Words of Comfort

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (I Thessalonians 4:18)

To be acquainted with the facts of the Second Coming of Jesus and to know He could call up the dead in Christ in the resurrection and take up the Christians in the next moment should be frightening to the unsaved. To the lost and unprepared the subject of the Second Coming is given as a warning. 

While the Second Coming of Jesus is a fearful warning to the lost, it is comfort and hope to the saved. The Bible is addressing Christians in our text. The original readers were relatively new Christians with questions about their saved, departed loved ones. They are referred to here as the “dead in Christ.”

What God says to them He says to us. “Comfort one another with these words.” Loved ones are taken from us in death. Perhaps they had a lingering illness. Or, maybe they died instantly of a heart attack or accident. Those remaining need comfort. There is no better comfort to the bereaved than the subject of the second coming of Jesus and the reunion of the saved that will follow His return. 

Read and read again this great passage where our text for today is found. Comfort one another with these words.

Just as I Am

“…How is it that He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, He saith unto them, ‘they that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” (Mark 2:16-17)

I am reminded of the hymn written by Charlotte Elliot.

Just As I Am

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bid’st me come to thee

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

Oh Lamb of God, I come! I come.”

To receive eternal life and be saved from eternal separation from God, you must go to Christ the Savior just as you are, not pretending innocence or pleading goodness. You come as you are but you do not stay as you are. He will save you and make you what He wants you to be.

Forgive us Our Debts

“…to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” (Luke 7:47)

These words were spoken by our Savior in the house of Simon, the Pharisee. Jesus is Simon’s guest and a woman in the city, which was a sinner, came in and washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and anointed His feet with ointment.

Simon never said anything aloud but thought, “If this man were a prophet he would have known this woman was a sinner.”

Jesus knew Simon’s thoughts and told Simon a story of a creditor which had two debtors. One owed five hundred pence and the other fifty. Neither of the debtors had anything to pay so the creditor forgave both their debts. Then Jesus asked, “Which one will love the creditor the most?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.”

The point of the story is that Simon, like many people today, never saw himself as a sinner. Simon exemplified little affection for Jesus just as the people who perhaps have some knowledge of Jesus but, not admitting their sinfulness and consequently no need of forgiveness, feel that they have had little for which to be forgiven and therefore love Jesus very little.

The woman was a sinner and knew it. Simon was a sinner and would not admit it. It has been said that one who will not admit he is a sinner will not admit he needs Jesus’ forgiveness.

Don’t Condone the Things that God Opposes

“…Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:32)

God’s Word reminds us of how desperately sinful we are that He might show us how desperately we need Jesus to be our Savior. The first three chapters of Romans show the exceeding sinfulness of mankind.

In Romans 1:18-28 we see listed God’s view of some of today’s accepted yet sinful lifestyles and then in verses 29-31 we see a list of twenty-three items on a “bill of particulars,” of some of mankind’s sins. This is followed by our text which tells us that not only do men do those things but have pleasure in those who do them.

In this day of “political correctness,” we are not to oppose many of the sinful lifestyles that have the judgment of God upon them. We are supposed to accept some of the most ungodly, outlandish behavior known in the history of humanity.

We Christians must be careful for whom we vote in elections lest we vote for someone who condones the things that God opposes.  

Why Worry?

 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

My mother told me of an aunt who was a worrier. She would go through the house, wadding and un-wadding her apron in her hands and with a frown on her face repeat, “Oh, me; oh, my.” One day she was overheard saying, “Oh, my. Now let me see: What was it I was worried about?”

Someone said, “There are three things not to worry about: things you can fix, control or do something about; things you can’t fix, control or do anything about, or things you have turned over to God.” That leaves nothing to worry about.

Be anxious for nothing. Don’t worry about anything. Pray about everything and thank God for His invitation for you to come into His presence and lay your burdens and cares at His feet. The old hymn says, “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”

Brotherly Love

“Let brotherly love continue.” (Hebrews 13:1)

A child was praying his bed time prayer. He was asking God’s blessing on Papaw and Mamaw, the new baby calf, his kindergarten teacher and the old dog that was sick. He prayed for his preacher and then said, “Excuse me God. I gotta go kick my ornery brother.” That was not brotherly love.

The words, “Brotherly Love,” are from the Greek word, Philadelphia,” the same as that city in Pennsylvania, the city of brotherly love. I wonder if every one in Philadelphia loves every one else in that city. I seriously doubt it.

