has the Whole World in His Hands. The musical and movie The Sound of Music suggested finding comfort in remembering one’s favorite things in the song My Favorite Things. How about you?
When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when you are feeling sad, to what do you turn? Hopefully, most of us do not spend the majority of our lives seeking comfort. But, whether regularly or occasionally, we all have those ‘dog bite’ times when we need comfort. Television (very) frequently offers advertisements for products that will allegedly cure our every need. Fashions that will enhance our looks and make us instantly famous and popular. Drugs which will guarantee our health and prolong our lives. Self-help programs that will cure of us of whatever ails us. Products that will ‘correct’ our mood when we are sad, but, interestingly, rarely are we offered anything for dog bites or bee stings.
Will we find comfort and reassurance in things? In programs and self-help promotions? Will reviewing a list of favorite things make the world brighter and better? Maybe we should all sing together He Has the Whole World in His Hands.
We are in an election year. If I just vote for the right candidate, if the right party assumes the mantle of government, will everything just be all right? That does seem to be the promise of all of the political campaigns and advertisements. Reduced to their basic elements, they all seem to promise “Me good! Other BAD!” I capitalized bad because all of those campaigns and advertisements seem skewed to the negative and focused on ad hominem attacks on the person of the other side.
I am an unabashed Christian. I look toward my Creator God for comfort and reassurance. I find both in the Bible. I have never read anything in scripture or anywhere else as comforting as Psalm 23:4 in the King James Version of the Bible, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Interestingly, although the King James version is a very accurate translation of the most authoritative manuscripts, many modern translations have rephrased that verse, none capturing the width, breadth, and depth of the King James.
It is interesting to note that verse above from Acts. Christianity thrived and grew “Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.” I understand that “fear of the Lord” to be the absolute awe of contemplating the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Creator of all Creation.
Jesus told his disciples, “John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” I used to often see a bumper sticker reading “Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace.” I find “eternal comfort and good hope” resting in the peace of Jesus, strengthened by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Stay safe, rest in the peace of Jesus, trust God,
Pastor Ray