"God comforts us in all our troubles...
so that we can comfort those in any trouble,
with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives,
so also through Christ, our comfort overflows.
Here are several Bible characters who share with us through their tears:
1) Jeremiah's tears (Jeremiah 8: 20-9:1)
He wept over the sins of the people, however before he did this...
he had wept over his own sins and had received God's forgiveness.
2) Jesus' tears- John 11: 30-38:
He wept with Mary and Martha over the death of their brother, Lazarus.
Sometimes the most we can do for someone in grief is to:
be near with tears...
prayers...
Scripture...
Or a hug.
Let God lead
Matthew 26:36-46:
Jesus wept over knowing for sure God's Will and following through to do it.
'Jesus wept' is the shortest verse in the Bible, but with a great example of His love.
Luke 13: 34-35:
"Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who killed the prophets and stoned those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate!
I tell you, you will not see me again until you say....
'Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord".
I've not written about Paul's tears, but Romans 9:1f and 10-1f teach us:
that Paul never got over being saved during his encounter with Jesus Christ....
on the Road to Damascus.
Here are Paul's main emphases with the churches that he started...
and the people in those churches.
1) Tears of conviction and repentance toward God for sins is a continuing need.
2) Faith in Jesus Christ needs to carry with it, faithfulness to Christ...
in and through the churches.
3) The Holy Spirit that led Paul to start these churches...
is the same Holy Spirit that can lead churches today!
Today we need to keep these priorities uppermost in our lives...
and in the life of our churches.
If we lose these priorities, we can sing and praise on Sunday....
but slip back into our old habits/routine on Monday.
Please remember it was Isaiah who said,
"When Israel travailed, she brought forth children."
The Psalmist also wrote in Ps. 126: 5,6:
"Those who sow in tears, reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, shall doubtless come again, rejoicing bringing their sheaves with them."
God uses broken things:
the sky breaks and rain comes....
the ground is broken and crops are planted....
the heart is broken with sin and repentance is possible....
(This kind of heart will yearn for the lost to be saved)
Richard Baxter told preachers to "preach as dying men to dying men".
In his old age, longtime Pastor R. G. Lee said...
"If I had my life to live over, I would be more of a comforter."
Someone else said, "We all need burning hearts, bursting lips, and brimming eyes".
We may wonder at times 'why' we are afflicted, but I believe that it can prepare us to be able to better comfort others who are also suffering.
While I was in the Army during the Korean War, I broke my ankle during basic training.
It would not heal, so I had to spend 75 days in the Ft. Carson Hospital.
I wondered 'why' many times, but years later when I entered the pastoral ministry,
I realized that that experience helped me be able to minister to others....
who were in similar situations.
Again, when I was diagnosed with vocal chord cancer in 1990, I noticed that when I visited with those who had also received the dreaded news of cancer, my experience seemed to 'free them up'. They were able to share their concern/fears when they realized that I too had experienced some of those same emotions.
I'm sure that you may have also realized that YOUR experiences have helped
'open the door' as you've reached out to others around you who are in grief or pain.
II Corinthians 1: 3-5:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction....with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."
Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28)
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