Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit, open my heart and mind to what you have to say in your Word. Give me a spirit of humility that is willing and ready to experience transformation into the image of your Son, Jesus Christ.
In His name I pray,
Amen!
Read the following passages:
Revelation 3:14-22
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
2 Corinthians 1:3-7
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Consider & Discuss:
As I started to work on preparing this week’s edition of Heart-to-Heart, I began working at my standing desk. Pretty soon my lower back started to hurt, so I switched the desk to sitting mode. Once my back pain was relieved, I could continue typing this very paragraph. Is this the type of comfort that Jesus is referring to when he confronts the Laodicean church for resting in their self-sufficiency and material prosperity? I’m quite certain it is not.
The Laodiceans were not condemned for possessing comfort, but for trusting in it.\
Comfort is not our enemy at face value. When held in proper view, it is a gift from God – a blessing that can sustain us through hardships and establish us in the good works that we are called to. It becomes our enemy when we seek it as our end goal, rather than using it as a means to endure and enact the calling that Jesus has on our lives.
Are you familiar with any of the lies about comfort we often fall into believing?
Scared of famine? Build more barns!
Lonely? Scroll on your phone instead of seeking real fellowship!
Afraid of failure? Never attempt what requires dependence on God.
Afraid of conflict? Choose peacekeeping over peacemaking.
How can we keep our true calling in view, setting aside worldly comforts and following Jesus? What is one area of worldly comfort in your life that you will strive to set aside to serve our King more fully?
**Please post your responses in the comment section below.**
Closing Prayer:
God of all comfort, we confess our tendency to seek the comforts of this world rather than relying on Your perfect provision. Give us boldness to do what You have called us to do and faith that You will comfort us in our times of need.
In the name of Jesus, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation,
Amen!