Author: STANDPOINT360

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.1.3-4.NLT

What comes to mind when you think of living in comfort?  Sunshine, warmth, good health, family, friends, and adequate resources are a few words that come to mind for me.  

Paul uses the word “comfort” in a very different way.  In short, comfort is God’s response to suffering. God is our “merciful Father” and the “source of all comfort.”  Recognizing God as the source of all comfort releases us into His amazing care.  

God comforts us in all of our troubles.   Paul is writing of something he knows about and has experienced. “We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety”. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NLT

We are asked to comfort others in their troubles. What we have to offer is the same comfort God has given us in response to the suffering we have endured. There is something powerful when someone comes alongside you in a hard time, and extends comfort (not answers) in response to your suffering. Presence, prayer, encouragement, grace, and humility are qualities of God that show up in the life of a comforter.  Real comfort keeps one focused on what is true about God and life. 

Reflection

Hardship and suffering are part of life in a broken world.  While it may vary in its severity from person to person, no one escapes this.  

Comfort is God’s response to suffering.  He is the source comfort.  His comfort lives through our suffering to help us endure and help others by providing comfort. 

Encouragement

Perhaps its time to stop measuring the quality of life by the absence of suffering.  Consider looking at life by the measure of comfort God gives so that we can endure through challenging times, and, in turn, be a comfort to others, reflecting how amazing God is. 

Prayer

Father God, thank You for Your merciful comfort in a world that inflicts hardship and suffering.  Thank You for being the source of comfort.  Holy Spirit, thank You for Your real time presence in our lives, offering comfort by Your very presence. Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice that gives us a new relationship with God, through You.  Ultimate suffering was Your journey Jesus.  Unlimited comfort for everyone who believes is Your gift. May we be people who comfort others from the source of comfort. 

In Jesus name, Amen

Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.

Amos 5:24 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/amo.5.24.NLT

Make no mistake about this: We are prone to lose our way with God.  

Be it as an individual, family, community, church, county, state, or national level, we become enamored with options that are contrary to the heart of God.  We set God aside, while still offering vague references to Him, as if we are appeasing Him.  We accept a prideful self-reliance and even open up to multiple objects of worship in our arrogance. 

Even within the Body of Christ, worship can so easily become production with no real concern for people who are lost and dying in complete brokenness.  We don’t strain for what matters to God anymore. 

The prophet Amos sees all of this as if a funeral song was being written in real time for everyone living this way.  This is serious.  

Listen to some of the descriptions Amos writes about when we try to live without God:

• People die in big numbers: “When a city sends a thousand men to battle, only a hundred will return.”  Amos 5:3 NLT
• Bad treatment of people: “You twist justice, making it a bitter pill for the oppressed. You treat the righteous like dirt.” Amos 5:7 NLT “You trample the poor, stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent.” Amos 5:11 NLT.
• Honesty and Truth are no longer valued: “How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth!” Amos 5:10 NLT

Amos describes this as an evil time. 

Reflection

In the context of just how serious the situation is, there is a wonderful invitation that shows up throughout the chapter “Come back to the Lord and live!”  God is wanting us to know that it is not too late.  We are invited to be devoted to God.  We are challenged to focus on justice and a river of righteousness.  We are asked to run from evil so we might live.  

Encouragement

We are in a very serious time of evil, where choices being made that fly in the face of God and His ways.  This invitation to “Come back to the Lord and live!” is such a gift.  There is a way of living that brings freedom and help to everyone.  This flows from the heart of God for the wellbeing of everyone. May we run from evil, come back to the Lord and live!  May there be a flood of just and righteous living that blesses everyone in the land. 

Prayer

Father God, thank You for the sobering words of Amos.  Thank You for being honest with us about the evil times we live in.  Thank You for being clear about our own vulnerability to get lost in all of this.  Thank You for inviting us back to You,  not giving up on us. Thank You for giving us yet, another opportunity to devote ourselves to You and live in ways that uplift everyone around us.  Thank You for Your honest and enduring love with us.  

In Jesus name, Amen

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

Psalms 24:1 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.24.1.NLT

Who owns what is a big deal to us.  Intellectual property rights, patents, copyrights, deeds of trust, and titles are examples of identifying who created this and who owns it now. Entire professions are built around keeping issues of creative license and ownership sorted out.  

King David, in Psalm 24 reminds us of a profound truth:  Anything created and produced by us, is being done in God’s created space. He is the original creator and owner.  It is all His.  We belong to God.  “For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.” Psalms 24:2

Reflection

By embracing the truth that everything belongs to God, we are able to think about being good stewards and caretakers of God’s creation and people.  

