Thursday, September 12, 2013

Comfort, Comfort My People

Today is the fourth day in our 36th week, reading the Bible through together in a year.  Our scriptures* today are 2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38-40; 1 Corinthians 11; Psalm 68.

Sometimes we all get a bit weary.  I'm not talking about the kind of tired you get from a hard day's work, where you can sit down at the end of it and inspect your handiwork.  I'm not talking about wiping your brow and then enjoying the fruits of your labor.  I'm talking about soul-sucking weariness.  The kind that comes not from work but from life's cares sapping you of strength.  

Isaiah 40:28-31 promises that God can renew us at times like these.

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.


Because God never grows weary, He never runs out of power.  That means that no matter how much strength you need from the Lord, He can always provide that, and more.  This strength can be found at church, among God's people.  When believers come together to support one another, lifting each other up in prayer and offering encouragement, then God's power flows.  If you've been away from church for awhile, then I invite you to get back to church this Sunday.  Experience God's refreshing, and let Him renew your strength.

Maybe you know someone who's been down, depressed, exhausted, and weary.  God may be saying to you, 

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
    that her iniquity is pardoned...

(Isaiah 40:1-2a)

God may want to use you to comfort the weary.  You might just be a smiling face to brighten their day, or a word of encouragement when they're feeling lonely.  God may be using you to bring them back to church--so invite them to attend with you this Sunday.  Back to Church Sunday is September 15.  It's a great time to comfort God's people, speak tenderly to them, and invite them to return.  Let God strengthen those who are weary.  Let Him renew their strength.



*Scriptures taken from the ESV.


1 comment:

Greg said...

By the way, the service times on this video aren't for the church that I serve. They're for the church that originally produced this video.