Life Can Change
Life can change so rapidly. The fires raging in California this week came suddenly and are life-altering for many of our countrymen as well as our extended family in Christ. Intercessory prayer is of the utmost importance as a form of help to those on the receiving end of this trial — unseen by the afflicted as it may be. The Apostle James, however, encourages us with the fact that the effective fervent prayer of a righteous person avail much.
God our Father adds another dimension in terms of help offered. “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” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). We are the spiritually begotten children of our Father of all comfort. Again, though unseen, we know by faith that He is with us in every circumstance, from which we derive great comfort. Like our Father, we are to comfort those who are in any trouble, whether physical or spiritual. Phone calls or other sorts of communication are always a comfort. Just knowing we support each other and care is a huge benefit while under stress.
Many of the faithful affected by the fires attend various of the organizations that comprise God’s one Church. What a great opportunity we have, in this circumstance, to glorify God in our attitudes among ourselves. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5–6). Showing God’s love among ourselves not only glorifies God, but it also is a witness to the world that Christ is our head. We earnestly need to make use of every opportunity to that end.
Because of who our Father is and what our Elder Brother has done for us, we can sometimes take an additional step. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). Here is how we can do that. “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17–18). When there is some physical assistance needed and we can give it, then we should love in deed and in truth.
Life can change so rapidly and so can hearts.
Marshall Stiver