Rainier Camp and Retreat Center is located in the foothills of Mount Rainier in the state of Washington. The camp is developed on National Forest Service Land.  Running a Camp on property we do not own is different.  Everything about the property requires permission from the people who oversee the land we occupy.  It is not our land to do with as we please.  It is land we steward on behalf of the owner. We are constantly thinking about who we are accountable to, and how we can best honor that relationship. 

While this example has its limitations of making the point, it moves us in the right direction.  Shifting away from an attitude and orientation of ownership to a life of stewardship puts us in a much better place to embrace the truth that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” Psalms 24:1 NLT

Encouragement

We live and operate in a world that requires declaration of ownership.  God calls us to live in a way that acknowledges and declares the original designer and owner of everything.  We are stewards of something so much bigger than we are that is rooted in God and His will.  We belong to God.  We live for God.  We acknowledge God as the rightful owner of everything we have and everything we are.  There is freedom to be discovered in living this way. Lean into it.

Prayer

Dear Father God,

Thank You for reminding us that Your claim as original designer and owner stands true. Thank You for the blessing of belonging to You.  Thank You for the freedom of embracing stewardship of everything as Yours, rather than ownership of everything mine.  Living this way is pure wisdom.  Today, I pick up a life of stewardship and set aside a life of ownership. 

In Jesus name, Amen

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.1.7.NLT

A small group of us were receiving some coaching on how to encourage healthier engagement with everyone on the team.  There was one recommendation that stood out to me above the others: Every one-on-one meeting with team members should be 60% encouragement, 30% coaching, and 10% job performance improvement. 

This recommendation is brilliant and clear. The application extends far beyond team building in an organization.  Consider other areas of life and think about what the outcomes might be if we adjusted to this in our relationships.  

Reflection: In reading Paul’s second letter to Timothy, chapter 1 has this rich combination of encouragement, coaching, and improvement:

• Encouragement: Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again. I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2. Timothy 1:3-7 NLT 

• Coaching: So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

2. Timothy 1:8-9 NLT

• Improvement: Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

2 Timothy 1:13-14 NLT

Encouragement

Paul gives us a great example with Timothy of leading with encouragement, providing some coaching, and pointing out improvement.  Give thought as to how you can do this in your circles of influence. 

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for reminding us to lead in our relationships with encouragement.  Thank You for providing us with good example of coaching.  Thank You for the best guidance in the world, through Your word, to be living with a sense of becoming more like You in our thoughts and actions. 

In Jesus name, Amen

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 22:31-32 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.22.31-32.NLT

Jesus understands the challenge we face in following Him.  There is this profound concern that our faith will fail, and we would walk away from our trust and confidence in God altogether. He is keenly aware that Satan seeks to overwhelm and destroy us. 

He has a very specific response to this concern: “I have pleaded for you in prayer….that your faith should not fail.” Luke 22:31 excerpt. 

Jesus has just finished sharing the Passover meal with His disciples, where He explains what this wine and the bread will come to mean through Him.  His life sacrificed will save anyone who believes for the sin that separates them from God.  Separation from God is over for those who believe in Jesus.

During this meal Jesus talks of betrayal. Others talk of prominence and greatness in this new kingdom. Following the meal there is this conversation with Peter that is so profound.  Jesus let’s Peter know that Satan is going to come after each of the disciples with everything he can throw at them.  Jesus also lets Peter know that He has pleaded for Peter in prayer for a faith that will stand the attack, a repentance for personal failure, a return to Jesus with a commitment to strengthen others. 

Reflection

We know from Peter’s own words, that the intercession of Jesus as stronger than the attacks of Satan. Peter is standing firm in his faith, repented for personal failure, returned to Jesus,  and has devoted his life to strengthening others with the truth of Jesus Christ. 

Listen to Peter’s own words: In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

1 Peter 5:10 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.5.10.NLT

Encouragement

Jesus pleads for you and me in prayer.  He prays for a faith that will stand. He prays for repentance when we fail. He prays that we use our life for the encouragement of others.  Jesus’s prayers for you and me is stronger than the fiercest attacks of Satan.  We see the evidence of this truth lived out through Peter.  

Prayer

Dear Jesus, Thank You for pleading for Peter in prayer.  Thank You for doing the same for us. Thank You that Your intercession is more powerful than the attacks of Satan.  Help us to stand in our faith.  Lead us to repent when we fail. Restore us to You. Please help us encourage others.  

In Jesus name, Amen