Together # 32
A Together for Healing
A Together for Healing
Comfort One Another
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
Patiently and adequately comfort one another with reassurance of God’s gracious love, His continual presence, and His sustaining promises. In this way soothe life’s deep hurts.
Ps 23:4; Ps 119:50; Ps 119:76; Is 49:13; 2 Cor 1:3-5; Phil 2:1; 1 Thess 2:12
God expects us to comfort one another. It usually falls between two other Togethers: that of hurting with one another that best precedes comforting and counseling one another which is usually most helpful after comforting.
The source of the comfort we pass on to others is the comfort God has given us.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
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2 Cor 1:3-5
How has God comforted us? Well, He speaks to us of His love, is constantly with us, and gives us many promises of grace. Can anything be more comforting than what God has said to us in the pages of the Bible, especially His promise to bring us to Himself since we cannot approach Him on our own?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
In the very worst situations we face and in all those less serious, we are assured that the worst outcome will not befall us. We will not perish. We will not be separated from God’s love. We will not be annihilated. Instead, we will have life everlasting.
So, when others go through difficult and heart-breaking times, we can reassure them of God’s unchanging love, presence and promises. After convincing someone who is suffering of God’s love and presence and promises, then there may be other comforts we have received that specifically apply.
Fortunately, none of us has had to suffer all of the possible bad things that can happen. So, it is not likely that we have gone through the same trials as someone we know who needs to be comforted. That is why we must see this instruction of Scripture as not to individuals alone, but to Christian Inner Circles in particular.
For example, if someone loses a job and wonders if life will ever be hopeful again, there is likely someone in that suffering person’s Christian Inner Circle who has lost a job and been carried through the trauma by God and His servants. And, if not, then a search can be made through all the Christian Inner Circles of those believers in the hurting person’s unique Inner Circle.
During trials, the aim of our comforting is to sustain hope in God’s sovereignty and care. This is done by sharing Scriptures and the truths they contain. The best nonbelievers can do to comfort is to hopefully say, “Everything is going to be okay.” Our reassurance among sincere believers is more extensive and certain than that. Our reassurance is definite. God will see us through. No matter how bad it gets, heaven awaits, and there are no problems there.
We all need to be well-versed in what God has promised in the Bible, His love letter to us. We need to be able, not alone, but as a group, to reassure a suffering person with eternal truth and apply it to their situation.
Assurance of God’s love waivers when things go wrong for us. Therefore, comforting one another of God’s love is paramount.
So, when others go through difficult and heart-breaking times, we can reassure them of God’s unchanging love, presence and promises. After convincing someone who is suffering of God’s love and presence and promises, then there may be other comforts we have received that specifically apply.
Fortunately, none of us has had to suffer all of the possible bad things that can happen. So, it is not likely that we have gone through the same trials as someone we know who needs to be comforted. That is why we must see this instruction of Scripture as not to individuals alone, but to Christian Inner Circles in particular.
For example, if someone loses a job and wonders if life will ever be hopeful again, there is likely someone in that suffering person’s Christian Inner Circle who has lost a job and been carried through the trauma by God and His servants. And, if not, then a search can be made through all the Christian Inner Circles of those believers in the hurting person’s unique Inner Circle.
During trials, the aim of our comforting is to sustain hope in God’s sovereignty and care. This is done by sharing Scriptures and the truths they contain. The best nonbelievers can do to comfort is to hopefully say, “Everything is going to be okay.” Our reassurance among sincere believers is more extensive and certain than that. Our reassurance is definite. God will see us through. No matter how bad it gets, heaven awaits, and there are no problems there.
We all need to be well-versed in what God has promised in the Bible, His love letter to us. We need to be able, not alone, but as a group, to reassure a suffering person with eternal truth and apply it to their situation.
Assurance of God’s love waivers when things go wrong for us. Therefore, comforting one another of God’s love is paramount.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from his love, . . .
Phil 2:1
if any comfort from his love, . . .
Phil 2:1
As the psalmist proclaimed, we all should seek our comfort in God’s consistent love. Together we need to continually remind one another that the Lord loved us once deep enough to kill His Son and still loves us moment by moment deeply enough to protect, sustain and deliver us from our trials.
May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.
Ps 119:76
according to your promise to your servant.
Ps 119:76
After comforting another that God loves them dearly, His presence with them should be reassured.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Ps 23:4
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Ps 23:4
Hopefully we remember many times when we were with our parents or someone stronger than us. We felt safe. If we fell off our tricycle and skinned a knee, we knew it would be taken care of by the person in charge, whether a parent at home, a camp counselor, or the babysitter. Therefore, if we responsibly remind one another of God’s constant presence to help, we will all feel more secure.
Keep your lives free from the love of money
and be content with what you have,
because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Heb 13:5
and be content with what you have,
because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Heb 13:5
Then, after reassuring hurting Christians of God’s huge love for them and His presence to protect and sustain and deliver, we follow with specific promises God has made that apply to the difficult situation being faced.
