when i think of your rules from of old, i take comfort, O Lord. [psalm 119:52]

 

what do you take comfort in?

 

the heidelberg catechism is a christian confession written in 1563 and asks the question and answers like this:

 

q: what is your only comfort in life and in death?

 

a: that i am not my own, but belong —

body and soul, 

in life and in death, 

to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

he has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, 

and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.

he also watches over me in such a way

that not a hair can fall from my head

without the will of my Father in heaven;

in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

because I belong to him,

Christ, by his Holy Spirit,

assures me of eternal life

and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready

from now on to live for him.

 

is that the way you would have answered the question? not me. if i look at the pattern of my life, it is clear that my comfort is financial and relational security, scrolling, knowledge of what’s happening in the world, approval of man and control. when chaos comes, i act out of these, but i long for my comfort to be in the truth of God’s word! if you find that your comfort is not in God’s “rules of old”, in the promises he has guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, perhaps you don’t believe that he, by word and Spirit really gives true comfort.  go to the Father and ask for belief! ask him to find true comfort, all the truths (and more!) found above are found only in the word!

 

when you feel bored: go to the word.

when you feel scared: go to the word.

when you feel lust creeping in: go to the word.

when you are lonely: go to the word.

when you are______ go to the word!

 

think deeply, meditate on God’s rules from old–and take comfort in them!

 

~ conor eastman