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There are a number of places in Scripture where the significant words, “but God,” appear (e.g. Gen. 50:20; Eph. 2:4-5). They are words of encouragement.
God’s people need encouragement, and the great apostle himself was no exception. The temptation to give in to discouragement is among the most effective weapons in Satan’s armoury. He presents this temptation in a variety of circumstances. Our physical condition - “this body of ours had no rest” - lays us open to it, and the devil delights to hit us when we are down. There is also frustration - ‘we were harassed at every turn”; determined opposition - “conflicts on the outside”; and inward anxiety - “fears within.” All these conditions are tailor-made to get us downcast.
“But God“ - that is all that is needed. It is the impregnable defence against any final kind of despair. For God comforts the downcast. He specializes in encouragement. How does he do it? In a great variety of ways but frequently, as here, through other people - “But God comforted us by the coming of Titus.” They might have expected something more dramatic, but Titus it was. Titus, arriving at the right time. Just to see Titus will encourage us, and he will probably bring encouraging news, as he did long ago.
God’s people need encouragement, and the great apostle himself was no exception. The temptation to give in to discouragement is among the most effective weapons in Satan’s armoury. He presents this temptation in a variety of circumstances. Our physical condition - “this body of ours had no rest” - lays us open to it, and the devil delights to hit us when we are down. There is also frustration - ‘we were harassed at every turn”; determined opposition - “conflicts on the outside”; and inward anxiety - “fears within.” All these conditions are tailor-made to get us downcast.
“But God“ - that is all that is needed. It is the impregnable defence against any final kind of despair. For God comforts the downcast. He specializes in encouragement. How does he do it? In a great variety of ways but frequently, as here, through other people - “But God comforted us by the coming of Titus.” They might have expected something more dramatic, but Titus it was. Titus, arriving at the right time. Just to see Titus will encourage us, and he will probably bring encouraging news, as he did long ago.
Scripture
About this Plan
Daily Encouragement is a year-long, daily devotional written by a life-long missionary. It offers readers a source of strength, direction and joy from the Scriptures as it chronologically unfolds highlighting key passages from Genesis to Revelation.
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We would like to thank, David Evans (author), Dan King and Parksville Baptist Church for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: http://pfbc.ca