My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.
Ps 119:50
Your promise preserves my life.
Ps 119:50
Life in a sinful world has its inevitable hurts. Glib answers and quick advice will not do. Christians should deeply comfort one another, especially when no solution is possible or an irreversible loss has occurred. Reminders of God's love and expressions of hope, encouragement and tenderness are just a few of the actions a whole group of believers can take to comfort others who are hurting.
It is comforting for those in pain to be with caring believers who are worshiping God and seeking eternal things. It lifts up the one burdened. Especially during bereavement the church service is healing. Taking tape recordings of the church services to shut-ins, hospital patients, and those in mourning brings comfort. Frequent visiting is usually needed.
Comforting is best done by those who are closest in relationship to the one hurting. Christian Inner Circles must minister in very troubled times. Each of us in the Kingdom should know that when life becomes unbearable, we will not be alone. During suffering, many comforting words and actions by the love of those in our Christian Inner Circle will shelter us in God's love.
Prayer with a person suffering is absolutely necessary. Prayer can reaffirm belief in God’s love, presence and promises. Prayer also seeks God’s help. At the proper time, prayer is the quiet connection with God that reveals what needs to be done.
Most likely all of us are too quick to give advice. Counseling one another is almost always best done after comfort backed by Scripture and God’s promises have been given patiently. Sharing God’s words from the Bible, explaining eternal truth, and praying take time. We need to not try`to solve problems ahead of God’s pattern.
To summarize, our responsibility to one another during times of trial includes reassurance of God’s love, presence, and promises from the God-breathed pages of the Bible.
It is comforting for those in pain to be with caring believers who are worshiping God and seeking eternal things. It lifts up the one burdened. Especially during bereavement the church service is healing. Taking tape recordings of the church services to shut-ins, hospital patients, and those in mourning brings comfort. Frequent visiting is usually needed.
Comforting is best done by those who are closest in relationship to the one hurting. Christian Inner Circles must minister in very troubled times. Each of us in the Kingdom should know that when life becomes unbearable, we will not be alone. During suffering, many comforting words and actions by the love of those in our Christian Inner Circle will shelter us in God's love.
Prayer with a person suffering is absolutely necessary. Prayer can reaffirm belief in God’s love, presence and promises. Prayer also seeks God’s help. At the proper time, prayer is the quiet connection with God that reveals what needs to be done.
Most likely all of us are too quick to give advice. Counseling one another is almost always best done after comfort backed by Scripture and God’s promises have been given patiently. Sharing God’s words from the Bible, explaining eternal truth, and praying take time. We need to not try`to solve problems ahead of God’s pattern.
To summarize, our responsibility to one another during times of trial includes reassurance of God’s love, presence, and promises from the God-breathed pages of the Bible.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
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2 Tim 3:16-17
Let’s equip ourselves for every good work, of which comforting is one, by knowing our Bibles well, especially those passages that assure us of God’s love, presence, and promises.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
Mustafa and Zamir are Iraqis who met at the refugee camp during a church service. They have each lost relatives killed by ISIS. Members of a Christian relief agency met them when they arrived and spent mournful silence with them for a number of days. Then they comforted Mustafa and Zamir with Scriptures reassuring them that they were loved by God, that the Lord would be with them for this very difficult journey as long as it lasted.
Mustafa and Zamir came to the refugee camp very well-versed in Christianity before their churches were destroyed and they were driven from their different cities. They decided soon after arriving that they had the opportunity to be like Jesus and spread comfort throughout the camp. As a result, they filled each day by traveling from tent to tent seeking out other Christians to remind them, as they had been, of God’s great love, His presence in the refugee camp as much as anywhere in the world, and that eternal life in heaven awaits no matter if they return to Iraq or not. As time went on, they developed a seminar on heaven to teach more and more about the place where everyone would eventually arrive, making sure that they contrasted that to the claims of Islam about a false heaven. Many refugee Christians are having wonderful days in the bleak atmosphere of the refugee camp, learning more about heaven and then going to desperate Muslim friends in the camp and trying to offer comfort, explaining that it is only truly available in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because they are some of the happiest members of the refugee community, many people give Iraqi Christians permission to tell them about Jesus and Christianity. They don’t argue about Islam, they just show Christianity with its contentment no matter the circumstances. |
Jesus comforted His followers by reminding them of God’s love, presence and promises. Just look how He began the great Sermon on the Mount.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matt 5:3-12
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matt 5:3-12
Then, Jesus comforts in the middle of the same Sermon on the Mount,. It can easily be seen that this reassurance attests to God’s love, that He is present and knows what is happening, and He promises to provide.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
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Matt 6:26
And, in His conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus comforts again.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
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Matt 7:24-25
Jesus also comforted them from His knowledge of heaven.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
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John 14:1-3
It should not be too much to ask ourselves to learn the Bible sufficiently in order to comfort other Christians with the extensive comfort we have been given in Scripture. We each need to take the effort to study the eternal truths about God. In particular for comforting, we need to point to His love, omnipresence, and promises. These will be essential to help one another recover from hurt, pain, troubles, and trials.
