DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 8.6.22

InHeavenly Places “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in theheavenly places.” (Ephesians1:20) This fascinating phrase (actually, the Greek simply says “in the heavenlies”) is found only in the Ephesian epistle, where it occurs five times. That it does mean heavenly places, rather than “heavenly things,” is evident from our text. Christ in His physicalresurrection body is now in a particular place, and that place is where He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. In principle now—and ultimately in actuality—we also have been made to “sit tdogether in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians2:6). In the meantime, however, we must also struggle with the demonic powers who still, like Satan, have access to God’s presence to accuse us of sin when we yield to their inducements. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places [actually the same phrase, ‘heavenly places’]” (6:12). And when, by the grace of God and the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit, we are victorious in this conflict, it becomes a glorious demonstration throughout heaven, to fallen and unfallen angels alike, that Christ’s salvation is genuine and truly worksin our lives. All of this is “to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” (3:10). No wonder, with all these glorious events taking place in heaven, the apostle Paul introduces this epistle with a doxology! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (1:3). HMM ---------------------- AllThings Well “And [the crowds] were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well!” (Mark7:37) At one point in Jesus’ earthly ministry, “great multitudes came unto him,” and He healed the physical maladies of those who “were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others” (Matthew15:30). Mark 7:31-37 illustrates the healing there of a hearing-impaired man. Verses 33-34 are packed with verbs underscoring the precision of the Master Surgeon. He “took him aside,” “put his fingers into his ears,” “spit,” and “touched his tongue.” Then,looking up to heaven, Jesus commanded, “Be opened.” Immediately the man’s ears heard and his mouth spoke plainly (v. 35)—a healing that was complete, unlike “huckster healing” practices that only alleviate pain temporarily. And the people present were “beyond all measure” (hyperperissos, a forcefuladverb used only here in the New Testament) “astonished” (exeplessonto), or struck with amazement (v. 37). Notice the crowd’s commentary, reacting to the many miracles they had seen Jesus perform: “He hath done all things well [kalós, good].” Their declaration echoes God’s words at the beginning of creation. Genesis 1:31 states, “God saw everything thathe had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Not only did God see His creative work as good, but the people in Mark 7 saw Christ’s miraculous work in the same way! How amazed are you with the Creator God, the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you believe He spoke His creation into existence in six days, as Genesis 1 records? Are you amazed that He has done all things well as our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Savior, including His saving work of propitiation on the cross? Is He your Lord and Savior? CM ---------------- Offendedat Him “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? andare not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” (Mark6:3) There is many an individual who has by God’s grace found the Lord and has had a fruitful ministry in a place far from his hometown where he once lived a lifestyle of which he has now repented. Going home is difficult, for his former companions in sin will bethere to oppose and tempt and disbelieve. In the course of His travels, Jesus returned to His hometown (Mark6:1), and although He had lived a sinless life in His early years, He was still only one of the local citizens, and this resulted in their prideful opposition and disbelief. “And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?” (v. 2). As in our text, His local roots brought scorn and pride and offense. Their unbelief (v. 6) seemed to limit His ability to work miracles (“and he could there do no mighty work,” v. 5), but such is not the case. There is no limit to the power of the omnipotent Creator! He is not limited by our feeble faith, but evidently He choseto limit His work as a way of reproof of their pride and unbelief. Yet, note Mark’s casual mention of the healing of “a few sick folk” (v. 5). Such healings were in fact a mighty display of God’s power, a fact that Mark’s readers (primarily Romans and other Gentiles very impressed with power) would have recognized. Let us not allow our modern-day familiarity with Christ and His power limit the honor and obedience that we return to Him (v. 4). JDM ------------------------ TheWord of His Grace “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, andto give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” (Acts20:32) Many beautiful descriptors are used in the New Testament to illustrate the powers of the Word of God, both spoken and written. For example, the Lord Jesus is called “the Word of life” in 1 John 1:1, and Paul, speaking of the Scriptures, reminded the Philippian Christians that they should be “holding forth the word of life” (Philippians2:16). Jesus called the Scriptures, which were to be spread through the world like seed sown in a field, “the word of the kingdom” (Matthew13:19). The apostle Paul called them “the word of faith, which we preach” (Romans10:8). Quoting a particular Scripture, he spoke of it as “the word of promise” (Romans9:9). As His witnesses and ambassadors, it is to us that He “hath committed...the word of reconciliation” (2Corinthians 5:19), wherewith we