“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase” (Acts 9:31).

“Fear” and “comfort” are typically regarded as mutually exclusive emotions, and yet Luke chooses to highlight these two inner orientations as the healthy soil wherein the church experiences supernatural growth. The fear of the Lord prevents us from loving the world, the comfort of the Holy Spirit prevents us from hating ourselves. O Heavenly Father, please give us plenty of both!

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matt 7:11).