Comfort And Fear

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: 2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance

Memory verse: John 10:27-28...27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Today's reading: JOB 11-13 ACTS 9:1-21

Comfort and Fear

There is a statement in Acts 9 that reads: "31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

The new church-the first new testament church-the church that was persecuted 'enjoyed peace'. This was the same church that would eventually see all of the original apostles die because of their faith. They enjoyed peace?

How so?

They enjoyed peaceful hearts. The world might have raged around them and chased them down but they enjoyed peace.

They continued in 'the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit'.

What is the difference in new testament believers and in old testament members of the Jewish faith? There were very few who had peace in the old Jewish faith. How can we say that?

They were to live by the law which no one could follow completely.

Romans 3:20 ►Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Following a list of rules or laws to find peace is a dead-end. Peace is a state of heart-not a state of accomplishment.

Individual peace can not be accomplished by actions or good deeds. Any feeling from these can never be more than temporary.

The new testament church was on fire with movement of The Holy Spirit and God's love. They still 'feared God' in that they were consciously aware of God's awesome power but now that awesome power moved them to do awesome things. One of the most awesome things was the fact that as they were under fire from all directions, they were at peace within.

Have we missed something? Has the power of God diminished in the last 2000 years? Well then, why is peace so shallow for so many believers?

Are we living in the fear of God? Are we aware of His infinite power inside us all the time? Is the Holy Spirit actually comforting us because we love paying attention to Him-because we love focusing on Him?

How foreign does all this sound to us? Could this be the reason peace is foreign...?

Peace is possible. Peace is promised. He is our God of peace.

Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Give me the desire to focus on You and Your infinite power and love the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Forgive my weak resolve.

Eternally forgiving God,

In the name of Jesus Christ my Lord,

Amen