FWD: Morning Manna (July 5); BP: II Cor. 1:1-7; RBTTY: Acts 13:26-52; Job 30-31

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wed, 04 Jul 2007 06:16:09 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (July 5); BP: II Cor. 1:1-7; RBTTY: Acts 13:26-52; Job 30-31
 
 
July 5 “Nothing Lost”  
 
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of  
mercies and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our tribulation,  
that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort  
wherewith we, ourselves, are comforted of God.”  
II Corinthians 1:3-4  
Our sorrows become sources of solace when placed in the Master’s hand.  
No one needs to tell us we live in a sad, sorrow-filled world. All we  
have to do is just look down the street at the neighbor’s house where the  
husband has deserted his wife for another. . .or across town where the death  
angel has claimed another victim. . .or read the newspaper where another  
deranged gunman or suicide bomber with a smile has randomly killed total  
strangers. . .or watch the evening news where tornadoes and typhoons have  
decimated, corrupt CEO have sinisterly calculated or sex-crazed predators  
have violated.  
 
But, in reality, we don’t have to do any of those, do we?  
No, because if we’re like most folks who live and breathe on terra  
firma, we know first-hand the painful ravages of sin and sorrow. We don’t  
have to go looking for heartache; soon enough it’ll come looking for us. .  
.or rear its self-inflicted head from within us.  
 
We’re the one who’s been deserted by another, who pledged “to love and  
to cherish ‘til death we do part.” We’re the one whose loved one was  
ravaged by cancer, causing his body to wither away right before our eyes  
before he died. We’re the one whose life savings was stolen by a  
white-collar criminal already making a six-figure salary. We’re the one  
being unfairly accused of this-or-that or treated like dirt by someone who  
said he loved us. We’re the one who threw caution to the wind and ended up  
reaping a whirlwind of guilt and shame.  
 
Yes, we know about sin and sorrow, don’t we?  
The question is: “What are we doing with it?”  
Some folks become bitter. They allow the seed of hurt and resentment  
to fester and grow, which soon becomes a “bitter root” (Heb. 12:15). They  
blame others and shake their fist at God, building a fortress wall around  
their heart, vowing to never be hurt again.  
 
Others withdraw from the world, nursing their hurts and keep others at  
arm’s length. Essentially, they stop risking and begin living in the  
“dungeon of depression,” resigned to the fact that life will always be this  
way.  
 
But, oh, dear Pilgrim, there’s a better alternative—the one described  
by the Apostle Paul in today’s Manna. It’s a “positive relinquishment” of  
our sorrows to the Savior as we whisper, “Dear Lord, You know all I’ve been  
through and I surrender all of my hurts, tears and fears to You. Thank you  
for sustaining me by Your grace and mercy each step of the way. And, please  
help me today to help comfort others as You’ve comforted me as You use  
everything—both good and bad—in my life for Your glory and others’ good.  
Thank you, dear Jesus.”  
 
_________________________________________________________________  
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