A young man with both mental and physical afflictions attended a certain church regularly. When someone asked him why he attended that church he said, “…because they love a fellow over at that church.” That was brotherly love.

Striving Against Sin

“Ye have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin.” (Hebrews 12:4)

The Bible teaches us from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 to make a stand against sin and sinful activities. We are to stand against sin even in our own minds and bodies. Job was one who feared God and shunned evil.

The martyrs, “resisted unto blood striving against sin.” John the Baptist is a case in point. When he withstood Herod concerning Herod having the wife of his brother Philip, John was thrown into jail and was decapitated.

Stephen, in Acts chapters six and seven, is another who resisted unto blood striving against sin. Neither of these great men just “went along” to get along.

How strongly do you oppose and resist sin in yourself, in society, in your family, friends and acquaintances?  Or do you just keep quiet and not resist sin?

If we would make a difference and turn our nation around from destruction, we must make a stand against sin.

Consider Him

“For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:3)

Believe it or not, there are people who oppose the Christian faith and the Christian lifestyle. If you do as the old hymn, “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus,” suggests you will encounter opposition.

Vance Havner said, “They told me my preaching was rubbing the fur the wrong way.  No, no, I’m rubbing the right direction. The old cat just needs to turn around.”

When we in the Christian race encounter opposition and hostilities and feel like quitting, we need to consider our Savior and how He endured the opposition of sinners.

Look to Christ Jesus and keep on keeping on.

The Finish Line

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

The runners in the recent Olympics trained for years, running up and down stairs, running in the rain, running when they had rather been sleeping, running, running and running. They had the final finish line in Rio in mind as they kept their bodies in shape, depriving themselves of rest even when their muscles ached.

When He was on the cross, Jesus had the final finish line at the right hand of God in mind and the joy of seeing people receive salvation which He paid for with His stripes. If you are one of His He continues to make intercession for you before the Father.

The cross was not a Sunday picnic. It was something He endured. No suffering from the hands of wicked, cruel men could stop His love and compassion for sinners like you and me.

Running the Christian Race

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us….” (Hebrews 12:1)

The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, which have been going for two weeks, have come to an end. 

We Christians are in a race which began the moment we received salvation and will continue until we see Jesus in glory. Our race is set “before” us, not beside us in the other person’s lane. It is “before” us, not behind us in the lanes of the stragglers and careless. We are to run our race with patience, perseverance and endurance while laying aside every encumbrance and hindrance.

We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, not onlookers, but testifiers and martyrs found in Hebrews chapter eleven. We study their lives to see the faith they had in God and how they stood firm in the conflict and never gave up.

We are to fix our eyes on Jesus our Savior, the Author and Finisher of our faith. We are to stay focused. 

Whose Side are You On?

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

If you do not assemble with other Christians today you will miss the things that Thomas missed on the evening of the same day that Christ was raised from the dead. Thomas was not there and his faith was not helped as was the faith of the others who were there and experienced the Living Christ.

If you assemble with Christians today you will experience sweet fellowship, the privilege of hearing the message that God has for you through His preacher and the encouragement of other believers.

If you assemble in the name of Christ with your church other believers will benefit from your smile, your contribution to the singing of the hymns and your prayers. Someone who needs it will be helped by your encouragement.

The best way to begin this new week today is to assemble with God’s people as we each give and receive strength from each other. Plus, your assembling with God’s people in God’s house tells the world whose you are and whose side you are on. By the way, whose side are you on?

Let Jesus Change You

“And Jesus said unto her, ‘neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.’” 

(John 8:11)

When scribes and Pharisees brought a woman guilty of adultery into the midst of an early morning Bible study where Jesus was teaching, they thought they had entrapped Him on the horns of a dilemma. They said to Jesus that the Law of Moses had said that such a woman should be stoned to death. Actually, the Law of Moses said that both the man and the woman were to be stoned to death. So, where was the guilty man in this case?

Jesus let it be known that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that through Him the world could be saved. (John 3:17)

Jesus did not condemn the woman. The law had already done that. But neither did He condone her sin. He came neither to condemn sinners nor to condone their sin. He came to convert sinners. He said to her, “Go and sin no more.” That was a commandment impossible to follow without the converting power of Jesus.

Will you bring your condemnation and guilt to Jesus that He might convert and change you into a child of God?

