September
11, 2003
BRINGING
COMFORT
"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" (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4, NKJV).
"The
Lord has special grace for the mourner, and its power is to
melt hearts, to win souls. His love opens a channel into the
wounded and bruised soul, and becomes a healing balsam to
those who sorrow. Those who have borne the greatest sorrows
are frequently the ones who carry the greatest comfort to
others, bringing sunshine wherever they go. Such ones have
been chastened and sweetened by their afflictions; they did
not lose confidence in God when trouble assailed them, but
clung closer to His protecting love. Such ones are living
proof of the tender care of God, who makes the darkness as
well as the light and chastens us for our good. Christ is
the light of the world; in Him is no darkness. Precious light!
Let us live in that light! Bid adieu to sadness and repining.
Rejoice in the Lord always.
"It
is your privilege to receive grace from Christ that will enable
you to comfort others with the same comfort wherewith you
yourselves are comforted of God... Let each try to help the
next one. Thus you may have a little heaven here below, and
angels of God will work through you to make right impressions...
Seek to help wherever you can. Cultivate the best dispositions
that the grace of God may rest richly upon you.
"Young
and old may learn to look to God as the One who will heal,
as One who sympathizes, who understands their necessities
and who will never make a mistake.
"Find
time to comfort some other heart, to bless with a kind, cheering
word someone who is battling with temptation and maybe with
affliction. In thus blessing another with cheering, hopeful
words, pointing him to the Burden Bearer, you may unexpectedly
find peace, happiness, and consolation yourself.
"A
consecrated Christian life is ever shedding light and comfort
and peace. It is characterized by purity, tact, simplicity,
and usefulness. It is controlled by that unselfish love that
sanctifies the influence. It is full of Christ, and leaves
a track of light wherever its possessor may go."--God's
Amazing Grace, p. 122.
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