Patience vs. Comfort

"Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded towards one another, according to Christ Jesus..." ~ Romans 15:5

Often times, if we're honest, practicing patience can be difficult and uncomfortable.

So, it's interesting that Paul would call God the God of patience and comfort. Seemingly, those two things don't go together.

In fact, they feed and fuel each other.

The more we practice patience, the more comfortable and "second nature" it becomes.

Likewise, the more we rest and find comfort in Jesus, the easier it is to practice patience.

God is the God of the oxymoron. He can take two seemingly opposing things and make them happen in our lives.

His strength is shown through our weakness. We gain our life by losing it. We become great in the Kingdom by humbling ourselves. And patience and comfort come from the same God.

In the words of Paul, may the God of patience and comfort bless you today.

J.W.

Finding Rest

 "...Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him." ~ Psalm 62:1

Often times, in life, we chase so many things that the world dictates to us we should. Examples are success, happiness, material things, sex, money, fame, etc.

But how many times have you heard someone say that they just wanted more rest? How many times have you prayed for that?

God wants to give us rest. But just like everything else, to obtain it, we must pursue it.

How have you pursued God for more rest today?

God bless,

J.W.

God's Witnesses

"'I, even I, am the Lord , And besides Me there  is no savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there  was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,' Says the Lord , 'that I am God.'" ~ Isaiah 43:11‭-‬12 NKJV

God calls us to be witnesses, not advocates or lawyers.

We are to testify to what we've seen, felt, experienced. We are not to argue the case. That's for Jesus, the Great Advocate to do.

Have you ever found yourself trying to argue with someone about your faith? It's not your job. Don't carry around that burden. 

Your job is to testify to His goodness and the amazing things He continues to do.

Let others be the judge, jury, and lawyers.

God bless,

J.W.

Irrefutable Evidence

"'no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,' declares the Lord." ~ Isaiah 54:17 NIV

Reading this scripture reminds me of a courtroom. It uses words like prevail, refute, accuse, and vindication. God seems to be saying that He will defend us the way a lawyer might do in court.

So, what's the best way to prove a case in court?

Well, typically, it's to show irrefutable evidence to support your claim or defense. The other side can accuse you of all the things in the world but if you have irrefutable evidence, case closed.

When we are God's child, we don't have to argue our case. Our case argues for us. Through the cross, God has presented irrefutable evidence of His love for us, irrefutable evidence of His power over sin, and irrefutable evidence that we no longer have to suffer the fate that was once ours.

It's not up to us to refute accusations. God said we are vindicated through Him. We just have to keep living our lives and God will fight our battles (2 Chronicles 20:15).

God bless,

J.W.