Great passages from the Bible (part 1)

Starting today, I’d like to discuss some noteworthy Bible passages with you.  Today’s verses are memorable for offering us God’s comfort.

In Jeremiah 31 verse 3, God says I have loved you with an everlasting love.  These words are comforting because there are many times when we don’t feel loved.  People at work don’t appreciate us.  Family and friends take us for granted.  Romance is non-existent.  We start to wonder if anyone really cares about us.  In times like these, it’s comforting to know how much God loves us.  We are His children, personally crafted in our mother’s womb according to His design.  He cares so much that He sent His Son to the cross in order to guarantee your place in His family.  And the love of God does not fade with time; He never gets bored with you or takes you for granted.  You can always count on the love that God has for you.

Also comforting are Jesus’ words in Matthew 11 verse 28: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. So much of the time, life feels overwhelming.  People constantly make demands of you.  You worry about your parents’ health and your kids’ behavior.  Money troubles take away your peace of mind.  Emotions like anger, fear, or sadness threaten to overwhelm you.  It’s comforting to know that you aren’t alone with your troubles.  Jesus spent 33 years going through the same kind of struggles that we do.  He understands, He sympathizes, and He wants to help.  He invites you to share your burdens with Him in prayer; He assures you that He will ease your sorrows, give you breathing space, and take away your fear. No one is better at solving problems than Jesus, the all-powerful Son of God.

But I don’t think there is anything more comforting than Luke 5 verse 20, where our Lord says Friend, your sins are forgiven. Nothing hurts more than broken relationships.  Nothing leaves deeper emotional scars than being an outcast.  No one wants to be alone.  Yet we constantly hurt each other.  We say words that should never have been spoken.  We break promises and betray secrets.  We let bad habits turn into addictive compulsions.  Our terrible behavior hurts us and everyone around us.  Worst of all, our sin makes us repugnant to God.  Thankfully, sin does not get the last say.  Jesus suffered and died to strip sin of its power to condemn.  Christ was punished for all the hurt and damage we have caused.  Because of this, He has the authority to forgive our wrongs—all we need do is ask.  We constantly dig ourselves into holes we cannot climb out of; it’s comforting to know that Jesus stands ready to reach down and pull us out.