“Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
(I Thess. 2:10-12)

At the time of this writing it appears that war with Iraq is imminent. There is a definite tension in the air and I believe almost everyone is feeling the strain. There is a frightening apprehension that the battle will spill over to our cities and perhaps into our very homes. It’s as if we didn’t have enough to burden our minds, like the tremendous financial burden we live with. I talk to people daily who are struggling financially and feel they have financially gone back to where they were 20 years ago. These are just symptoms of this time of Jacob’s Trouble as people are grasping for something to hold on to!

What a comfort it is for us who have Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer to know we are not fighting the battle alone. Not only do we have Jesus living inside of us to comfort us, but we also have our Christian Israel family to comfort us. We share the common bond of the Gospels of Salvation and the Kingdom. Jesus said in Matthew 11: 28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Only through Jesus Christ our Lord will we find peace and comfort. Still, we are doubly blessed because our faithful God has brought so many of us of like minds together, which adds to the help and comfort. I Cor.1:10 says “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgement.”

How comforting it is when we speak to each other on the Word of God and all the things that are happening on this earth. To fellowship together, whether through a meeting, a telephone conversation, an e-mail or letter, it brings us closer to God and strengthens our faith. Jesus said to us in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” That says it all! When we talk to each other or write to each other, we know that Jesus is there, encouraging us in our faith. He is our comfort and strength.

Of course, Psalms 37, 46 and 91 are wonderful to read for God’s comfort and reassurance, but I also like II Cor. 1:3-4 which says “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.” We must remember to comfort and communicate with each other continually in these difficult days. As I see it, this is what God wants us to do.

This is most definitely a confusing and troublesome time in the world. Things are getting so bad that it now appears our only hope is in the return of Jesus Christ to establish His Kingdom on this earth, once he has destroyed his enemies. ”But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.”(Luke 19:27).

If we honour our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ first, above all things and fellowship together as a family we know He will protect and comfort us. He is the light in a very dark world. Yet, we must not lose sight of all our still blinded brethren and we must double our efforts to bring them into our growing family.

Let us rejoice together in His soon return! Hallelujah!!