“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” –2 Cor. 1:3-4

Someone has well said that discouragement is a darkroom where the negatives of fear and failure are developed.

Some people are encouragers and others are discouragers. Have you ever met a discourager? They’re like a drink of water to a drowning man. They can brighten up a room by leaving it. They leave you drained and depressed.

But an encourager leaves you full and refreshed. God has cornered the market on encouragement. All encouragement comes from God. You’re never more like God than when you’re encouraging people and never more like the devil than when you are discouraging people.

Find a needy person and enrich him; a lonely person and include him; a misunderstood person and affirm him; an undiscovered person and develop him; a failing person and restore him.–By Adrian Rogers

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.–Romans 14:17

The furrowed brow, the frown, the fretting over petty things, the fussing about our trials, and the feuding among ourselves make a terrible impression on others. Sometimes we act as though God is dead or mighty sick, and unable or unwilling to help us. Unbelievers conclude that if this is Christianity they want no part of it. Can you blame them? Christians need to realize that sometimes a smile is better than a sermon,that our life is more important than a lecture, that our attitude can be of greater value than our actions. What we are speaks louder than what we say. Concerning the importance of joy, A. W. Tozer left us this good advice:

“The Christian owes it to the world to be supernaturally joyful. In this day of universal apprehension when men’s hearts are failing them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth, we Christians are strategically placed to display a happiness that is not of this world and to exhibit a tranquillity that will be a little bit of heaven here below. All this takes for granted that sin has been dealt with by sincere repentance and thorough amendment of life. It assumes that we are walking in the light of truth, for true joy cannot be artificially induced. The “keep smiling” school of applied psychology is not even remotely related to the true faith of Christ. The chief fun of the comedian and the good humor of the wit who is the life of the party are like flowers growing on old graves, briefly interesting, but evanescent and always touched with sadness. But the fountain of Christian joy flows out from the throne of God, pure, refreshing and sweet everlastingly.”

…when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.–1 John 3:2-3

Probably no generation since Christ ascended into heaven has had so many reasons to believe that His return is near and yet so little confidence that He will. Jesus taught us to pray,”Thy kingdom come”, but when is the last time, or was there ever a time, that you prayed for this?

Jesus promised He would come. Why wouldn’t we expect it? The apostles proclaimed Christ would come, why do we doubt it? Events of the tribulation period, that point to the nearness of His return, are vividly described in the Bible— why do we fail to see the connection? It’s as though the day is dawning and we think it is bed time–we’re mixed up and we’re messed up. How can we be so blind? How can we not long for and pray for the return of our precious Savior? That is our blessed hope!

We don’t hear much preaching about the return of Christ anymore, but that doesn’t change the reality of it. His coming is closer today than it has ever been before. And living in the light of this fact makes a difference in our lives. Believing His return is imminent changes our behavior, creates energy for serving, and comforts our hearts. His coming means our going. Just think about what we’re going to and what we’re going from! That ought to make you shout! It will be glorious.

President Ronald Reagan once commented on the earthly ministry of Christ: “Meaning no disrespect to the religious convictions of others, I still can’t help wondering how we can explain away what to me is the greatest miracle of all and which is recorded in history. No one denies there was such a man, that he lived and that he was put to death by crucifixion. Where…is the miracle I spoke of? Well consider this and let your imagination translate the story into our own time—possibly to your own home town.

 

“A young man whose father is a carpenter grows up working in his father’s shop. One day he puts down his tools and walks out of his father’s shop. He starts preaching on street corners and in the nearby countryside, walking from place to place, preaching all the while, even though he is not an ordained minister. He does this for three years. Then he is arrested, tried and convicted. There is no court of appeal, so he is executed at age 33 along with two common thieves. Those in charge of his execution roll dice to see who gets his clothing—the only possessions he has. His family cannot afford a burial place for him so he is interred in a borrowed tomb. End of story? No, this uneducated, propertyless young man who…left no written word has, for 2,000 years, had a greater effect on the world than all the rulers, kings, emperors; all the conquerors, generals and admirals, all the scholars, scientists and philosophers who have ever lived—all of them put together. How do we explain that?…unless he really was who he said he was.”

 

Dear friend, Jesus has made a greater impact on the world than any or all who has ever lived and He is still changing the world today– one person at a time. It is our glorious privilege and great responsibility to make Him known. You won’t have to look far to find someone searching for hope. Do not delay in telling them of the One who can help.

I want to wish my Morning Manna family a very Merry Christmas. It is made up of the most important people in my life— family, church members, friends, and preacher brethren. I thank God for each of you and I pray that God will richly bless you and supply your every need. —Yours in Christ, Bro. Stone