And, we will be like Jesus.
Opportunity to Worship God
And, we will be like Jesus.
Opportunity to Worship God
Two churches have radically different ideas of worship. One, Central Church, like almost all of the others in the city, functions as if worship is primarily church services and Christian music. The other church, City Fellowship, also teaches lifestyle worship.
The difference in these two churches can easily be seen in each church pastor’s sermon on comforting one another, based on 2 Cor 1:3-5. Central’s pastor taught from the pulpit that Christians are to comfort one another as God has comforted them. He did a great job of presenting the Scriptures on comforting. He did not explain that comforting like God has comforted us is worship because it reflects God’s character back to Himself. Perhaps the pastor thought that was obvious. The pastor at City Fellowship very succinctly taught what Central’s pastor taught and went on to exhort his congregation to view comforting others as worship because it reflects back to God His own nature. However, the pastor did not stop there. He went on to highlight the special privilege of being able to worship God through comforting others. Then, he went on to spend the majority of the minutes left in his sermon giving examples of how members can be ready to jump in and comfort in their friendships, families, and marriages. He even explained to children how they could comfort their parents when mom and dad were going through tough times. Last in his sermon, the pastor asked members to email him testimonies of worship through comforting they would do during the coming week. He would use these fleshed-out examples of “comforting worship” over the next few weeks to communicate that the sermon was not about something to learn, but to do. Members of Central Church do not view comforting as anything that special. Singing worship is the ultimate. As long as they are listening to Christian music all week long, maybe singing along, they have no idea that they could be worshiping God in lifestyle ways. They do not go about life seeing all the opportunities to worship God because their church doesn’t grasp the fantastic opportunities to worship through living guided by Scripture. On the other hand, members of City Fellowship have studied the “Christian lifestyle Scriptures” as encapsulated by the 65 Togethers. Their pastor emphasizes instruction on how to live like a Christian rather than focusing on Bible history. And when he preaches, he does so like he expects his listeners to live God’s way, as he is explaining. He always tells how friends can help one another put faith into their thinking and their actions. He also helps family members know how to help each other obey Scripture regarding family relationships. And, in every sermon, the pastor challenges husbands and wives to help one another do those things that God wants his people to do when they are together. In the end, it appears that the people of City Fellowship worship at least ten times more than the members of Central Church. They reflect back to God in their behavior with Christians God’s holy character, which adds very expensive worship in the way of self-denying love for God to their singing and praise. |
God has given us the privilege in our closest Christian relationships to comfort one another. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his comforting nature as well as recognizing his omnipresence – that He is always with us and never forsakes us.
God comforts. It is His very words that provide the most comfort for our lives. God loved us enough to write them down in the Bible. We comfort one another during trials by reminding of what He has said to us in the pages of Scripture.
But, God cannot and does not comfort nonbelievers. Therefore, while many of the Togethers have some sort of applicability to our relationship with nonbelievers, this particular Together of comforting does not. God does not comfort those who do not believe in Him.
God comforts. It is His very words that provide the most comfort for our lives. God loved us enough to write them down in the Bible. We comfort one another during trials by reminding of what He has said to us in the pages of Scripture.
But, God cannot and does not comfort nonbelievers. Therefore, while many of the Togethers have some sort of applicability to our relationship with nonbelievers, this particular Together of comforting does not. God does not comfort those who do not believe in Him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe stands condemned already
because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:18
but whoever does not believe stands condemned already
because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:18
We can offer the possibility of short-term comfort to non-Christians by pledging to pray for them and their situations. But, true, everlasting comfort is something we can tell them about but not give to them. Promising those who do not believe that God will take care of them is dishonest. Such a definite promise can only be given to those who have accepted Christ as their Savior and also as Lord. Savior, because only then do they inherit heaven, the final comfort. Lord, so that they will let Jesus direct them to solutions that will bring comfort.
Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Is 49:13
For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Is 49:13
Marvelously, God lets us in on the action of comforting. He makes us partners to comfort hurting Christians with whom we have contact. God holds us especially responsible for hurting with, comforting, and counseling those in our specific Christian Inner Circles. This cannot adequately be delegated to any organized church or parachurch body. It is too personal and delicate an assignment.
Because every chance to comfort a Christian we are close to is an opportunity to worship God, we should look forward to such an honor. We need to realize that it is far more valuable to minister comfort to another Christian than any recreational activity. Believers should not defer to those most likely to comfort others. This is an opportunity for all of us to worship.
When we comfort one another from God’s Word, the Bible, and give any needed explanation of God’s love, closeness, availability, and promises to provide, we reflect God to Himself and that is worship He desires and we want to give Him.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Because every chance to comfort a Christian we are close to is an opportunity to worship God, we should look forward to such an honor. We need to realize that it is far more valuable to minister comfort to another Christian than any recreational activity. Believers should not defer to those most likely to comfort others. This is an opportunity for all of us to worship.
