Comfort
Caringly responding to a hurting person through words, actions, emotional responses, and physical touch; hurting with and for others in the midst of their grief or pain. (Romans 12: 15 NASB; Matthew 5:4: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
What if loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind included joining Him being grieved over the things that break His heart? What if part of the “fellowship of His suffering” Paul wanted to experience (Philippians 3:10) includes suffering and grieving over what grieves the heart of Jesus?
Please Consider:
What Is The Greatest Thing in the World?
When asked this question, (What Is The Greatest Thing in the World?) there are countless possible answers, aren’t there? At any given time our answers may vary. Could you have a conversation with your spouse, another friend, your children, or perhaps a co-worker and make mental notes of your answers or, if you’re like me…maybe you should put the answers on paper or in your Notes app on your phone?
Please Discuss It:
This will make a good discussion-starter with any of the people in your life, and particularly would be great for a date night discussion.
1. List 3 or 4 of your own ideas or the opinions shared in your conversations this week. You share yours and ask your date / friend to give ideas to add to your list.
2. Pick the top 2 or 3 ideas or most popular answers and think through the following questions before discussing them:
A. What if everyone, without exception, lived in a way that perfectly (right or wrong) demonstrated that they believed that “person, place, or idea” was the greatest thing in the world? How would the world look, behave, smell, and feel?
B. What would the world be in 20 years if everyone chose the same “greatest thing in the world” from Question A?
3. If you happened to be the only person in the world that held to a different “greatest thing in the world”, how would you feel and what impact would others have on you…probably?
4. What if the love of God, as understood and lived by His Son Jesus, was everyone’s true “greatest thing in the world”? How would the world look, behave, and what would it become?
5. Why do you believe God Himself chose to reveal His true nature (I John 4:8, 16 b) in Jesus His Son?
6. In what ways is your thinking and feeling impacted when you realize that our Heavenly Father may not be at all like your earthly father or “father figure”? I hope your Dad loved you well and illustrated clearly how much worth you truly have and what a blessing you are to the heart of God?
7. What is the most important thing God commands us to do? Matthew 22:37-39. What does He want from you?
8. As a dad or mom (if you aren’t one yet just imagine), what ways could your child show you love in ways that you would feel loved, deeply loved by him/her? List some ways a child could show love to a parent in a way that a parent would feel it. (i.e., ask you for advice, pay attention to every word you say and act on it, show genuine appreciation for any gift you give.. even little ones, care about you when you seem down, be genuinely excited when he/she sees you genuinely excited, respect and love those you respect and love, etc)
9. How has God illustrated His love for you? Physical things – Relational ways – Spiritual ways –
10. Finally, how often do you give to your Heavenly Father (Abba) the one thing He wants most from you? Can He tell that you love Him by your life? I know He knows, but have you told Him, shown Him, appreciated His love, and loved the things/people He loves?
The 52 Week Plan has been focused on Comfort – Comfort – Caringly responding to a hurting person through words, actions, emotional responses, and physical touch; hurting with and for others in the midst of their grief or pain. (Romans 12: 15 NASB; Matthew 5:4: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
What if loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind included joining Him, being grieved over the things that break His heart? What if part of the “fellowship of His suffering” Paul wanted to experience (Philippians 3:10) includes suffering and grieving over what grieves the heart of Jesus?
Another Date Night:
You and your spouse or another friend have a night out or in where you list some of the things that break God’s heart or causes Jesus to sorrow. Ask God to let you feel some of what He feels. I wouldn’t ask for a “full dose” of His emotions or thoughts to come into my heart because we just might explode.
I wonder how our Father would be blessed if we joined Him in letting our hearts break over what breaks His, then praying prayers of faith and thanksgiving for God’s love toward us. I am so glad God is a compassionate God. I know people suffer and I know there are tragedies in life, but don’t make the mistake of thinking when “bad things happen to good people” that somehow that means God caused it.
If God really were an angry judge looking to vent His wrath on a bunch of mice in a maze, civilization would certainly not have lasted this long.
There is abundance and life to be found in a relationship with God through His Son Jesus.
We would love to tell you how that has become real for us and how you can know this God who IS love.