Thought of the Day

Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 TNIV

What happened when Jesus Christ walked onto the earth, what happened at the Easter resurrection, is all about God telling you he is not out to condemn you. Jesus made that very clear to Nicodemus...

For God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world, but to save the world
through him. John 3:17 TNIV

Jesus is not interested in condemning us, but instead bringing life, forgiveness and wholeness to us. Paul writes in Romans 8...

Who then can condemn? No one.
Christ Jesus who died more than that, who was raised to life
is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:35 TNIV

Not only do we learn that Jesus is not condemning us, Jesus is even interceding for us with the Father.

God is a God of love, grace, kindness and mercy.

King David wrote

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love
and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15 ESV

I love that part about God being slow to anger.

That is reassuring to me that no matter how many times I mess up, God responds with love rather than anger. When we understand that God is......

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.2 Corinthians 1:3 TNIV

...then we understand and trust that God will indeed bring us hope and comfort. I think that is the reason most people love the 23rd Psalm...

Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NIV

When we see God for who God is we find hope and comfort.

Glen VanderKloot
Faith Lutheran Church
(taken from Online with Faith)