December 10, 2019 - TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY

Day 344 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 9:1-7; Psalm 132; 2 Corinthians 1:12-22) 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all 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.” (2 Corinthians 1:1-4 ESV)

Paul is attempting to build the Corinthian church up by comforting them. The comfort he is talking about has been given by God as an antidote to the afflictions of life. And what is God’s great source of comfort?  It is the Babe of Bethlehem who was born to be our Savior.  

You can take great comfort in the fact that anyone who repents and believes in Jesus as his/her Savior is forgiven and guaranteed heaven! Let nothing you dismay as you take comfort in the good news proclaimed in this dear Christmas carol:

God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day,
To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray,
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
(“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” Public Domain)

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the comforting message of reconciliation that You give to all who repent and believe. Thank You that Jesus was born to save us all from Satan’s power. Please use me to share this comforting message with others. In Jesus’ comforting name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!