When we comfort one another from God’s Word, the Bible, and give any needed explanation of God’s love, closeness, availability, and promises to provide, we reflect God to Himself and that is worship He desires and we want to give Him.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
The factory where Justin has worked for 15 years shut down and moved its operation to Thailand to fatten profits. The company’s officers had little concern for their factory workers and were pressured by ever-greedy stockholders. The love of money is one of Satan’s most effective evil strategies designed to drive people to despair.
Justin and Sadie have been married for 18 years and have three children ages 6, 10 and 14. Needless to say, Justin is depressed. He had worked up to a manager position and was finally getting his head above water financially. Sadie has faced the financial uncertainty excellently with the help of her Christian Inner Circle of friends and family. And, she is doing a doggone good job of comforting her husband to make sure he is not damaged by this painful turn of events. While she just thinks she is doing her job as a wife, she is actually battling evil and Satan. First Sadie shared Justin’s pain. She did not act over-religious with smiles and denial of the seriousness of the situation. She had her own worry that she took to her friends because Justin was too overwhelmed. After a few days, Sadie reminded her husband that God loved them and would see them through. She pointed out Scriptures explaining how Jesus would not leave them nor forsake them. Eventually, she invited Jason to pray together and ask God in His sovereign control over everything, what good things they should look for from the situation. Justin really appreciated his wife and her comfort. And, God used it to humiliate the devil who sought a different outcome. |
The devil definitely does not want any Christian he has attacked to be comforted by reassurance of God’s love, presence, and promises! Thus, comforting one another is critical to spiritual warfare and should be a joy for any soldier of the cross.
When people are hurting, they are vulnerable. They need others to join in their hurting and then comfort them. It might help to step up to the task of comforting if we imagine demons lurking behind the bushes waiting to pounce on one of our suffering comrades. Sometimes, that might not just be imagination.
God gave Adam and Eve the Garden of Eden and the whole world. He held back one small thing, eating of one tree out of millions. Satan came along in the form of a serpent and questioned God’s goodness and love for them. All Adam or Eve needed to do was share the pain of not being able to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the center of the Garden (hurt with one another) and then remind each other of God’s love, presence, and promises (comfort one another). At this most important point in all of spiritual warfare requiring only the obedience of mankind, Adam and Eve were not there for one another. And we can see what disaster that caused!
Keeping the disaster in the Garden in mind, we Christians cannot repeat the negligence of comforting one another during trials. It is not good for us to avoid the duty of hurting with, comforting, and providing counsel (in that order). More importantly, it is not good to dishonor God by ignoring His way of sticking together in His Kingdom.
Close Christian friends need to see the glorious privilege of battle to comfort one another. We have tremendous reassurance to offer one another that is not available to most all of the world. What a privilege to put other activities aside to be at one another’s side in battle and remind of God’s steadfast love, His constant presence, and His promises of grace.
Members in Christian families need to be taught that it is a glorious duty to comfort one another. They have continual opportunities to remind one another that what is not going well is under the watchful eye of God and will be used by Him to guide them through life. They can remind one another that God is in charge and that is far better than our being in charge and getting whatever we want. And, family members have history together and can remember previous distress and how God rescued and guided so that life got better just because the turmoil was necessary.
For external events, husbands and wives can be very comforting. Loss of a job, breakdown of a car, financial shortfall, and hundreds of other struggles of life can be softened when a husband or wife reminds the other of God’s love, presence, and promises.
But, it is more difficult to comfort each other in marriage if the difficulty is in their relationship. Often their friends or a professional Christian counselor is needed. Let me give an all-too-frequent and sad example of a situation where husband and wife could not comfort each other and I was necessary.
As a counselor for over 50 years, there have been many couples who have come to me because husband or wife was unfaithful. Sexual betrayal is most hurtful and comfort better be very powerful. Many times I have helped couples through this by reminding them that, if they are obedient in whatever God asks of them, somehow it will turn out okay because of God’s promise in Romans 8:28.
When people are hurting, they are vulnerable. They need others to join in their hurting and then comfort them. It might help to step up to the task of comforting if we imagine demons lurking behind the bushes waiting to pounce on one of our suffering comrades. Sometimes, that might not just be imagination.
God gave Adam and Eve the Garden of Eden and the whole world. He held back one small thing, eating of one tree out of millions. Satan came along in the form of a serpent and questioned God’s goodness and love for them. All Adam or Eve needed to do was share the pain of not being able to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the center of the Garden (hurt with one another) and then remind each other of God’s love, presence, and promises (comfort one another). At this most important point in all of spiritual warfare requiring only the obedience of mankind, Adam and Eve were not there for one another. And we can see what disaster that caused!
Keeping the disaster in the Garden in mind, we Christians cannot repeat the negligence of comforting one another during trials. It is not good for us to avoid the duty of hurting with, comforting, and providing counsel (in that order). More importantly, it is not good to dishonor God by ignoring His way of sticking together in His Kingdom.
