5-21-2019

 Good Morning All,

         Psalm 119:50; “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life."

    I was watching on one of the food shows about “comfort foods”.  It was interesting, at least to me, what different people and the different regions consider “comfort food.”  Some in the south consider collard greens as comfort food.  I don’t know too much about that but it isn’t my definition of comfort food.  Some consider ice cream (I can live with that) and some consider chocolate (ditto) to be comfort foods.  I admit that I am more of a midwestern traditionalist.  I consider mac and cheese to be of comfort but my favorite has become a grilled cheese sandwich with sliced green olives on it and home grown, homemade tomato soup.  That will provide a wonderful dose of comfort.

    It is true we can find comfort in food, sometimes too much comfort.  Some find comfort in books, some, in blankets, some in gardening, some in music or painting, some in fishing or any one of a number of things.  While we can find some comfort in these things or activities, we need to be sure that we seek our true comfort from our true source.  Our true comfort comes from God.

    Unfortunately, many will try to find comfort in all the wrong places.  They may turn to drugs or alcohol; they may overdo comfort foods.  They may try to find it in meaningless relationships.  The world will encourage you to always look in the wrong places but Scriptures invites you into a whole new realm.  The Bible invites you to see that our comfort is found in the truth that God, who created everything, is very active in our creation and in our lives.  God is not standing around watching as a spectator.  He is not so far removed as to not care; God is a god who gets his hands dirty in our lives.  He is involved and desires to being us comfort and hope.  He offers it to us in the knowledge of Jesus and the redemption he offers us.  It is revealed to us in God’s Word and a foretaste is offered in the form of holy communion.  God is very present in our world and especially in the lives of those who believe and trust in his promises.  Our true comfort comes in the form of a loving God who has given to us eternal life.

    God shows us that his promise of life far exceeds any fear of this world.   This world can only do that; it can only cause us to fear.  God offers us hope; he tells us we have nothing to fear he has already defeated the world and its lies.  So, we have a choice; trust God and his promises or believe the world and the lies it tells us.  Some choice!  Trust God; find comfort in his Word and sacrament.  Trust God to offer you the peace that only He can, to offer you the hope that only He can and to give you the true life that only He can.

Father, too often I listen to the lies of this world and look for my comfort in the wrong places.  Forgive me when I fail and return me to the certainty of your grace.  Comfort with the assurance of your mercy and the hope of life everlasting.  In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret