Mar 02 2022

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

This proverb is a sweet reminder that we can always take refuge in the Lord. Sometimes the world throws lots of things our way. It tells lies about us, manipulates us, and mistreats us. It can make us feel alone and unwanted. However, the Lord is the opposite of the world. He will always protect us and always love us, and is always working for our good. We'll break apart this verse today to understand what it is telling us about the name of the Lord.

First, the name of the Lord is a strong tower. A strong tower is one that does not change or move. It can withstand battle after battle unharmed, and it will be a reliable refuge of safety when we need it. This is what the name of the Lord is like. The Lord will never change; He will always be there for us. His name has gone through many, many battles—but it is always the victor. In Revelation, we learn that His name is the ultimate victor.

Righteous people can run to this tower. Notice the qualifier: the tower is for people who are righteous. This doesn't mean we live perfect lives, but rather, that our sins have been covered by Jesus. We are righteous not of ourselves, but instead through Jesus, who, through grace, has paid the price for our sins. The only people who can be righteous are those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus and who are following after Him. We have to know the Lord to run to His tower.

When the righteous run to the tower, they are safe. The Lord offers us far more safety than the world can provide. The world might give us disposable income and security cameras on every entrance to our home, but Jesus offers us real, imperishable safety. He gives us the ability to cling to Him day by day. He has marked us as His own, as people who will be with Him in eternity forever. He has promised us that nothing will happen that violates His goodness or His sovereignty. The safety that the Lord provides is eternal. Regardless of what happens in our lives, we know who we are in Jesus and that we are children of God.

Dear Lord, thank you so much for your name. Your name is a strong tower, a place where I can rest when the world seems to be tossing me to and fro. I want to rest in your name, laying myself down at your feet and trusting in your goodness and love for me. I thank you that I can run to you in all circumstances, at all times. In Jesus' name, amen.

Mar 01 2022

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.:

In the opening to his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul talks about God's goodness to him and the church throughout their trials. While they faced many difficulties and suffered greatly, they took comfort in Jesus. As their sufferings abounded, so did their comfort. Today, we'll look at what it means to find consolation in Jesus.

Think about a time when you endured great hardship. In the midst of it, did you find consolation in Jesus? For me, there are hardships in which I did and those in which I didn't. Whether or not Christ consoled me depended on whether or not I made the decision to trust Him, even when it seemed like everything around me was falling apart. Paul's words remind us that we each have the opportunity to find consolation in Jesus, regardless of our circumstances. Jesus will console us—but we must seek Him first.

What kind of consolation does Jesus offer us? It is different from the world's consolation, which is fleeting. The world tells us to console our hearts with alcohol, drugs, overeating, overspending, or binge-watching television. But Jesus presents a different path for us. He says that we can be satisfied and comforted in Him alone. We don't have to fall into the sins of this world to be consoled in the midst of our trials. Instead, Jesus offers us peace. He gives us the ability to rejoice in the midst of deep trials, and He helps us to be still, resting in the fact that He is God.

How do we find that kind of consolation? It begins by calling out to the Lord to help us. The Corinthians and Paul were not consoled after their suffering, but rather, in the midst of it. Christ made it possible for them to endure. He was not merely a light at the end of the tunnel, but the One who made it possible for them to keep pressing on. He did not turn His back from suffering, but instead, went to the cross and gave up His life, that He might enter into our pain and console us in the midst.

If you are experiencing a trial, ask the Lord to console you. Remember that He knows what suffering is like and He is near to the brokenhearted. Ask Him to show His love for you in a new way and to rejuvenate your heart.

Dear Lord, I thank you for consoling us in the midst of our suffering. You are not a distant God watching me suffer—instead, you stepped into suffering and died on the cross for me. Give me the strength to endure and the peace that surpasses all understanding. I love you, Jesus. In your name, amen.


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