Close Christian friends need to see the glorious privilege of battle to comfort one another. We have tremendous reassurance to offer one another that is not available to most all of the world. What a privilege to put other activities aside to be at one another’s side in battle and remind of God’s steadfast love, His constant presence, and His promises of grace.
Members in Christian families need to be taught that it is a glorious duty to comfort one another. They have continual opportunities to remind one another that what is not going well is under the watchful eye of God and will be used by Him to guide them through life. They can remind one another that God is in charge and that is far better than our being in charge and getting whatever we want. And, family members have history together and can remember previous distress and how God rescued and guided so that life got better just because the turmoil was necessary.
For external events, husbands and wives can be very comforting. Loss of a job, breakdown of a car, financial shortfall, and hundreds of other struggles of life can be softened when a husband or wife reminds the other of God’s love, presence, and promises.
But, it is more difficult to comfort each other in marriage if the difficulty is in their relationship. Often their friends or a professional Christian counselor is needed. Let me give an all-too-frequent and sad example of a situation where husband and wife could not comfort each other and I was necessary.
As a counselor for over 50 years, there have been many couples who have come to me because husband or wife was unfaithful. Sexual betrayal is most hurtful and comfort better be very powerful. Many times I have helped couples through this by reminding them that, if they are obedient in whatever God asks of them, somehow it will turn out okay because of God’s promise in Romans 8:28.
And we know that in all things God works for the good
of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Somewhat surprising after the counseling is successful, many couples have seen that the wonderful relationship they discovered was forced by the sexual unfaithfulness. Even though they could have accomplished such a wonderful relationship by righteous means, they did not have whatever it would have taken to effect such change. They were not that loyal to God. They were not confident in their communication skills. They avoided anything uncomfortable. And, so, the horrible happened. But, God was faithful and reassurance of God’s love and help empowered them to stick it out. Later, if they were brave for the Lord, when another couple strayed in this terrible way, they comforted with the comfort they had already received.
In this example and all the others that could be given of attacks by evil to friendships, families, and marriages, comfort helps defeat the enemy of God. Like in earthly war, the battle is miserable and the end must be kept in sight. Eventually the war will be over. For those Christians who will be killed in battle, heaven awaits. For those who will survive, life can improve. It is always comforting to envision the end of the pain and suffering. But, reminders of God’s love, presence, and promises are still necessary.
Let’s defeat Satan by taking God at His word and remind one another in times of stress that God loves us too much to abandon us, that He is present with us, and that He has given promises to carry us through.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
In this example and all the others that could be given of attacks by evil to friendships, families, and marriages, comfort helps defeat the enemy of God. Like in earthly war, the battle is miserable and the end must be kept in sight. Eventually the war will be over. For those Christians who will be killed in battle, heaven awaits. For those who will survive, life can improve. It is always comforting to envision the end of the pain and suffering. But, reminders of God’s love, presence, and promises are still necessary.
Let’s defeat Satan by taking God at His word and remind one another in times of stress that God loves us too much to abandon us, that He is present with us, and that He has given promises to carry us through.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
The Shoemaker Family is a high-functioning Christian family that takes their faith as an absolute guide to life. They are all concerned for one another and when one of them hurts, they all hurt alongside and then provide comfort.
Recently, the best friend of 12-year-old Maxine moved far away. For years these two friends had been inseparable, living next door to each other. Family members saw the sadness coming since it was a move known about for months. Since the family studied the Bible together, they knew that comforting was something everyone needed to do. The family knew that Dad and Maxine’s older brother Barry were really good at helping others be comfortable with new challenges and hurtful situations. A family meeting was called and Dad asked everyone what they could say to Maxine to comfort her. Beforehand, he had asked Barry to hold back so others could grow in this Christian duty to comfort as God comforts His people. There was a silence while other family members waited for Dad and Barry to act. But eventually the others realized what was happening and began to remember how Dad and Barry had comforted in the past. They eventually began to remind Maxine that God understood her loneliness for her friend and that this was a time He would like to be especially close to her. They also mentioned that God perhaps had others He wanted to bless by having Maxine be their friend now that she had the time. As is so often the case, biblical obedience is preparation for eternal living in heaven but not understood to that degree. Nevertheless, the Shoemaker Family is developing strength in their spirits for value to God and for themselves when they get to heaven. |
There will not be anyone to comfort in heaven. Or will there?
In the sense of this Together, there will be no one suffering who needs comforting. So, comforting now is not valuable for comforting hurting people in heaven.
However, if you paid any attention to comforting suffering people before death, it will be so good to have no one needing comfort in heaven. It will be just like going on vacation where the air is refreshingly pure, every day noticing with a great smile that the smog is gone forever.
However, it just might be that there will be some other kind of comforting needed in heaven, not due to suffering. Just as we will likely still need encouraging to do some of the challenging activities in heaven, perhaps there will be things that will be discomforting . They will require a ministry of comforting, to be done by those whose skills in comforting were honed in the past sinful environment.
