Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for August 11th, PM.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2010.

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NKJV)

“Consolation.” There is music in the word: like David’s harp, it charms away the evil spirit of depression. It was a distinguished honor to Barnabas to be called “the son of consolation.” (Acts 4:36, KJV) It is one of the most illustrious names given to any man, for Barnabas shone with some measure of the light of the Lord Jesus who is “the consolation of Israel.” (Luke 2:25)

“Everlasting consolation.” This is most important part, for the eternity of comfort is the crown and glory of it. What is this “everlasting consolation”? First, it includes a sense of pardoned sin. A Christian son or daughter has received in their heart the witness of the Spirit that their iniquities are put away like a cloud. If sin is pardoned, isn’t that an everlasting consolation?

Next, the Lord gives His people an abiding sense of acceptance in Christ. The Christian knows that God looks on them as standing in union with Jesus. Union to the risen Lord is a consolation of the most abiding order; it is, in fact, everlasting. With this blessed assurance, let sickness prostrate us. Haven’t we seen hundreds of believers as happy in the weakness of disease as they would have been in the strength blossoming health? Let also death’s arrows pierce us to the heart. Our comfort never dies, because our ears are full of the songs of saints as they have rejoiced because the living love of God was shed abroad in their hearts in dying moments.

Yes, a sense of acceptance in the Beloved is an everlasting consolation. Moreover, the Christian has a conviction of their security. God has promised to save those who trust in Christ. The Christian does trust in Christ, and we believe that God will be as good as His word, and will save us. We are safe by virtue of being bound up with the person and work of our everlasting consolation, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“Whoever tries to keep his life safe will lose it, and the man who is prepared to lose his life will preserve it.”
Luke 17:33 (Phillips)

“There are two ways to view life,” Jesus is saying, “those who protect it or those who pursue it. The wisest are not the ones with the most years in their lives, but the most life in their years.”

What Annie Dillard says about writing in The Writing Life is true about life: “One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, play it, lose it all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now.”

There is a rawness and a wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to get it. Don’t listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won’t feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long; it’s to live.

Jesus says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe. You can’t get hurt if you never get out, right? You can’t be criticized for what you don’t try, right? You can’t fall if you don’t take a stand, right? You can’t lose your balance if you never climb, right? So, don’t try it. Take the safe route.

Or you can hear the voice of adventure—God’s adventure. Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God’s impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference. Sure it isn’t safe, but what is?

You think staying inside out of the cold is safe? Jesus disagrees. “Whoever tries to keep his life safe will lose it.” I like the words of General Douglas MacArthur when he was seventy-eight: “Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul.”

From He Still Moves Stones
© (W Publishing Group, 1995) Max Lucado
Used by permission

Question: Are you ready to step outside of your safe zone?

About the Author: Max Lucado

You’ve probably seen Santa Claus; but have you ever seen the Easter Bunny?

As a small child, I enjoyed visiting Santa at a local department store at Christmastime. My parents would take me downtown to the jolly bearded man in the red suit. I felt comfortable climbing into his lap, telling him my wish list and receiving a gift along with his encouraging words. He was friendly, predictable and safe.

Imagine my excitement when one Spring I learned that the Easter Bunny would be at the same department store. Neither my family nor I had ever seen the Easter Bunny. I had seen white rabbits. Those cute, cuddly little bunnies seemed so warm and innocent. I looked forward for some time to seeing the real Easter Bunny.

Finally, the big day came. My father took me to the store that afternoon. When we reached the Bunny’s floor, I was shocked. Before me was a human-sized hare with big eyes and large, floppy ears. The creature walked on two legs like a human. He talked.

The more clearly I saw him as I approached him, the more slowly I walked. I would not get close to the furry beast. He wanted to give me a gift, but I was not cooperating. “Just throw it to me,” I suggested. He tossed his present across the room, Frisbee-style.

Much as I was confused about the Easter Bunny, many folks are confused about the meaning of Easter itself. For some, it means new clothes and a chance to show them off. Others focus on eggs, candy and special meals. Spring Break is a highlight of the season. The beach beckons and relaxing on the sand or reveling at parties defines the holiday.

Easter is also billed as a time of renewal. It may be relatively easy to renew things outwardly — new clothes, a hairstyle, a fancy party. Renewal on the inside can be more difficult. Problems from the past can haunt one’s memory. Broken relationships undermine self-esteem. Guilt over missed opportunities, pain from rejection, loneliness and anger from past hurts can sometimes create a swirling inner vortex, a psychological suction from which escape is difficult.

Where does one find inner renewal? Some look to friends or family. Counselors and self-help books provide coping skills. But maybe a look at the first Easter could also offer some clues.

Nearly two millennia ago, a young Jewish leader fell into disfavor with established authorities. He was executed, declared dead, wrapped up like a mummy and placed in a tomb. A large stone was rolled against the tomb’s entrance and an elite unit of Roman soldiers guarded the tomb against grave robbers.

Two days later, the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty, but the grave clothes were still in place. The man’s closest followers, most of whom had abandoned him during his trials, reported seeing him alive again. Many later died horrible deaths for telling people that their leader had risen from the dead.

