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License to Listen

“Comfort one another” 2 Thessalonians 4:18

“Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:2-5

—– IN my limited opinion, perhaps drawing (of course) from biblical truth, it seems wise to just listen to a brother or sister when they are in a quandary and come to speak with you in their distress. It is then our privilege to prayerfully listen and otherwise to help that beloved saint be brought back HOME to Jesus. See Luke 15 for a powerful dose of the restorative love and grace of Christ!

The next time a weak, faint, struggling saint comes to us, instead of trying to have all the answers or eagerly give them the answers, perhaps letting them air things out may be the wisest choice. Haven’t we all been on both sides of this? Consider the biblical license to just listen:

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26
 
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:19
 
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James 3:17-18
 

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” Proverbs 17:27-28

There are tribulations and toils to walk through in this life, no matter how close we walk with Christ. In fact, perhaps the more fruitful a disciple is for Jesus, the more persecutions and attacks he will receive from the enemy of all souls who has “come down with great wrath, know that he hath but a short time.” (Revelation 12:10-12)

Remember the last time you, in a great testing of your faith, were taken captive by Satan in your thoughts? Perhaps no one could have talked you out of that battle. Yet, that one comforting, consoling saint who listened to you and heard you out prayerfully, offering that which you asked and not rushing to press you with the truth, was the agent of the LORD to bring you out of that place.

On a personal note, the things that have been suffered over the last few years have been rougher than anything I suffered. And, in those times that I was saying “But why is this still happening?! When is the answer coming?!” There were brothers and sisters who simply listened, assured me again of God’s love and faithfulness, and prayed. This is how our LORD brought me forth out of these seasons.

Comforting another believer is the ministry of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus told us is “the Comforter.”(John 14:26)

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord‘s hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”  Isaiah 40:1-3

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

We must never forget our own utter need for Christ’s saving grace – Today! And, in God’s love, prayerfully be used of Him to “restore” others, knowing our own propensity to sin.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2

May God bless us today, to realize afresh, just how desperately in need of and dependent upon His mercy and grace that we ourselves are. LORD, please break us and grant us to be possessed with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:24-26). Sprinkle the clean water of Your Spirit upon us and grant our hearts to be established in Your grace (Hebrews 13:9). Rid our hearts of all self-righteousness in Jesus’ name Father!

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