Understood in this way, being uncomfortable is not a sin identified in the Bible. For example, if we are beginning to be a college professor, wouldn’t it be likely we would be uncomfortable at the start? Just as we might need to have courage placed in us to take on the teaching responsibility, so we could benefit from someone helping us be a bit more comfortable until confidence sets in.
In this life before death there are many things about which we are uncomfortable. We might not be comfortable learning to use a new cell phone, computer program, or car. Such discomfort is not sin, and, therefore, is likely to be in heaven. If we were going today to meet an alien from outer space, we might be very excited but still a bit uncomfortable. So, when we first meet an angel in heaven, or a group of them, we will be excited yet a bit uncomfortable (not afraid) about how we should treat them.
As we might like to be comforted that it will go fine when we meet the aliens in the desert where their spaceship is, so in heaven we will appreciate those who think to make us more comfortable in going to meet angels. Those who recognize the need to comfort us in eternal life will be those who were anxious to comfort fellow believers suffering in the first life.
Comforting in heaven will be similar, even though not to endure suffering, but because it will still include references to God’s love, presence and promises. When we first go to meet angels, it will be good to have someone remind us that God loves us and will be present in our interaction with the angels waiting for us. And, who knows what new promises regarding our relationship with angels will be revealed to us in heaven?
Comforting others now with reminders of God’s love, presence, and promises will prepare us to minister comfort in heaven, a little bit different sort of comfort.
How this Together Can Make It Really Good in Heaven
In the sense of this Together, there will be no one suffering who needs comforting. So, comforting now is not valuable for comforting hurting people in heaven.
However, if you paid any attention to comforting suffering people before death, it will be so good to have no one needing comfort in heaven. It will be just like going on vacation where the air is refreshingly pure, every day noticing with a great smile that the smog is gone forever.
However, it just might be that there will be some other kind of comforting needed in heaven, not due to suffering. Just as we will likely still need encouraging to do some of the challenging activities in heaven, perhaps there will be things that will be discomforting . They will require a ministry of comforting, to be done by those whose skills in comforting were honed in the past sinful environment.
Understood in this way, being uncomfortable is not a sin identified in the Bible. For example, if we are beginning to be a college professor, wouldn’t it be likely we would be uncomfortable at the start? Just as we might need to have courage placed in us to take on the teaching responsibility, so we could benefit from someone helping us be a bit more comfortable until confidence sets in.
In this life before death there are many things about which we are uncomfortable. We might not be comfortable learning to use a new cell phone, computer program, or car. Such discomfort is not sin, and, therefore, is likely to be in heaven. If we were going today to meet an alien from outer space, we might be very excited but still a bit uncomfortable. So, when we first meet an angel in heaven, or a group of them, we will be excited yet a bit uncomfortable (not afraid) about how we should treat them.
As we might like to be comforted that it will go fine when we meet the aliens in the desert where their spaceship is, so in heaven we will appreciate those who think to make us more comfortable in going to meet angels. Those who recognize the need to comfort us in eternal life will be those who were anxious to comfort fellow believers suffering in the first life.
Comforting in heaven will be similar, even though not to endure suffering, but because it will still include references to God’s love, presence and promises. When we first go to meet angels, it will be good to have someone remind us that God loves us and will be present in our interaction with the angels waiting for us. And, who knows what new promises regarding our relationship with angels will be revealed to us in heaven?
Comforting others now with reminders of God’s love, presence, and promises will prepare us to minister comfort in heaven, a little bit different sort of comfort.
How this Together Can Make It Really Good in Heaven
I just learned of this opportunity to meet with those angels who had watched over me all those 86 years I lived on the Original Earth. I said I wanted to meet and talk with them about things that they had done unknown to me, but I was also a little uncomfortable. I felt meeting my guardian angels would be wonderful, but that did not make it comfortable. Would I know how to act? Would I show my appreciation enough?
My closest friends here in heaven all knew of my discomfort. All but one said they wished they knew what to do to help me be comfortable with the upcoming meeting and conversation. The one who did not say this knew how to comfort me. And, it helped. The meeting with the angels who watched over me in the previous life was a thrill I will always cherish. I did wonder, however, how that one friend of mine knew what to do and how to do it so well. What I discovered is that she came to heaven with a lot of experience in comforting Christians in their troubles, while the rest comforted others far less. |
It feels good to comfort someone when it really works. We feel satisfaction that we have helped. But, in this life before death, comforting another is an ambivalent experience. We are glad to comfort but sad that the person is suffering.
It will be very good to not have those conflicting feelings in heaven when we want to make someone more comfortable, not because of suffering, but because of some new challenge or experience. Only joy with no sadness will make comforting one another in heaven pure bliss. However, unless we develop that sensitivity now, our joy of comforting in heaven will not be accompanied by the satisfaction of relief that there is no suffering in heavenly situations. So, while many of us will find joy in comforting others with new challenges and experiences in heaven, only some of us will have that extra helping of joy that comes from a sense in the back of our minds that suffering is absent.