are to beseech men to be reconciled to God. Paul also said that “the word of truth” was nothing less than “the gospel of your salvation” (Ephesians1:13). The writer of Hebrews called it “the word of exhortation” (Hebrews13:22). In writing through John to the faithful church at Philadelphia, the Lord Jesus commended them because they had “kept the word of my patience” (Revelation3:10). But undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and meaningful of such metaphors of God’s Word is the one found in our text (and also in Acts 14:3), that is, “the word of his grace.” There is no grander theme in the Bible than the unmerited, abundant, inexhaustible, saving grace of God in Christ, and it is fitting that God’s eternal Word be known as “the word of His grace.” The book, in fact, ends on this very note. “The grace of our LordJesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation22:21). HMM -------------------------- The Consequences of Sin Genesis 3:14-19 Christians tend to categorize sins, rating some as small and inconsequential, but others as huge and far-reaching in the damage they cause. In reality, no one sins in isolation. Each disobedience to God affects not onlythe sinner but also countless others in both the present and the future. If we were to separate Adam and Eve's sin from its context, few of us would convict them of great transgression. All they did was swallow some fruit from a tree with a "do not eat" sign. Today people think nothing of ignoringcommands—even biblical ones. But God has a totally different view of our sins. Each one is followed by negative consequences. Adam and Eve's disobedience led to pain and frustration in two basic areas of fulfillment—relationships and meaningful work.The whole earth fell under sin's curse, and every person born since then has entered the world with a sin nature that alienates each one from the Lord. That first rebellion plunged humanity into a terrible condition. Civilization is now plagued by countless ramifications of the innumerable sins committed by human beings throughout the ages. Is it any wonder the world isin such sad shape? Sin not only causes suffering; it robs us of God's best. The Garden of Eden is closed and locked to sinful mankind. The good news of Christ's grace and forgiveness is our only real hope in this fallen world. Though unpleasant, focusing on sin's consequences is necessary at times to remind us of the greatness of our salvation and to move us to obey God, even in the small things. Each obedience is huge to Him. ------------------- The Practices of Maturity Hebrews 5:12-14 Believers are on a continual growth track that ascends higher and higher. This side of heaven none of us ever "arrive," but we each have a responsibility to press on to maturity. Though many people think those who know a lot about the Bible are the spirituallymature ones, Hebrews 5:14 adds the element of practice to the growth equation. This word means a custom or habit. Christian growth requires the discipline of godly habits carried out daily. The most important practice to cultivate is a personal devotional time. Since God is the source of all spiritual development, you can't neglect Him and expect to become mature. Transformation begins with time in His Word and prayer. Obedience is another essential element for advancement. When our desire to obey the Lord is stronger than our attraction to sin, we'll know we are making progress in our spiritual life. In terms of physical development, the goal is to become more independent and self-sufficient as we age. But in the spiritual realm, the opposite is true. Those who are mature in Christ recognize their own inadequacy and rely on the Holy Spirit within them. It's His job to transform our character and empower us to accomplish everything the Lord calls us to do. Getting older doesn't mean maturity in God's eyes. By digging into Scripture and developing righteous habits, we can use our years to grow stronger in the Lord instead of wasting time with passivity. No one accidentally becomes mature. Spiritual growth requiresa diligent pursuit of God. ---------------------- Failing to Listen to God Genesis 3 Listening to God is not a onetime event. We must continually keep His Word before us, or we'll begin to listen to the wrong voices. In Genesis 2:16-17, the Lord gave a command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Eve began to listen to another voice and did not hold firmly to her Creator's words. All that Satan had to do was plant a single doubt about God's integrityand offer Eve one appealing advantage of doing things her own way—and she fell for it. He mentioned wisdom, but using her own reasoning, Eve added two more benefits to the temptation: the fruit is good for food and a delight to the eyes. The schemes of the Enemy have not changed. He still whispers lies and twists truth to convince us that a) God cannot be trusted and b) His ways are not the best. In every temptation, there is a deception about the character and motive of God, plus an attractivepromise of a better way. The world is filled with voices that vie for our attention and influence our thoughts and actions. Throughout the day, consider the messages that are sent your way through the media and people. Consciously begin to compare them to what Scripture says aboutGod and His ways. Remembering what God says in the Bible is our safeguard against deception and temptation. Daily devotions won't protect us if they're quickly forgotten during the day. Follow Christ's example: be ready with truth in your mind and on your tongue whenever temptation strikes (Matt.4:1-11). ---------------------- Fully to the Lord By Emma Danzey 1Chronicles 28:20 says, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Therefore, My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Stand Firm Let