They had been transformed from the inside and it affected every facet of their lives, giving them inner strength, freedom from guilt, love for their enemies, and boldness to stand for what they believed was right. “If anyone is in Christ,” wrote one early believer, “he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Sometimes life’s challenges can seem as scary as that huge hare seemed to me when I was a child. We don’t want to get near them. Yet that first Easter still offers hope. Maybe if Jesus really did come back from the dead, then people today can find inner renewal by knowing him personally.

As we enjoy eggs and rabbits this Spring, might that be a message worth pondering?

Take a next step:
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Read the Easter story
Find inner renewal

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“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)

“Push off on the ball of your foot as you step out.”

Last night the Pilates instructor took us down the lovely pathway winding among the trees and instructed us on how to walk properly. Conscious of our core support and the movements we chose to make was an interesting exercise as we aligned our bodies using the different cues she presented.

“Push off on the ball of your foot as you step out.”

As I consciously employed this technique I found my stride was longer and stronger. I felt the work in my legs. It was a seemingly small thing yet it made a big difference in my walk.  This morning I read this wise counsel from God’s word and it reminded me of what I had learned last night: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17

Immediately I thought of last night’s walking lesson. Here was the “push off” for my walking with the Lord through my day.

Just as my strides were stronger and longer when I intentionally pushed off in the right way, so would my walk today be stronger and more productive if I pushed off with an intentional awareness of doing what I’m doing and saying what I’m saying in the right way.

Doing whatever I do today in the name of the Lord Jesus means first I am His representative to the world around me. I’m His ambassador so I speak and act in a way that represents Him well.

It also means I am aware of His dynamic power within me giving me strength to not only stand tall and face the challenges of the day but also to enjoy and flourish right where I am walking today.

This will also keep thankfulness flowing through my day. Thankfulness keeps my heart aligned with His.

Today I am equipped with the tools I need to intentionally push off my walk in the right way, both in my step and in my heart.

Father in Heaven,
Align my heart and mind with Your purposes and power today. Help my step to be sure and my stride long as I intentionally focus both physically and spiritually on pushing off in the right way. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Whatever you face in your day today, be intentional in walking strong and tall in not only your step but in your heart as well. You will be amazed and thankfulness will brighten your pathway.

Question: How do you start your day with a thankful heart?

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

As we face the day-to-day challenges of life we are told to “trust God” with the uncertainties that worry us.  Trust God with the blind corners and with that next step even when it feels there is nowhere to place your foot. It can sound so trite at times when our minds swim with the “what if” possibilities. When we are in the trenches of financial struggle; relationship anguish; health crisis; joblessness; or any number of seemingly brick walls it can be difficult to know how to actually put feet to trusting God in those moments.

There may be a big issue facing you right now OR simply the small stuff of every day that can become perplexing and confusing. It may be something within yourself that causes you to stumble as you walk.  In whatever it is that concerns your heart and mind today these 3 steps will bring your heart to rest in God and trust Him fully with the outcome.

 R1 -RELEASE – Name the concern, the issue, the source of confusion, the circumstance that is worrying you or the thing within yourself that you know you need to change. Then offer it to God sincerely.  Take it out of your mental backpack and place the weight of it in Jesus’ lap.  See the love in His eyes as He takes your burden from you.

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Releasing your worry to God means that you place it entirely with Him. You give up your need to control the outcome and you give it to Jesus to deal with as He sees fit. It doesn’t mean you no longer take any actions, it simply means you leave the outcome for God’s to manage. This is the hardest step. We all have solutions that we feel would be best and we often want God to work things out according to our plan.

Releasing our current concern to Him means we leave the outcome in His hand.

R2- RESIST – The enemy of your soul will come to steal from you.  He wants to rob you of your peace and your confidence in Jesus’ ability to carry your burden for you. When the negative and doubting thoughts come, and they will, resist the desire to play them over in your mind.  Capture them and stand firm on the truth that “the Lord will perfect that which concerns me.” Psalm 138:8

“Resist the devil and He will flee from you…” James 4:7 & 8

Capturing your thoughts means paying attention to what is playing in your mind. When worry begins to take hold recognize it and resist the thought. Declare again that you have cast that worry onto God and you are believing the word of God which says He cares for you and will perfect what concerns you.

R3 – REJOICE – Give God praise for who He is and for His love and faithfulness to you. Thank Him, in all your circumstances, that He is the author and finisher of all things. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Offer your thanksgiving as a sacrifice to Him. Declare it out loud even when your feelings aren’t following. The sacrifice of thanksgiving has great power in the spiritual realm as it honors God and actually paves the way for God to work.

“He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” Psalm 50:23

“TRUST in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.”  Proverbs 3: 5&6

Father God, 

Thank you that You are with me and able to help me trust You with my life. Please help me today to identify what it is that is stealing my joy. Help me to give it completely to You and to release my need to control the outcome. When worry tries to settle in help me to resist letting it take hold in my heart and mind as I set my thoughts on You and Your promise to perfect what concerns me. Help me grow in thanksgiving and offering my thanks to you especially when it is a sacrifice to do so. I trust You today with all my heart. May I not lean on what I think is best but simply look to You to direct my path this day. Thank you that You hear my prayer and know my concerns. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Question: How can you trust God to take away your fears today?