We have the kind of the comforting we will do in heaven now, even though it is not the comforting that is a Together of Scripture. We help a spouse feel more comfortable applying for a job or going with us to an office party. We help our children be more comfortable at a large family event or learning to drive. We help our friend be more comfortable trying to get a date with someone he or she is attracted to. Those can be enjoyable tasks. In heaven we will have lots of opportunities to do that kind of comforting.
In this first life we should want to “get out of ourselves” and pay attention to our responsibility to comfort those who are hurting. We need to be familiar with the Scriptures well enough to reassure of God’s love, presence and promises. Then in heaven, where it will be impossible to be self-focused, we will have the necessary initiative to help others be comfortable. We will have the joy of serving God and honoring Him. Those who in this life before death pay so much attention to themselves and are “full of themselves”, do not obey this command to comfort one another when life hurts. As a result they may wander around heaven in a trance useless when with someone who is feeling uncomfortable about some wonderful thing they are about to do.
So, let’s look forward to helping other citizens of heaven become comfortable with all those wonderful things that we will not be comfortable with at first because they are new. There will be millions of such opportunities for us to have the joy of helping. For example, perhaps a believer from the sixth century is going to try to drive a car. I doubt that such a person will confidently swagger up to the car and speed off. Nor will we be comfortable riding a camel.
Let’s feel the joy of comforting, now when there is sadness that a person is going through rough times. Let’s take every opportunity to comfort others, at least until we are extremely conscious of the joy and the honor of doing so. Let’s take to heaven the natural ability to help others be comfortable.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
It will be very good to not have those conflicting feelings in heaven when we want to make someone more comfortable, not because of suffering, but because of some new challenge or experience. Only joy with no sadness will make comforting one another in heaven pure bliss. However, unless we develop that sensitivity now, our joy of comforting in heaven will not be accompanied by the satisfaction of relief that there is no suffering in heavenly situations. So, while many of us will find joy in comforting others with new challenges and experiences in heaven, only some of us will have that extra helping of joy that comes from a sense in the back of our minds that suffering is absent.
We have the kind of the comforting we will do in heaven now, even though it is not the comforting that is a Together of Scripture. We help a spouse feel more comfortable applying for a job or going with us to an office party. We help our children be more comfortable at a large family event or learning to drive. We help our friend be more comfortable trying to get a date with someone he or she is attracted to. Those can be enjoyable tasks. In heaven we will have lots of opportunities to do that kind of comforting.
In this first life we should want to “get out of ourselves” and pay attention to our responsibility to comfort those who are hurting. We need to be familiar with the Scriptures well enough to reassure of God’s love, presence and promises. Then in heaven, where it will be impossible to be self-focused, we will have the necessary initiative to help others be comfortable. We will have the joy of serving God and honoring Him. Those who in this life before death pay so much attention to themselves and are “full of themselves”, do not obey this command to comfort one another when life hurts. As a result they may wander around heaven in a trance useless when with someone who is feeling uncomfortable about some wonderful thing they are about to do.
So, let’s look forward to helping other citizens of heaven become comfortable with all those wonderful things that we will not be comfortable with at first because they are new. There will be millions of such opportunities for us to have the joy of helping. For example, perhaps a believer from the sixth century is going to try to drive a car. I doubt that such a person will confidently swagger up to the car and speed off. Nor will we be comfortable riding a camel.
Let’s feel the joy of comforting, now when there is sadness that a person is going through rough times. Let’s take every opportunity to comfort others, at least until we are extremely conscious of the joy and the honor of doing so. Let’s take to heaven the natural ability to help others be comfortable.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
We don’t have troubles in heaven, we just have challenges. But something happened yesterday that I have to tell you about.
I broke the pottery I was working on. It was a piece I really liked. It was going to have a central place on my kitchen table. Knowing that nothing here in heaven happens contrary to what is good, I was not disappointed. But, I was challenged to repeat what I had done so I could recreate the beauty of that particular bowl. Then, Jesus showed up. He came because the bowl had broken. I was confused as to His appearance, because it seemed He came to comfort me. And, of course, I did not need comforting. Sensing my confusion, Jesus explained that He wanted to take that opportunity to be with me because I was so good at comforting people before death. He said that all three persons of the one God, Father, Holy Spirit and Himself, appreciated me for representing Them when I comforted others who were suffering, reminding them of God’s love, presence and promises. He said the breaking of the bowl reminded Him of how I had comforted others, and He just wanted to be with me and remember times when I had helped others overcome disappointment. |
God will definitely appreciate those who passed along His comfort by reassuring troubled Christians of His love, presence, and promises. He is the “God of all comfort”, so if we have spent time seeing that others in trouble recognize that He is the source of comfort, we will have walked with Him. And, in heaven, in some way still mysterious, He will walk more often with us.
Praise be to . . . the God of all comfort, . . .
