July 4, 2018

Ministering to Others

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  (2 Corinthians 1:3,4)

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Years ago a lady visited an orphanage and asked the matron, "Is there a child here no-body has offered to adopt?" The matron replied, 'There is. She's ten years old, not much to look at, and She has a hunchback." The lady said, "That's the child I want!" Thirty-five years later the director of the Orphanage Inspection Department in Iowa submitted the following report on a state-run facility: "This home is outstanding. It's clean, the food's good, the children are well-cared-for, and the atmosphere is unlike anything I've ever experienced. The matron, Mercy Goodfaith, has a soul that oozes love; she has such beautiful eyes I,forgot how homely her face was—or that she was a hunchback." Because a Good Samaritan had the courage to love and nurture a little girl others overlooked, Mercy Goodfaith went on to share that same love with hundreds of other orphans. Paul says God comforts us...so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we...received." And Billy Graham adds: 'Those who have suffered the most are best able to comfort others ...to empathize with [their] afflictions because of what they've experienced...Our sufferings may be hard to bear, but our goal should be to learn all we can from what we're called to endure so we can fulfill a ministry of comfort as Jesus did. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18). The sufferer becomes the comforter in the service of the Lord.'

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The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. (Psalm 121:7)

While tragedy may beset us while we travail in this present age, our assurance is firm: our great God and Father shall prevent our downfall until that glorious day when we shall stand evermore in victory ultimate in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Praise Him till He returns and then praise Him throughout eternity!

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This week's (#27) schedule for reading the Bible:
Sunday: (Law) Leviticus 10-12
Monday: (History) 2 Kings 1-5
Tuesday: (Psalms) Psalms 78-80
Wednesday: (Poetry) Proverbs 8-9
Thursday: (Prophecy) Ezekial 19-24
Friday: (Gospels) Luke 17-18
Saturday: (Letters) Phillipians 3-4