2 Corinthians 7:6
Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
It was a late Wednesday evening, and my family was gathered in the hospital room of my aunt Bessie because she was about ready to pass onto Heaven’s shores. My heart was grieved because my aunt Bessie had such a great influence on my life. She was the one who taught me how to be a personal soul winner. She was the one who helped me with my needs while I was in college. She was my first personal secretary in the ministry. Most of all, she was my friend.
I had stepped out of the room for just a moment, and as I looked down the hallway, I saw my pastor, Dr. Jack Hyles and his wife coming to the room. As he came to me, I threw my arms around him, and he hugged me as I was grieving. His presence comforted me. Yes, the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, but the Holy Spirit used his presence to comfort me in this time of grief.
I think of Mary and Martha who were grieving the loss of their brother Lazarus. Their hearts were broken as their brother was gone. No doubt, these siblings were very close to each other. Nowhere in the Scriptures do you see siblings grieving the loss of their sibling like these ladies. Yet, when Jesus came to see them, His presence brought comfort to these ladies in their time of grief.
Paul said that God used Titus to comfort him by his coming. The presence of Titus could have brought many other responses, but it brought comfort to people who were going through a tough time.
Now, let me ask, does your presence bring comfort or apprehension when you show up at a place? Sadly, there are some whose presence brings apprehension because of the tension they bring with their anger. I would hate to think that when I come into a room that people are apprehensive because they are afraid I am going to lose my temper with them.
Moreover, I would also hate to think that my presence brings apprehension because of my negativity. We have all been around people who are very negative, and they drag down the spirit of a place with their negativity. A negative spirit will never lift or encourage the spirit of those you are around when you come into their presence. Your presence ought to be one that lifts the atmosphere of a place when you enter a room because of your cheerful spirit.
Furthermore, I would hate to think that my presence brings apprehension because of self-centeredness. You have certainly been around people who are focused on themselves so much that they drag down the spirit of a person or place because they pick everyone or everything apart. You could be one who comforts and cheers others with your presence if you came to help others than to live for yourself.
My friend, are people comforted and cheered by your coming? You should make it your goal that when you leave a place that someone has been helped by your coming. You should make it a continual task to cheer someone’s day by your coming. You will always help more people by not having a presence that causes apprehension. Yield your spirit to the Holy Spirit and you will find that the Holy Spirit can make you His tool to cheer someone’s day or comfort someone’s heart by your coming.
