Isaiah 9:8-10:11 - Every time I read texts like this one that highlight how God exercises His judgment over the nations through earthly rulers and authorities I am humbled and comforted by God's sovereignty. How does God's sovereignty over both heaven and earth (or both Kingdoms in Luther's thought and speech) comfort us as we engage in matters of both faith and politics? In other words, how does God's sovereignty reassure me not only about my own salvation but also about things like the current debate over Health Care and the wisdom of our new policy in Afghanistan?
1 Peter 5:1-14 - Here Peter wraps up his extended words of comfort to those Christians encountering much suffering for the sake of their faith in Christ. Verse 10 is particularly comforting: "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." What words of comfort that the suffering is only temporary. God will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. We can trust Christ - our living hope - because the outcome is secure. The victory of Christ's Kingdom has already been won and we faithfully await its full and final implementation on earth.
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