Nothing Move You Being a part of the family of God is a blessing but also a struggle at times. This is because the enemy hates what we are doing for the Lord. We are called to stand firm. When is the last time you physically had to stand firm? Were you hiking a mountain? Balancingon a board of some kind? Standing in a choir? Wherever it was, you had to think about where your feet were planted. When we follow Jesus, our feet are firmly grounded on the Rock, so we are steady not in our strength but in God’s. When we are firmly set inChrist, we are called to let nothing move us. Sure we may go through hardship and trials, but we are established in Jesus, and nothing can move us. Always Give Yourselves Fully to the Work of the Lord As we stand firm and do not move, we are to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord. This does not mean we only serve God occasionally or when we feel like it. This means fully. This is a calling for every believer to worship God in all things, with allof their gifts and talents. Whether this is work, parenting, friendships, missions, service, or hobbies, we are motivated to always give ourselves fully to what God is doing. We can ask the Holy Spirit to direct us in all things so we do not miss opportunities to love well. 1Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” We are sons and daughters of the Living God, and He has commissioned us to glorify Him in everything. Even the most mundane moments can becomebeautiful opportunities for the Lord to work. -------------------- God�s Safety Net - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org For if you listen to the word and don�t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like �Romans 3:23 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/gods-safety-net-2/- Listen Visitors to San Francisco can�t help but be amazed at that architectural wonder called the Golden Gate Bridge. During its initial phases of construction, a number of workerslost their grip and fell to their deaths in the San Francisco Bay. Needless to say, this slowed down the construction process quite dramatically. The builders were trying to think of a way to remedy this, so they did something that had neverbeen done before. A giant net was installed under the construction area. The workers knew that if they did fall, the net would catch them. It wouldn�t be a pleasant experience, but they wouldlive to tell about it. The result was they could work without the fear of dying. They were able to move quickly and finish the project. Did you know that God has put a safety net under you? By that I mean, when you slip, when you fall, when you make a mistake, it doesn�t mean that your name has been blottedout of the Book of Life and that you are now persona non grata with God. Because He came into your heart, forgave you, and committed Himself to you, He now protects you, sealed you, and justified you as a result of that commitment. The fact is that we as Christians will sin and fall short. The Scriptures, as well as our own experiences in life, tell us this is true. According to 1 John 1:8, �If we saythat we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.� This is not an excuse for ungodly living. Nor is it a license for sin. It is a simple acknowledgement of reality. -------------------------------- Looking unto Jesus - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org We also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance therace that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith �Hebrews 12:1-2 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/looking-unto-jesus-2/- Listen In the ancient Greek games, a judge would stand at the finish line holding, in plain sight, the laurel leaves that would be rewarded to the victor. As runners came down thefinal stretch, they were exhausted, perhaps in agony, and feeling as though they couldn�t go another step. But suddenly there was the prize in sight, and a new burst of energy would kick in. This is the picture behind the phrase looking unto Jesus in Hebrews 12:2. We have to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ. And our prize is the privilege of standing before Him andreceiving the crown of righteousness that He will give us. That is why we try to live godly lives and why we try to reach people for Him. It isn�t for brownie points. It isn�t for applause. It isn�t for notoriety. It�s so we can hearJesus say to us on that final day, �Well done, good and faithful servant.� No, we can�t earn our salvation because He has already provided it. But we want to please the One who laid down His life for us. Ultimately, we want to be able to say, �Lord, I tookthe life You gave me and tried to make a difference. Here it is. I offer it to you.� Looking unto Jesus. . . . That keeps you going, doesn�t it? After all, you can get discouraged at times. People will let you down. They will disappoint you. They won�t appreciateyour hard work or notice your efforts. Not bothering to understand your real motives, they�ll criticize that which they don�t (or won�t) understand. And that is when you need to remind yourself, I am not running my race for this person or that person. I amrunning for You, Lord. And I will keep running . . . with my eyes fixed on You. ------------------------ Paul�sMissionary Journey �Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among theGentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.