When You Cannot Form a Prayer

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26)

There are many times when the right words cannot be formed on our lips to express an appropriate prayer. The sorrow is too deep, the pain is almost unbearable, or the financial or health need is beyond our reach. You try to pray, but find yourself tearfully repeating in low, agonizing tones, “Oh, God. Oh, God”

Finally a peace settles over you. What happened? The Holy Spirit knew what you needed and made proper intercession for you with a groaning greater than any word you could have formed.

Beloved, when you trusted Christ as your Savior and surrendered your life to Him, the Holy Spirit came to live in you. He continues to help you, enable you and make intercession for you in ways you cannot imagine. If you have put off giving your heart to Him, I encourage you to do that today.

I Thank My God

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” (Philippians 1:3)

This is the fourth and final devotion prefaced by these words, “I thank my God…” As near as I can discover there are only four places in the New Testament where these four words are placed together in this exact way: Romans 1:8; I Corinthians 1:4; Philemon 1:4 and here, in Philippians 1:3.

Paul could remember the Macedonian call to go to Philippi. He thanked God for that memory. He could remember Lydia, the lady merchant, the seller of purple and her household from Thyatira and their conversion and baptism. He remembered casting out the demon which inhabited the young girl. He remembered the conversion of the jailer and his household. He remembered and wrote about the monetary help the Philippians sacrificially gave for ministry.

It would be wonderful to live in such a way as to have folks thank God for everything they remembered about us. It would be equally wonderful to be able to thank God for every remembrance we have of previous churches with whom we have been associated.

Thank God for Fellow Christians

“I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers.” (Philemon 1:4)

Philemon is an active, devoted Christian whom the Apostle Paul refers to as a dearly beloved fellow laborer. While he was in prison, Paul met an inmate who was a runaway slave, named Onesimus. He stole some money from his master before he ran away.  While in prison Paul leads Onesimus to Christ. As in any true conversion, Onesimus wants to make things right, to return to his master, Philemon, and restore the money he stole.

Paul wrote this letter from prison to Philemon. In it he encourages Philemon to receive and forgive his converted slave and to treat him as a brother. He tells Philemon that if Onesimus owes him anything, “…put that on my account…I will repay it.”

It is with all this in mind that Paul writes this word of thanks in our text regarding Philemon. We should give thanks to God for fellow believers who always attempt to do the right thing.

Changed by the Grace of God

“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ…” (I Corinthians 1:4)

Of all the churches with whom the Apostle Paul had dealings, probably the most sinful and licentious place for any church was the city of Corinth. The believers were living in a wicked environment and many in the church in Corinth had been saved and rescued from the Corinthian lifestyle.

We are told, “…Be not deceived: neither fornicators, idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:9-12)

In our text Paul gives thanks for the grace of God at work and available to change lives. Only by the grace of God can it be said, “…such WERE (past tense) some of you.”

God desires to save people from sinful lifestyles. His grace is amazing. His grace is available.

Living the Christian Life in Difficult Conditions

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.” (Romans 1:8)

The Christians in Rome were living in a very difficult place. It was the place of emperor worship and false gods represented by every kind of idol imaginable. Even in the midst of these difficulties the saints in Rome continued to have faith and to live their faith. They had a faith that others in the known world heard about and talked about.

That is the kind of faith we must have in this present sinful world. When the world is inclined to mock and ridicule our way of life and the things we believe in and stand for, pray for faith that will stand the test and that others will see as being real and will be an encouragement to them.

It is one thing to live the Christian life on Sunday morning within the four walls of a building, surrounded by other believers.  The Christians in Rome were examples of living the Christian life in hard places and in hard times.

In the Time of Old Age

“Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.”  (Psalm 71:9)

When my father turned forty I thought he was “over the hill.” I thought he was an old man. How little I knew!  I passed my fortieth birthday like a jet plane.

The psalmist is up in years, has experienced God and His care along the way and now acknowledges God’s continued presence.

The Book of Ecclesiastes describes old age as a time of weakness, when one is scared of heights, when eyesight is failing and one awakens at the sound of the rooster crowing, before daylight.

It is in such a time that the psalmist makes his appeal to God not to forsake him. He seems to be saying, “God, I need you now in my old age and weakened state more than ever.”

