Thoughts for another day

June 19, 2008

Today's verse: Acts 9:31. Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (NRSV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

See, the verse says, the church of Christ was built up and lived in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. There was the church then and there is the church now. What we are going to be looking upon is something which if I were to receive one good morning, I would say, ‘oh, well, what have I got to do with what happens to the church, I am but a small part of it?’ But remember you, me and others are integral parts of the church. We form the church and we build it up. There is nothing like, ‘it’s none of my business’. In our own small ways, we help build up the church and make it a home for the dwelling of Christ.

The verse mentions living in the fear of the Lord. That was the prime driver of those who comprised the little church of those days. They always did what they thought to be of the Lord and what would be pleasing to Him. What do we do now? In our own lives, if there is a thought that emerges in our minds as seemingly good and then lay it before the Lord for His opinion and if His opinion is not favorable, we argue with Him and fight with Him and then go ahead and do it anyway. Funny no, but that’s the compromise we make as ‘Christians’ and this because we know He loves us as we are, warts and all, and we know that Jesus’ blood is a guarantee of our safety! Where’s the fear then, one may ask?

Then the verse says, living in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Do we experience our beloved Holy Spirit’s comfort? Anyway, how do we define the Holy Spirit’s comfort? It is a state of being calm even when we are in the worst situation possible. And why would we be calm then? Because we know deep within, that God is able to handle any problem we may have and set our minds at rest.

Beloved, if we were, but to take all that happens in our lives as ordained by God and know that He is in control, then our lives would paint another picture. If we lived according to God’s will swerving neither left nor right, then our lives will flow with Divine strength, ready to face hail or rain, sun or shade or whatever. Only then will the church of God be built up, decking itself as an oyster of the presence of our precious Father Dear.