� (Ephesians3:8) The apostle Paul was undoubtedly the greatest missionary of all time. It is well to take note of his missionary strategy, for it was designed to reach the greatest number with the highest efficiency. In the first place, although he by no means neglected hisJewish countrymen, his calling was to all peoples of the world. As much as possible, he tried to �preach the gospel in the regions beyond� where it had never gone before (2Corinthians 10:16), �not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man�s foundation� (Romans15:20). He especially concentrated on great cities, particularly the major seaports. He had come from the large city of Tarsus himself, and he preached in the great capital, Rome, and in Athens, the world�s cultural center. Philippi was the �chief city� of Macedonia(Acts16:12), as was Corinth in Achaia and Ephesus in Asia Minor. Antioch, Troas, Thessalonica�all were great seaport cities. Establishing solid churches in such cities would provide centers for carrying the gospel throughout the world. In considerable measure, his ministry in these cities seemed to reach people of special ability or opportunity to teach and influence others, such as the philosophers at Athens, the proconsul Sergius Paulus at Paphos, the honorable women of Berea, the schoolof Tyrannus at Ephesus, and others of like significance. Most important of all were his writings. Paul wrote half the epistles of the New Testament. He traveled at least 15,000 miles and preached to many thousands of people, but his written words have been read by countless millions over 1,900 years. HMM --------------------------- InSpite of Sickness - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away �Revelation21:4 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/in-spite-of-sickness-3/Listen God can work in spite of sickness. He still answers prayer and heals people today, and He still does miracles. In sickness and in hardships, He can work in a person�s life.Even if a person still has the sickness or problem, God can work in spite of it and give them a special strength. And no matter what happens to our physical bodies here on earth, we have the promise of heaven and ultimate healing in heaven. At that time, Godsays He will wipe away all our tears. There will be no more death, sorrows, crying, or pain (see Revelation 21:4). What a glorious promise! There is more � so much more! � beyond this life on earth. Whatever our limitations, whatever our problems, God promises us that we will one day receivea new body that won�t have the shortcomings we experience today. And God can also use sickness to bring a person to Himself, can�t He? I know of many people who have come to the Lord in the hospital or when facing death. Suddenly they reevaluatetheir lives. They wonder, What am I living for? What�s really important in my life? What�s going to happen to me when I die? And they begin to think about eternity. As the psalmist said, �Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word� (Psalm 119:67). God can work in spite of sickness, and He can work through sickness.Nothing is impossible for Him. ------------------------------ TheWatchman Held Accountable �Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel:...When I say unto the wicked, Thou shaltsurely die; and thou givest him not warning...the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.� (Ezekiel3:17-18) Our text comprises part of Ezekiel�s commission as prophet to Judah. His function was compared to a watchman on the city walls whose duty was to warn the city of impending danger. Ezekiel was to warn the apostate people of Jerusalem of the coming invasion bythe Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. God warned Ezekiel that if he refused to pass on whatever messages he received from God, he himself would be held accountable. On the other hand, Ezekiel was not accountable for the response of the hearer. �Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness...he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul� (Ezekiel3:19). He would also be requested to give similar injunctions and warnings to righteous men who had fallen into sin, but again he was not held accountable for their response (vv. 20-21). A corresponding teaching is found in the New Testament. �Obey them that have rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account� (Hebrews13:17). Church leaders, we are told, will give an account before the Lord someday as to how those in their flock have fared. They will not be accountable for the response of others but are required to see to it that each person in their care clearly andlovingly understands the truth and the consequences of disobedience. This is a heavy responsibility! Let each of us respond properly to the truth as presented by our church leaders, that they may minister with joy and not with grief. JDM ---------------------- Spiritually Satisfied James 4:8 I have a friend who, at one point, was a self-confessed shopping addict. Recently, his family realized that this activity had stopped, though he hadn't intentionally curtailed it. Why, they wondered, did his longing to acquire more goods seem to dissolve? The reason was that my friend had become more satisfied with the Lord. He no longer needed fulfillment from what the world had to offer. What a terrific illustration of growth in Christ. In addition to finding fulfillment in God, there are many other growth indicators that are noticeable to the believer. For instance, offering forgiveness becomes easier over time. Consider our Savior, who asked God to forgive even those who crucified Himon the cross. Also, as we mature, our faith will increase. God loves us, and He gracefully and gently builds our confidence in Him. Then, as our trust grows, we realize how faithful He truly is--which grows our assurance even more. Another mark of a closer walk with Christ is an expanding concern for others' spiritual condition. And finally, as our relationship with the Lord deepens, we will increasingly desire to obey Him. This desire is born not out of fear but out of love for ourheavenly Father. Similarly, when we do sin, our hearts will become saddened and repentant. Are you satisfied spiritually? Or do you have a growing, insatiable hunger for more of Jesus? Friend, if you think that you've come far enough in your journey with Christ, you have made a terrible mistake. You are missing great fulfillment and the excitementthat comes from getting closer to Him. ------------------------- All Is Vanity - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. �Ecclesiastes 1:14 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/all-is-vanity-2/- Listen After his futile search for the meaning of life, Solomon concluded, ��Vanity of vanities,� . . . �Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.