[166]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – KNOW JESUS – KNOW COMFORT AND PEACE
Obviously, the connection here is a vital one, and it’s an eternal one. Those who know Jesus should be living in comfort and peace. That needs defining.
Comfort is not the comfort of materialism by having a great home with many expensive items. It has nothing to do with that at all. The comfort here is that solace and reassurance Jesus gives in trials and hardship and in sadness. He is the One who draws near, but He sent the Holy Spirit who is the Comforter or Helper or Advocate depending on what version you use.
We have in this verse an interesting use of comfort – {{Acts 9:31 “so the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up, and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.”}} That is a direct fulfillment of what Jesus promised before He departed.
I am going to quote this next passage in full because it is the “comfort collection” in the New Testament. {{2 Corinthians 1:3-7 “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 our 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. Just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our COMFORT is abundant through Christ. If we are afflicted, it is for your COMFORT and salvation, or if we are COMFORTED, it is for your COMFORT which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer, and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our COMFORT.”}}
The purpose of the poem is not a bible exposition on that wonderful passage but there is so much in it.
We turn to peace. One absolute stated in the Old Testament is this – {{Isaiah 48:22 “THERE IS NO PEACE for the wicked,” says the LORD.”}} The New Testament confirms that with {{Romans 3:17 “and the path of peace HAVE THEY NOT KNOWN.”}}
However in Christ this is the result – {{Romans 5:1 “Therefore having been justified by faith, WE HAVE PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”}}
The poem explores all that the Lord has done – and is doing – for us. Take comfort in this poem for it was written for that purpose.
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KNOW JESUS – KNOW COMFORT AND PEACE
Where is One to draw alongside
With comfort, the burdens to lift?
With compassion, Jesus draws near
To assist, and His touch is swift.
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He has become my Great High Priest
Through sufferings He endured.
Hope and succour He gives to those
Who grieve, whose sin debts He cured.
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In this world there is so much hurt;
So much savagery; so much pain.
We observe; see it with despair,
And wish we could remove the stain.
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Why won’t people turn to their God
To receive full pardon from sin,
And to know the Shepherd’s healing –
Freedom from angst, and joy within?
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All through life we face such sadness,
Endemic to the human race.
Human misery is dreadful;
War, disease, death – each a disgrace.
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Reach out to Jesus; stretch your hand.
He will lift you from your despair.
He will be waiting at the cross.
Entrust your pain to His great care.
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Compassion and mercy so great,
Stream forth from the Saviour with love.
Don’t bottle up pain and concern.
Look past yourself, and look above.
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The Creator of all mankind
Knows how to cure the hurting soul.
Come to the great Physician now.
Tenderly, He will make you whole.
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Lord, I love You for what You’ve done;
I know You have renewed my mind.
Outside there is hatred and hurt,
But joy and peace in Christ I find.
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I am so thankful for my Lord.
He cares for me with supreme love;
He supports me and gives me rest,
And sends more comfort through the Dove.
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R E Ferguson 19 December 2020 8 throughout ABAB