Praise

The King of all the Earth has saved us from ourselves... We give You praise.

We Give You Praise - Delirious?

Comfort

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:19 ESV)

I don't know why this verse comforts me so much.  A friend once told me that if Christ isn't who He says He is, then Christianity is the most cruel joke of all time.  But it wouldn't just be the most cruel joke of all time - it would be the biggest crime against humanity of all time. 

The Apostle Paul acknowledges that.  He embraces that thought and takes it to the  thought's logical conclusion.  And instead of scaring me, it reassures me all the more.  Because people 2000 years ago, smart people who did indeed think about the possibility of it all being a hoax, openly discussed such a possibility and even warned other believers of the consequences of it all being false.

But even after acknowledging the destructive consequences of their faith being built on a hoax, these people continued to believe - belief even unto death.  It's all well and good to dismiss these 1st century believers as lunatics, but the clarity of Paul's logic, coupled with his willingness to be frank about his faith, really do make it hard for me to dismiss their words.

And their words do echo through the generations.  When I am dry and searching for encouragement, I am reminded that Paul and the other 1st century believers had it way worse than me.  Yet Paul still had the courage to say: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21 ESV)

Thank You for faith.