“The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord’s throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.” (Psalm 11:4)

My father had a saying. When we thought he was dozing in front of the TV in the den, we’d tiptoe in with the intent to change the channel to watch cartoons. Almost every time, he’d grumble, “Don’t change that channel. I was watching through my eyelids.” He must have been, because he knew we were in the room, hand posed on the channel changer.

The Psalm says God always sees. Even when it appears as if God’s eyes have closed to our needs, that He has turned His holy head away from us, faith tells us He is all seeing and all-knowing. He is there, even when it just doesn’t feel like He is.

That is the test. He is watching through His eyelids, waiting to see if we’ll do what we want to do, or stick with what He has determined is best. Are we viewing our situation through the eyes of human kind (the children of men), or through God’s eyes as His children?

There were times I tried to change the change the channel all by myself.  On the old TV’s before cable and satellite, every time you changed the channel you had to adjust the rabbit ear antennas to get the right reception. Inevitably, when I’d try, it wouldn’t work. Everything still was out of focus and fuzzy. Dad would get up, wiggle them and magically the reception would clear.

When we pray, do we want to change channels? We don’t want to see things God’s way, but instead want to persuade Him to see them our way. We want relief from our problems now. We want healing in the next ten seconds. We want someone we’ve been praying earnestly for to feel the hand of God on their shoulder when we think they need it. Then God comes and says, “Hands off. I’m watching the situation. Be patient. Sit and watch through Me.”

Amy Grant recorded a song long ago about wanting to see things through her Father’s eyes. Often times I thought I wanted that as well, but I have to admit, being human, when I approached the throne in prayer, I really just wanted permission to change the channel. And all the while, God is there watching – through His eyelids.

Father in Heaven, on Your Holy Throne, help me to see through Your eyes instead of trying to make You see through my own, out of focus and fuzzy perception. Forgive me for the times I have tried to change the channel on my own instead of sitting in Your lap and watching with You. In Jesus’ name, thy will be done. Amen.

Question: Whose channel are you watching?

“The Son of Man is going to come in the Glory of His Father with His Angels.” (Matthew 16:27)

The TV on the wall of my office is on constantly and tuned on mute to a popular news network. As I look at it throughout the day, it is a continuum of horror stories – riots, shootings, natural disasters and financial ruin.

We are engaged in wars we cannot win and greed and corruption have at all levels created a world debt that cannot be repaid.  I just watched police in riot gear clashing with hundreds of rioters, as fires were raging out of control, while looters combed the area, as the stock ticker in the bottom of the screen was showing financial markets in a free-fall.

It is with firm conviction that I believe we are near the end of our world as we know it. It is a question of what will get us first, financial collapse, weapons of mass destruction from without or moral decay from within.

From a realistic worldly perspective, there is little reason for encouragement. But, for those of us who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ, His reign in glory is a comforting and thrilling promise that fills us with great hope and anticipation. Like the saints under the heavenly alter in Revelation 6:9-10, we wonder how long the Lord will allow the world to go its sinful way before intervening in sovereign power and bringing righteousness, equity and justice to the world.

With the Psalmist, I wonder “How long, O God, will the adversary revile, and may the enemy spurn your name forever?” (Psalm 74:10) As I look out at the world, I have every reason to feel defeated and discouraged, but God created me for eternal fellowship with him and through Christ gave me the key to entry for that eternal relationship.

Every day when I read the newspaper or listen to the news it is a parade of horrors, but I just finished reading Heaven Revealed, by Dr. Paul Enns and he showed me how the scriptures describe what heaven will be like and I look forward with great anticipation to enjoying it forever. I will be relieved from the aches and pains of this old body and from the disasters of this world.

Heaven is much more than a place to spend eternity. It is also the place where God and Jesus Christ the Lamb live, a place where we don’t have to see darkly as through a smoked glass, but where we can see our Lord and Redeemer face to face. He promises that forever, “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Rev. 21:3) What a fabulous promise!

Questions: How do you deal with the troubles of the world? How can you place more focus on your heavenly destination?

How accurate is the Bible? Is what we have today what was written down 2000 years ago? Is what was written down 2000 years ago true? Over the course of the video series, Josh McDowell explores questions of truth and accuracy within the Bible. Fact, fiction or fallacy? Can we trust what the Bible says?

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Would you like to dig deeper into the Bible? Try our study on John 6.

Back to the Fact, Fiction or Fallacy index page

How accurate is the Bible? Is what we have today what was written down 2000 years ago? Is what was written down 2000 years ago true? Over the course of the video series, Josh McDowell explores questions of truth and accuracy within the Bible. Fact, fiction or fallacy? Can we trust what the Bible says?

Take the next step:
How does the Bible fit into what we crave in life?
Would you like to dig deeper into the Bible? Try our study on John 6.

Back to the Fact, Fiction or Fallacy index page