� What profit has a man from all his laborin which he toils under the sun?� (Ecclesiastes 1:2�3). The word vanity Solomon used didn�t mean the same thing it means to us today. When we think of vanity, we think of people who�ve never met a mirror they didn�t like. But thevanity Solomon spoke of could just as easily be translated �emptiness,� �futility,� �meaningless,� or �nothingness.� Solomon was saying, �There is nothing on this earth that will satisfy us completely: no thing, no pleasure, or no relationship.� It�s not unlike riding a stationary bike. You see on the little video screen that you�re going uphill, so it gets a little more difficult to pedal. Then you go downhill, andit becomes a little easier. But the reality is that you haven�t moved an inch. You�ve spun your wheels without going anywhere. That is the idea Solomon was conveying. He was describing a life without God. Have you ever wondered why the super rich or super famous often have substance abuse issues or other problems? I think it�s because they get to do what others only dream of.They accomplish a certain thing, and then they move on to the next thing. They experience another success, and then they move on to something else. They can�t keep that high they were on, so they turn to the next thing. You might say that Solomon tried it all, and he realized that it all was meaningless. He was saying, �I�m a seasoned pro. I know what I�m talking about here. If you take Godout of the picture, your life will be empty, meaningless, and futile.� --------------------------- TheLord Jesus Christ �Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father andin the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.� (1Thessalonians 1:1) It is significant that in this first verse of what may have been Paul�s first inspired epistle, he twice identified the Son of God as �the Lord Jesus Christ,� thus giving Him the honor and recognition to which He is entitled. Paul used this �full name� of Christ at least 19 times in the brief Thessalonian epistles, as he often did in his other epistles. Likewise James called himself �a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ� (James1:1). Jude warned against any who would deny �the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ� (Jude1:4). Peter began his first epistle with �Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ� (1Peter 1:3). John closed the last book of the Bible with the benediction �The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen� (Revelation22:21). In the New Testament epistles, He was also frequently called Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, the Lord Jesus, the Lord, or simply Christ. Once He was called �the Lord Christ� (Colossians3:24). It is significant, however, that He was never called merely by His human name �Jesus� except when the writer was referring strictly to His human incarnation. In the gospels, the name Jesus was used very often in relating His words and deeds, but never did His followers address Him as Jesus. Always when speaking to Him they addressed Him as �Lord� or �Master� (note John 13:13). Perhaps modern Christians are too careless when they speak or sing of Him or pray to Him using only His human name. As Peter said, �God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ� (Acts2:36). He is now our risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ! HMM ----------------- Give Comfort, Get Comfort - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfortothers. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. �2 Corinthians 1:3-4 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/give-comfort-get-comfort-2/- Listen Men and women of God, wherever we find them in the Scriptures, seem to be masters of whatever situation in which they find themselves. For example, when Paul and Silas werethrown into a Roman prison for preaching the gospel, they sang praises at midnight. The walls shook, and the Lord freed them. The jailer was about to commit suicide, but Paul told him not to harm himself because all the prisoners were still there. The nextthing you know, Paul was at the jailer�s house, having dinner. The jailer washed the stripes on Paul�s back, and Paul led the man�s household to the Lord (see Acts 16:25�34). Paul entered the place as a prisoner and left the place in charge. Then there was Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. There was no hope of any kind for him. But through a turn of events, he became the second-most powerful manin the entire kingdom of Egypt. Effectively he was running the country. In the midst of adversity, Paul and Joseph helped other people. They always seemed to rise above the circumstances and be the ones who led. And believers today can do thesame thing. One of the best things we can do when we are suffering is to help someone else. Maybe that doesn�t seem to make sense. But it actually makes all the sense in the world. Itcan be very easy to have a pity party, to draw back into our little cocoons and isolate ourselves from everyone else. But if we will go out and help other people, we will find comfort as we are distributing it. We will be the beneficiaries of what we are givingto others. Do you know someone who is in need of God�s comfort today?