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Paul speaking to an assembled crowd in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia: “The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment. After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.” (Acts 13.17-20).

Previously Barnabas…  ( Click for more )

The first biblical use of the word comfort was in regards to Noah's birth and the expectation of his father, Lamech, concerning his son (see Genesis 5.29). Lamech's expectations of comfort arose from the promises made by the God of all comfort following the sins of the original pair. Since those promises were made centuries earlier, it seems that there was probably common knowledge of God's plans to comfort man from the hardships brought on by sin.

However, Noah was not the Great Comforter that had been promised. In fact, as it turned out he also was in need of comfort. His soul,…  ( Click for more )

Lamech hoped that Noah [which means comfort or rest] would bring to the human race the comfort that was so terribly needed. (Genesis 5.29). He knew about the curse which God had placed upon humanity due to the sins of Adam and Eve; he also knew that there was hope for relief (comfort) from that curse (see Genesis 3.15 where the Seed of woman was promised to triumph over the serpent). While Noah was not the promised seed, there are events involving him that are worthy of our attention.

If a person’s character is a good predictor of how one will react under certain circumstances,…  ( Click for more )

The God of ALL comfort pronounced a curse and issued a promise of comfort at the same time (see yesterday’s installment and Genesis 3). This was the original “good news” - “bad news” scenario. From that time forward, at least some of humanity began to look for God to immediately fulfill His promise. This probably included some who did not trust God explicitly, but they hoped against hope that the promised comfort would come. Our message today will take a quick look at events after the Garden of Eden and before the appearance of Abraham, father of the…  ( Click for more )

The God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1.3) is the same God who sometimes delivers messages of sorrow. In our first installment of The God of all Comfort, we reviewed how Adam and Eve heard messages of overwhelming sorrow from the mouth of the One who had previously been such a comfort to them. To be swallowed up in sorrow is not a good thing; it takes away one's will to live and grow spiritually. God knew this to be a fact and before He delivered His messages of sorrow to Adam and Eve, He prefaced it with a message of comfort and hope. In today's devotional, we will take a…  ( Click for more )

Mercy and comfort are inextricably linked. The same God who is the Father of mercies is the God of all comfort. As evidence of these facts, the following is cited: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort…” (2 Corinthians 1.3). Today we will begin an overview of comfort and mercy, but with an initial emphasis on comfort. Through out this series our focus will continually be on the fact that God is the God of all comfort!

When God made man and woman, He placed them in a beautiful garden in which…  ( Click for more )

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort…” (2 Corinthians 1.3). For purposes of our discussion today, we will focus on just the word comfort. For now, suffice it to say that God has a significant role to play when it comes to comfort. Note also that the comfort which God offers is linked to His merciful nature. He feels (that’s mercy) and He acts (that’s comfort). These two characteristics go hand in hand to enable us to call Him, “Blessed!”

In our study today, we will…  ( Click for more )

There is the father of our country, George Washington, the father of geometry, Euclid, and the father of medicine, Hippocrates. Each of these great men is referred to as father as a result of his unique contribution in a specialized arena. However, these men, great as they may have been, pale in comparison to our focus Father of today. Paul wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort...” (2 Corinthians 1.3). Our study today will be limited to a brief review of some biblical expressions which bear a resemblance…  ( Click for more )

“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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.” (2 Corinthians…  ( Click for more )

"Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You,…  ( Click for more )

"They [the children of Israel] made a calf in Horeb, And worshiped the molded image. Thus they changed their glory into the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, Wondrous works in the land of Ham, Awesome things by the Red Sea. Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them." (Psalm 106.19-23).

A cursory reading of the focus text would indicate to the believer the special relationship that existed between…  ( Click for more )

"But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. Therefore, since we have…  ( Click for more )

"And they [the children of Israel] rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, ‘Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised, for we have sinned!’ And Moses said, ‘Now why do you transgress the command of the LORD? For this will not succeed. Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the LORD is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the LORD, the LORD will not be with you.’ But they…  ( Click for more )

Note: We will return to the series on Mercy and not Sacrifice very soon!

