Comfort from the Commander - Martin Wiles

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalm 46:7 NLT

The t-boned car exploded and landed against a fence.

After instructing my wife to call 911, I ran across the road, not wanting to look at what I anticipated finding in the car. But I heard a voice. One I knew. The daughter of a fellow church member. The young lady was alive, but severely injured. I comforted her, telling her help was on the way. My plans for the day changed. Instead of going to the hospital I was headed for, I went where they took her and arrived before her husband—whom I also had to comfort.

I also can’t forget the young man whose wife was driving drunk and wrecked, killing their two-year-old child. When I received the news, I took off for his house. He sat on the couch, not saying a word. I sat with him, and did the same. Sometimes, comfort involves no words, just presence.

The psalmist took comfort in knowing the Lord of Heaven’s armies dwelled amid His people. Joshua did too before he led the people to attack the city of Jericho. So did Moses. God appeared to him in a flaming bush and assured him He would be with him as he approached Pharaoh and instructed him to free the Israelite slaves. Abraham felt comfort through the presence of angels who showed up as guests at his tent.

God’s comfort comes in various ways, as scripture shows and as experience teaches—but it always comes. When God sends us on a mission, or when we move through trying experiences, He distributes His peace and guidance.

God’s comfort often comes through relationships. Friends at church, work, or school. We are God’s hands, feet, ears, and mouth. He doesn’t have to use us, but wants to. And in the process, we learn to empathize with others.

Sometimes, God’s comfort is no more than an inner voice assuring us everything will be okay. We don’t know how it will—or when it will—but the inner voice sounds so powerful that we have no choice but to believe it.

Scripture also delivers God’s comfort. The canon is complete and filled with God’s comforting words. Sometimes through stories and sometimes through direct assurance.

As God comforts us, He expects us to channel His comfort to others. 

Think of ways you can take comfort to those who are hurting.

Tweetable: Are you taking comfort to others?

Prayer: Father, we thank You for Your comfort and ask You to send us to others to channel that comfort.

 

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When Death Knocks - Martin Wiles

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27 NKJV

*”Johnny has been killed in an accident.”

The shocking news rolled through my soul like a tidal wave. Someone had crossed the middle line. A head-on collision occurred. Johnny was driving one vehicle; an older woman the other. Both were killed.

This death hit home. I had taught with Johnny’s mom for four years. I had even taught Johnny in Bible class—as well as instructed his younger sister and brother in grammar.

Now Johnny was a senior—graduation a mere three weeks away. But he would never walk across the stage and receive the diploma he’d worked so hard for. College scholarships would mean nothing.

Sleep refused to come the remainder of the night. I tried to imagine myself in Johnny’s family’s place. How they were feeling. What they were thinking. Could they feel at all—or think at all. I imagined they were numb. The headmaster would meet with high school students the next day. Pastors would be on hand. I sent him a text telling him I’d pray for him.

Johnny’s unexpected death reminded me of the words the writer of Hebrews penned. What he said was true then and now. Though perhaps not a part of God’s original plan, death came because humanity sinned. Now, it’s a part of life. It will knock on everyone’s door. The only ones who will escape are those alive when Jesus returns.

Death’s knock is never easy or pleasant to answer, but answer it we must. I can never know the exact moment it will occur. For some like Johnny, the knock comes much too soon. For others, the knock holds off for what seems a long time.

Students, and adults, will seek an answer. Why him? Why now? But there is no good explanation for what appears senseless. All I can do—all anyone can do—is hold on to the truth. And the truth is that God is in control and God loves us. I don’t know why He allowed Johnny to die so young—many have died younger. But I do know there is no power greater than God’s. Nor is there anyone who can love more than God does.

Johnny’s family will take comfort in knowing he is with the one whom he trusted as his Savior. When death knocks, be sure you know where you’re going when you answer.

Tweetable: Will you be ready when death knocks?

Prayer: Father, thank You that we can know where we’ll spend eternity when death knocks.

*Name changed to protect the privacy of the family. 

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Love Fulfills - Martin Wiles

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 NLT

In a split second, their lives were changed.

Bobby and Jackie were a young couple with a small child. He had been called into youth ministry and was serving in a little church not far from Jackie’s home. Things were going well—until the accident.

Out of nowhere, a truck slammed into their vehicle. Jackie and their infant daughter, Angie, weren’t seriously injured, but Bobby’s life was changed forever. The wreck placed him in a vegetative state for the remainder of his life.

I was told the story when I became Jackie’s pastor. Angie was a young child without a father, Jackie was a young wife and mother who for all practical purposes had no husband, and Bobby lay in a nursing home fifty miles away.

I visited Bobby once a month, and every time one of his family members was present. They all took turns caring for him. Bobby was fed with a tube, but he still needed constant attention. Coughing spells racked his body. Fluids drained from his mouth and nose.

As I watched Bobby’s family tend to his special needs, I realized what the apostle Paul meant. For the committed Jew, the law consisted of the Ten Commandments, the ceremonial laws, and the laws added by the religious authorities. For Paul, it was simply God’s moral laws, and all of them could be obeyed by merely loving one’s neighbor.

I’ve seen enough love for the wrong reasons. The consequences are never pretty. But loving for the right reason paints a beautiful portrait. I can experience and demonstrate love because Christ has loved me. While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me and now gives me the opportunity to love for Him.

Loving others sets an example. As I watched Bobby’s family perform the unpleasant parts of caring for an invalid, I was reminded of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. The example was inspiring. My loving others gives an example to those who desperately need to see love in action.

When I love my neighbor as myself, I also point them to Christ. My words may not crack the hard shell of someone who doubts or disbelieves in Christ, but it’s hard to argue with acts of love. They say what my words can’t adequately speak.

Just ask, and God will give you myriad opportunities to put love for others into action.

Prayer: Father, give us the fortitude to love others as You love us so we might point a hurting world to a healing Savior. 

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