January 29 – Paraclete People

    “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”  John 14:16

Jesus said He would send another Comforter, speaking of the Holy Spirit, who would come to mankind after Jesus went back to heaven. The Greek word for “comforter” is “parakietos,” meaning “one called to the side of another for help or counsel.”

The Holy Spirit is your Comforter, your Counselor, the very expression of God to man here on earth. However, God has comforted you so that you may comfort others. Read about that again in II Corinthians 1:3-4. He has called you to be a “parakietos” to others with needs around you. Through the infilling of the Holy Spirit, you also are the expression of God here on earth. The English language derivative is “paraclete.”

You are a “paraclete,” a person full of the Holy Spirit, and called to the side of the hurting, the helpless, the hungry, the habitual, and the hardhearted.

As a “paraclete,” “paired up” with other “paracletes” and the Holy Spirit, a strong “threefold cord” is created that is not quickly broken. (Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.)

PRAY: “Father, thank You for the Comforter who dwells in me to give me all the help I need to be one of Your ‘paracletes’ in this present age. Today I depend on Your Presence, and I worship You. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

January 28 – Compassion

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth 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.”  II Corinthians 1:3-4

Have you ever considered that perhaps tribulation and suffering is necessary in your life to make you compassionate toward the hurts and pains of others?

In recent years some Christian ministries have been called into question. Somehow, the question of guilt or innocence gives way to overwhelming compassion when you identify with the pain and suffering of another. Think about the mistakes made in your own life and the resulting hurt and pain. THANK GOD for His mercy, forgiveness, and comfort in times of great need!

People are human. People make mistakes. That is why people need a Saviour and why God, in love, sent His Son to cover their sin. It seems God is more forgiving to mankind than mankind sometimes is to one another.

Sin is not quantitative. A big sin is not harder for God to forgive than a small sin. Luke 7:47 states that he who is forgiven of MUCH sin tends to be MORE loving and compassionate.

PRAY: “Jehovah-nissi, my Deliverer, thank You for covering my many sins with the banner of Jesus’ blood. With Your comfort, I will be able to comfort someone today. Amen.”

January 27 – Position Yourself

    “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Have you ever wondered why geese fly in a “V” formation? It is an aerodynamic fact that by doing so they can fly ten-to-thirty percent faster with less effort. They actually POSITION themselves to lift and propel one another.

As a member of a church, you too can POSITION YOURSELF to lift and propel others. YOUR faithfulness to regular attendance, YOUR participation in a home fellowship group, and YOUR involvement in Sunday School…these activities are all part of the “V” formation of a healthy church.

When you POSITION YOURSELF for active participation in the body of Christ, you will discover something…YOU ARE NOW IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE MIRACLES FROM GOD!

Perhaps your miracle is one of healing, restoration of marriage, promotion on the job, or spiritual revelation. It is God’s law of reciprocation; e.g., II Corinthians 9:6: “…he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully”: and Luke 6:38: “Give, and it shall be given unto YOU.”

PRAY: “Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider, thank You for miracles in my life. I will POSITION MYSELF today to uplift others and to participate in Your purposes. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”