"I’d rather be right than wrong!" These words came from an excited (but temporarily confused) friend of mine a few years back. What she meant to say was, "I’d rather be right than be President." Of course this famous quote is from Henry Clay, 19th century statesman and politician. In thinking about Moses, this attitude of being right as opposed to rich and powerful certainly leaps to the forefront. Or, to put it as the Hebrews writer did, "By faith Moses, when he became…  ( Click for more )

"And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tablets of the Testimony were in his hand. The tablets were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other they were written. Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets. And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, ‘There is a noise of war in the camp.’ But he said: ‘It is not the noise of the shout of victory, Nor the noise of the cry of defeat, But the sound of singing I hear.’ So it was,…  ( Click for more )

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion [mercy], making a distinction [discriminating; judging thoroughly]; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (Jude 1.20-23).

As a reader, you are certainly encouraged to read the larger context of the passage just cited, but our emphasis will be on distinction that Christians are to…  ( Click for more )

Perception does not change reality, but it sure can change me! Where we “come from” religiously can and frequently does have a huge impact on how we react to certain spiritual issues as well as how we treat others who “come from” a different place. Today's message will deal with these facts under the heading of Mercy and not Sacrifice.

I didn't know what it meant to live in a home where God's will was not a daily consideration. On the other hand, I didn't know what a burden was being placed on many professed believers under the guise of, “This is…  ( Click for more )

Under the heading of religion, what, if anything, is wrong with requiring more of a believer than God requires? Today's message will answer this question in the context of our ongoing series, Mercy and not Sacrifice.

Just from a commonsense standpoint, it would seem rather presumptuous of someone to ask more of a believer than God would ask. I have heard others say that we serve a hard God, but if that is true and I ask more of a fellow-believer than He asks, what does that make me? Like I said, it just doesn't seem right that anyone should be more stringent than God in his/her…  ( Click for more )

Inasmuch as the correct attitude (mercy) is of more importance to God than the correct form of worship (sacrifice), one would expect a huge difference between the Old testament Law and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That change is borne out in many ways. This series will highlight some of the differences between the two covenants as they relate to mercy and sacrifice.

Form of worship includes many things such as location, posture, apparel, special formulas or words, and other such considerations. Note that form differs from attitude in that form can be mimicked by the worshipper…  ( Click for more )

Which is of more importance to God: 1) The correct form of worship, or 2) The correct attitude of the worshipper? This series of articles entitled Mercy and not Sacrifice sets forth the understanding that the latter, i.e. the correct attitude of the worshipper, is of far greater concern to God than the form. Our series will continue to focus on this principle since so many people are unfortunately bound up in the mechanics of worship rather than the unfettered praise of God that is offered to Him out of a heart overflowing with gratitude for His wonderful gifts.

In order to grasp…  ( Click for more )

Since there is a connection between my actions and God's mercy extended toward me, does this mean that I deserve (earn) God's mercy? This question can be stated another way that more formally captures a point of theological difference; here is the other way this question can be posed: If my receipt of God's spiritual blessings depends upon works (my actions), doesn't that make salvation “works based”? Our focus will be on this point today.

Let's check what we know. We know that God extends special mercies (spiritual blessings) to those who love Him (see yesterday's…  ( Click for more )

Is there a connection between my actions and God's extension of mercy to me? This question will be the focal point of today's message.

In order to find an answer to this question, it will be necessary to turn to the Bible. To rely upon mere human testimonies (uninspired witnesses) is to enter a world of contradictory claims which can yield no conclusive answer. Therefore, our response will be in terms of what the Bible says and not the claims of present day men.

The first hint that there might be a connection between the actions of men and the mercy that God extends toward…  ( Click for more )

I am a small time fan of mind puzzles. I have sort of one for you to consider as a basis of thought for some remaining articles under title of this article, Mercy and not Sacrifice. Actually the main thought comes from a discussion that I had with Pat, my best friend and wife. She and I come from two very different spiritual backgrounds. It is interesting and challenging to compare notes sometimes about our individual conclusions about God. There was a “fill in the blank question” that arose from one of our discussions and it is this question that we now pursue.

First,…  ( Click for more )

"Words never saved anybody!" At least that is what someone was heard to say. However is it true? Can words save? Consider that question as we look at today's devotional lesson.

Cornelius saw "…an angel standing in his house, who said to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.'" (Acts 11.13-14). In this case, words were instrumental in the salvation of Cornelius, but he was not saved by words alone.

Do you know what saves man from sin and brings…  ( Click for more )