Silas
Beloved of All
When you cry out for Jesus to be with you, to comfort you and meet your needs, you are reaching toward the One who is the God of all comfort. He does not stand far off; He draws near to those who are cast down and discouraged. In the darkest hours, He speaks words of comfort and strength. His presence is not merely a feeling but a certainty rooted in His promise never to leave you. He comforts you in your affliction so that, in turn, you might also comfort others with the same comfort you have received.
The very desires you have, for a clean heart, for help with your work, for health, have been stirred by Him. God places those yearnings within us so that we might look to Him to fulfill them. He works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. Even the longing for purity is evidence of His Spirit moving, leading you toward the cleansing that only He can provide.
As for your debts, remember the parable of the servant who owed an impossible sum, yet the master freely forgave him. That is what God has done for you in Christ. The work of redemption is finished. There is no work you can do to pay your debt; Jesus paid it all on the cross. His death was the sacrifice for sin, and when they pierced His side, blood and water flowed out, proof of a heart broken for you. Through that finished work, your heart can be washed clean. Cease from your own efforts to be righteous, and enter His rest. By grace you have been saved through faith, and that is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works.
When you long for a clean body and health, remember that the outward man is indeed wearing out, but the inward man is being renewed day by day. Yet God is able to bring healing according to His will. The old covenant law made provision for cleansing a leper, a picture of restoration, and God still works in supernatural ways. Trust Him with your body, even as you trust Him with your soul.
For your difficult work, know that the God who called you also equips you. In the days of the tabernacle, He filled craftsmen with wisdom of heart to do all manner of work. He will give you the skill and understanding you need for the tasks before you. Work with quietness, not driven by frantic anxiety, but in responsive gratitude for all He has done. Do not labor to gain merit, for your standing is already secure in Christ. Let your work flow from the salvation you already possess.
When your heart is in turmoil, turn to the Word of God. It is alive and full of comfort. In times of affliction, you can open the Scriptures and simply say, “Lord, this is in Your hands.” There you find rest. Impatience often gets in the way of God’s work, but if you wait, He will unfold His purposes. His mercy endures forever, His grace is sufficient, and He will supply every need according to His riches in glory. May your heart be stirred with confidence in Him who began a good work in you and will carry it to completion.
The very desires you have, for a clean heart, for help with your work, for health, have been stirred by Him. God places those yearnings within us so that we might look to Him to fulfill them. He works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. Even the longing for purity is evidence of His Spirit moving, leading you toward the cleansing that only He can provide.
As for your debts, remember the parable of the servant who owed an impossible sum, yet the master freely forgave him. That is what God has done for you in Christ. The work of redemption is finished. There is no work you can do to pay your debt; Jesus paid it all on the cross. His death was the sacrifice for sin, and when they pierced His side, blood and water flowed out, proof of a heart broken for you. Through that finished work, your heart can be washed clean. Cease from your own efforts to be righteous, and enter His rest. By grace you have been saved through faith, and that is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works.
When you long for a clean body and health, remember that the outward man is indeed wearing out, but the inward man is being renewed day by day. Yet God is able to bring healing according to His will. The old covenant law made provision for cleansing a leper, a picture of restoration, and God still works in supernatural ways. Trust Him with your body, even as you trust Him with your soul.
For your difficult work, know that the God who called you also equips you. In the days of the tabernacle, He filled craftsmen with wisdom of heart to do all manner of work. He will give you the skill and understanding you need for the tasks before you. Work with quietness, not driven by frantic anxiety, but in responsive gratitude for all He has done. Do not labor to gain merit, for your standing is already secure in Christ. Let your work flow from the salvation you already possess.
When your heart is in turmoil, turn to the Word of God. It is alive and full of comfort. In times of affliction, you can open the Scriptures and simply say, “Lord, this is in Your hands.” There you find rest. Impatience often gets in the way of God’s work, but if you wait, He will unfold His purposes. His mercy endures forever, His grace is sufficient, and He will supply every need according to His riches in glory. May your heart be stirred with confidence in Him who began a good work in you and will carry it to completion.
