14 February 2008 Devotion for Today "Comfort the Feebleminded" I Thess.5:12-14

I came across a book recently written by the New Zealand evangelist
Dr. Ray Comfort. It is called, "Comfort, the Feebleminded." It is a
very uplifting and humorous look at ourselves and how God uses us in
spite of our imperfections and the silly things that we do. One
particularly amusing anecdote was when Dr. Comfort went to care for a
pet dog belonging to a church member. The church member
was on vacation and Comfort was to feed and exercise the dog. The dog,
a lonely Labrador retriever, was excited to see company after being left
in the house for a long time. As he jumped and barked in the back yard,
Comfort decided he would play with him by kicking a large plastic ball
through the yard so that the dog would chase it. However, Comfort's
aim was not very good, and as the dog turned excitedly, Comfort let
fly with a swift kick right in the poor dog's mouth!

While we would not often admit it, all of us can relate somewhat to the
experiences of Comfort's feeblemindedness. Many times we do things
before we think them through. Like Ray Comfort, we may intend to do
one thing, but our lack of skill or aptitude causes us to do something
else. There are other times where we may act in ignorance. Many
times our intentions are either lost or misunderstood in the blunders
that ensue after we did them. Sometimes people get offended in this.
They ought not to be if they would honestly look at themselves and see
that they, too, are feeble creatures capable of the same actions. We
are patient, however, with the ones that we love and this is the whole
point of Paul's parting admonition for us in I Thessalonians 5:12-14:
"And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and
are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very
highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
Now we exort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the
fainthearted (KJV says feebleminded), uphold the weak, be patient with
all."

Are you prone to be critical of a fellow believer because of his or her
apparent lack of foresight, aptitude, or attitude. Perhaps you may need
to look at your attitude. We are so quick to judge in our leaders,
especially our church leaders, what we refuse to deal with in ourselves.
Your church leaders are human, they make mistakes, and most of the ones
that I know strive to be a better example than what they are as God
gives them the grace to be so. We may not always agree with them, and
sometimes don't like what they do, but they are worthy of our support
nonetheless because this is God's will for us. Take time out today to
call a Sunday School teacher, a deacon, a choir member or instrumentalist.
Perhaps a youth leader needs to hear a word of encouragement from you
just now. Tell them how much you appreciate them and how much you
love them.

We may not have what we think we should in our leaders, but pray for
them. After all, look at those whom God has called them to serve. Have
a blessed day.