2 Cor 1:3
2 Cor 1:3
Imagine knowing your employer well enough to know he is kind, understanding and forgiving. Someone new is hired and makes a mistake. That person is overwhelmed with despair, thinking that his or her job may be terminated. You tell the person not to worry because the boss will not be harsh or unkind. When the boss finds out that you calmed the new hire by representing him as kind and gentle, your boss will feel honored and be drawn to you as a person.
It is like that with God. He will for eternity remember who each of us has been. He will feel loved by us that we reassured others of His love, His nearness, and His gracious promises. He will want to be close to us. But, if we were either hard-hearted or too busy with our own agendas to comfort another hurting believer now in this life, He will not be so drawn to us in the eternal life to come.
If this sounds harsh, those who miss out on this closeness of comfort will not be aware that anything is wrong. It will be heaven, for heaven’s sake! However, heaven will also be logical. Think of your own reaction to people in your neighborhood who go out of their way to greet you versus those who barely give you the time of day. Do you crave to be with the ones who are so into themselves that they hardly notice your presence? Hardly. But, you do look forward to spending a little time with those who have valued you. In so many ways, it is the same with God. He will in some way want to be with those who desired to live His way and take notice of how He wanted things done.
So, the God of all comfort will most certainly want to be with those who comforted one another.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
O Loving God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I praise You for the comfort you give me and all believers around the world, especially those who are persecuted. Thank You for all the evidence of Your love, presence and promises in the Bible.
Help me to remember enough Scripture to be comforted in my own difficult situations and to comfort other Christians in their times of distress. Make me open to comfort from others in my Christian Inner Circle when they remind me of Your love, presence, and promises.
However, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to be ready to comfort one another. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we know and experience Your love, are constantly aware of Your presence, and are quite familiar with Your promises.
Please help us all to become more and more like Jesus by learning the Bible in depth, paying concentrated attention to how much God loves us, how God is present with us in our troubles, and the promises of God that can reassure us.
May our lives worship You more because we represent You well in comforting others, honoring Your Word, the Bible, and what You teach us about Your love, presence and promises. And, like You, when we comfort other believers, empower us to do it with Your love flowing through us, and Your availability making us available also.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by reassuring Christians he has attacked that God loves them without measure, that God in all of His three personalities of Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are present, and that God has promised to bring them to heaven for an eternity absolutely free of trouble and pain.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing quite skillful in comforting those in our Christian Inner Circles and other believers now so that we can remind others in heaven of Your great love, Your presence when they are not as aware of it as are we, and Your promises. I know that in heaven comforting will not be from pain and suffering, but might be needed occasionally when someone wants to step into a new opportunity and does not yet have the faith they will have after they try something new and succeed.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.
It is like that with God. He will for eternity remember who each of us has been. He will feel loved by us that we reassured others of His love, His nearness, and His gracious promises. He will want to be close to us. But, if we were either hard-hearted or too busy with our own agendas to comfort another hurting believer now in this life, He will not be so drawn to us in the eternal life to come.
If this sounds harsh, those who miss out on this closeness of comfort will not be aware that anything is wrong. It will be heaven, for heaven’s sake! However, heaven will also be logical. Think of your own reaction to people in your neighborhood who go out of their way to greet you versus those who barely give you the time of day. Do you crave to be with the ones who are so into themselves that they hardly notice your presence? Hardly. But, you do look forward to spending a little time with those who have valued you. In so many ways, it is the same with God. He will in some way want to be with those who desired to live His way and take notice of how He wanted things done.
So, the God of all comfort will most certainly want to be with those who comforted one another.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
O Loving God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I praise You for the comfort you give me and all believers around the world, especially those who are persecuted. Thank You for all the evidence of Your love, presence and promises in the Bible.
Help me to remember enough Scripture to be comforted in my own difficult situations and to comfort other Christians in their times of distress. Make me open to comfort from others in my Christian Inner Circle when they remind me of Your love, presence, and promises.
However, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to be ready to comfort one another. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we know and experience Your love, are constantly aware of Your presence, and are quite familiar with Your promises.
Please help us all to become more and more like Jesus by learning the Bible in depth, paying concentrated attention to how much God loves us, how God is present with us in our troubles, and the promises of God that can reassure us.
May our lives worship You more because we represent You well in comforting others, honoring Your Word, the Bible, and what You teach us about Your love, presence and promises. And, like You, when we comfort other believers, empower us to do it with Your love flowing through us, and Your availability making us available also.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by reassuring Christians he has attacked that God loves them without measure, that God in all of His three personalities of Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are present, and that God has promised to bring them to heaven for an eternity absolutely free of trouble and pain.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing quite skillful in comforting those in our Christian Inner Circles and other believers now so that we can remind others in heaven of Your great love, Your presence when they are not as aware of it as are we, and Your promises. I know that in heaven comforting will not be from pain and suffering, but might be needed occasionally when someone wants to step into a new opportunity and does not yet have the faith they will have after they try something new and succeed.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.