As we get older God is still trustworthy and dependable. Let us learn to lean on the Lord. He has made the promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Job: An Example of a Good Father

“And his (Job’s) sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said,  ‘It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus did Job continually.” (Job 1:4-5)

There is no record of any sin being committed by any of the children of Job. But, Job knew human nature and that “foolishness is often bound in the heart of a child,” even adult children. Job addressed the remote possibility that his children might have sinned in their hearts. He took care of this early in the morning. We must start early; early in the day, early in their lives and early in our own lives. We must make Spiritual training of our children a major priority.

Job was not only a good man who feared God and shunned evil; he was a good, concerned and caring father. It is not necessary to be rich, as Job was, to be a good parent.  We need to learn how to pray for our children and help them in making right eternal choices. We must be good examples before our children. A good example is someone who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way.

Don’t Be Weary of God’s Correction

“My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction: For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (Proverbs 3:12)

Earthly fathers who truly love their children will correct them. The writer of Hebrews went so far as to say a child without correction and chastisement could even question if he is loved and perhaps if he is even legitimate. That’s pretty strong.

The same is true for a professing Christian. It is not the person who is not a child of God that receives the chastening hand of God and His correction. It is the beloved one, the one whom He loves as His child and will spend eternity with who receives correction.

If you can continue in sin and not be corrected you should check your relationship to God to see if you are one of His. If you are not a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ you can correct that now by turning away from your sin and turning in faith to Christ.

God’s Permissive Will

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  (II Peter3:9)

God has a directed will, such as His will for the sun to come up in the east and set in the west. He also has a permissive will, such as letting bad things happen to good people or permitting a person to refuse to take life-saving medicine prescribed by one’s physician.

In His permissive will God will allow a person to never repent, believe on Jesus nor follow Him.  While He is not willing that any should perish and desires that everyone  receive His Son by faith and be saved, He will not violate man’s choice.

But why would anyone refuse the only way of salvation and live a hopeless eternity separated from God? Receive Jesus by faith today.

Keep on Keeping on

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9)

We all need encouragement from time to time. Paul had been encouraging fellow believers in the churches in Galatia to keep on walking in the Spirit, and to not go back into legalism.

We are encouraged not to give up in our Christian walk. Even though you may feel like throwing up your hands in frustration and asking God to just stop the world and let you get off, it’s always too early to quit.

That fellow worker at the office or factory has promised numerous times to attend church with you, but you see no fruit for your labor, don’t quit. Ask them one more time. Pray for that wayward son or daughter one more time. Share the Gospel one more time with that grandchild. Don’t quit. Don’t be weary in walking the straight and narrow way. We have a promise from God. The Bible says that, “we ought always to pray and not faint. (Luke 18:1)

Keep on keeping on.

Hear the Word of the Lord

“…Oh, ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.” (Ezekiel 37:4)

Hearing the Word of the Lord is of utmost importance.

God’s hand was upon Ezekiel the prophet of God and set him out in the middle of a valley full of dry bones. These bones represented the whole house of Israel. This was a prophesy of the restoration of Israel in the last days. It was after the hearing of the Word that these bones came to life.

In the messages to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation chapters two and three the Lord concludes each message with these words:“He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

The Bible tells us that, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

God tells Christian people not to forsake assembling together as some do. Assemble to hear the Word. Let it speak to you and increase your faith and give you direction for life.

Did you hear a message from God’s Holy Word last Sunday?

The Redeemed of the Lord

“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so…” (Psalm 107:2)

In the country church from my childhood where I was saved, I recall the “testimony meetings,” usually impromptu testimonies at the mid-week prayer meeting service or during the Sunday evening worship service.

I recall the old saints getting up and telling how the Lord had saved them by His grace. Sometimes there would be tears. Other times there would be joyful laughter. Occasionally there would be a genuine shout of rejoicing as someone told how God had changed them. It was a time for the redeemed of the Lord to say so. Always, it was a time of praising the Lord and giving Him thanks.

As I have gotten older I realize that the redeemed of the Lord should say so in private, on the job, at school, at a friend or neighbor’s house, as well as in a testimony meeting within the four walls of a church house.

Wherever we are, the redeemed of the Lord should let the world know by our words and by the life that we live. The world is waiting for genuine word of praise and testimony from the redeemed of the Lord.

What to do with Secret Sins

“…cleanse thou me from secret faults.” (Psalm 19:12)

All of us have heard someone say, “I would never commit a sin like that man (or woman) did.”  Perhaps you have said it yourself.

