2020-06-22 “Comfort your hearts”

II Thessalonians 2:17  “Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

The Children of God in every generation are troubled by many things; oftentimes at the hands of wicked and ungodly people doing cruel and hateful things.  These wicked and ungodly people have no moral conscience and are the minions of the devil himself.  John tells us, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (I John 2:18).  An “antichrist” is one who opposes and fights against our Lord Jesus Christ, against His Church-Kingdom, against those who lovingly follow and obey our Lord, and against those who strive to live godly lives.  When our Lord Comforts us, He draws us near to Himself so as to console and shield us from the dreadful effects of pain, confusion, despair, fear, loneliness, broken heart, etc.  This blessed “Comfort” is administered by “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send” (John 14:26).  The “Comforter” oftentimes comforts us by teaching us about the Lord (John 14:26; 15:26).  It is the “Holy Ghost” (Spirit) “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.” (II Corinthians 1:4).  Paul explained it this way, it was “God, that comforteth those that are cast down” Who “comforted us by the coming of Titus” (II Corinthians 7:6).  Knowing that God will send this Blessed “Comforter”, we can “Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.” (I Chronicles 19:13) and “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Psalms 27:14).  And we can helpfully “comfort” our “neighbor” and our “brother” by pointing to the Lord and saying, “Be of good courage” (Isaiah 41:6) “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2)!