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October 18

Scripture for today: Jeremiah 31:27-32:44; 1 Timothy 3:1-16; Psalm 88:1-18; Proverbs 25:20-22

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“Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound” (Proverbs 25:20 NLT).

From: October 18, 2019

HOW NOT TO ENCOURAGE THE HEAVY OF HEART

There are those who have never experienced loss that think the way to cheer up the one who has is by distraction. However, this response is not only inappropriate but inconsiderate. The one who would encourage will first seek to understand the feelings of the hurting and then be willing to hurt with them. Sometimes this means to sit in silence and just listen. Other times it means to bear their burdens and cry along with them. As the apostle Paul instructed the believers in Rome, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15).
 
When Jesus saw Mary coming with tears after her brother had died, what was His response?
 
“Jesus wept” (John 11:35).
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You that You share both our joy and our suffering. You sing over us with joy and You comfort us when we are heavy of heart. Teach us to be Your hands of comfort to those who need us in this world. Help us to know when to sing and when to weep. For You are our Comforter and our Advocate. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You. Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry.” (Psalm 88:1-2 NKJV).

From: October 18, 2017

The Lord is the God of salvation. And now, because of Jesus, we can truly call Him the God of “my” salvation. In Christ, we that were far away, have now been brought near. Although we may feel at times as the psalmist did, that our prayers go unheard and our tears unnoticed, we can be confident of our access to the Father through the Son. For all the rights and privileges of sonship are ours in Christ Jesus. Therefore, press on in prayer. The Lord hears. The Lord sees. He may be teaching us to desire Him more by allowing us to grow in persistent prayer.

“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17 ESV)

From: October 18, 2016

From his imprisonment in the court of the king’s guard, and while the Babylonian siege threatened Jerusalem, Jeremiah prayed. He prayed to the Creator God whose power is so great that “nothing is too hard” for Him. Do you believe this? What circumstances are you facing that you doubt God’s power to overcome? Where have you given up? Remember how Jeremiah prayed. And remember how the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary about Christ’s conception saying, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). Nothing is too hard for our God.

“for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?” (1 Timothy 3:5 NKJV)

From: October 18, 2015

Paul wrote two letters to Timothy to instruct him on how to pastor the church at Ephesus. In chapter three of his first letter, he gave qualifications for the selection of church “overseers” (ἐπίσκοπος, episkopos). The qualifications included several concerning a man’s family life. Why was family life so important one might ask? Paul explained that the same competency used to lead a family well was necessary in leading the church well. Why? Because the church is God’s family (Eph. 2:19).