But tucked away, out of the seeing eyes of others is something that they would never want others to know. It may be a sin from the long-ago past. It could be a sinful habit that has been kept concealed. These are secret faults, unknown to other people.

But the Bible says, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3) So, the Psalmist is asking God to cleanse him from those secret, hidden things that only he and God know about.

If you have such a sin, take it to the Great Forgiver and claim this promise: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)

The Biggest Fool of All

“The fool hath said in his heart, ‘There is no God’…” (Psalm 53:1)

An atheist died. On the day of his funeral folks came by the coffin to express their grief and to offer comfort to the man’s family. One of the mourners was overheard to say, “Just think. He’s all dressed up with no place to go.”

But, denying the reality of heaven or hell for eternity does not alter the fact that each of us will live forever in one of those places.

With the abundant evidence concerning heaven and hell and with even more abundant evidence concerning God’s great love in sending Jesus to save us from hell and to give us a home in heaven, only a fool would reject it all. Plus, the atheist is rejecting God’s grace, mercy and strength to see him through the present difficulties and trials on earth.

Don’t be foolish. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him into your heart.

A Prepared Place for Prepared People

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

While making a hospital visit to an elderly lady with a broken shoulder, I commented that “a better day is coming.”  For those who know the Lord Jesus Christ there will be a better day for you also.

Heaven is a real place where there are no tears, death, sorrow, crying and no pain. There will be peace forever in heaven. There will be no sin so we won’t need to lock our doors nor will we need to ever call the police.

When Jesus told His original twelve He was going away to prepare a place for us, that’s the place He promised us. It is a prepared place for His prepared people.

Explaining Creation in Ten Words

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

Before there was a single atom, molecule, speck of dust or anything that we might see with a microscope, there was God. The Psalmist said, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalm 90:2)

The Bible says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:3) It can correctly be said that God stood upon nothing and with nothing in His hand spoke the universe into existence. The word, “create” means, “To make something from nothing.”

The evolutionary scientist attempts to tell us how it evolved into existence. But God asked Job, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.” (Job 38:4)  

The Lord Gave the Word

“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.”  (Psalm 68:11)

Our Bible comes to us from the mind, heart and mouth of God. In the first chapter of Genesis we see the words, “and God said,” ten times. Moses wrote it down, along with the rest of Genesis and the next four books of the Bible.

Over a period of 1,500 years, in different parts of the world forty-five men wrote what God said. The Bible says, “…Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (II Peter 1:21) Paul reminds us in his second epistle to Timothy that all scripture is given by inspiration of God. It is the, “God breathed book.”

I think of the great host of Godly men that published and continue to publish God’s word. In addition to Moses there were the prophets, some speaking, some writing and others doing both speaking and writing. There were and are the pastors, their tongues ablaze with God’s word. There were the apostles, giving the fledgling churches of the first century directions for them and future generations of believers. Add to this number the many unnamed witnesses.

Be one of the many in that great multitude of people who are spreading God’s word to people around the world.

He Sat Where We Sat

“…and I sat where they sat…” (Ezekiel 3:15)

Ezekiel the prophet of God came to the Jews in captivity in Babylon. He sat among them for seven days. He was identifying with them in their gloom, sorrow and pain.

The world has been a sinful place since the days of Adam and Eve. In God’s love for mankind living in this sinful world He sent Jesus. In the Gospel of John Jesus is called the “Word.” In John 1:14 we are told, “…and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”  God “sat where we sat.” He identified with us.

Following His sinless life among mankind He was crucified as the perfect sacrifice for payment for our sins. Three days later He arose from the dead and forty days after that He ascended to heaven where as our High Priest He makes intercession for us at the right side of God.

The Bible says, “We have not a High priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15) All of this is possible because “He sat where we sat.”

God Meant it for Good

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50:20)

If Joseph’s older brothers had not mistreated Joseph resulting in his being sold into Egypt, he would not have been there to rescue his father, his brothers and their wives and children from starvation in a great world famine. When they were begging Joseph’s forgiveness he addressed them with the words of our text.

God has a way of taking bad things and making good things happen. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” 

Thousands and thousands of people world-wide over the centuries have benefited from the cruelty toward Jesus at Calvary and His death at the instigation of the Jews and the hands of the Romans. They meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.

Has someone mistreated you? God knows about it and can bless you as a result of that mistreatment. Turn the results over to God, as Joseph did. God can bring good out of bad.