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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
We all find ourselves in a place where we need comfort and compassion.
Life is hard. Very hard. It’s full of trouble, sometimes one thing after another, trouble that brings a lot of anxiety and angst upon us. Often, we find ourselves in need of support and caring, unsure of where it might come from.
This is why our scripture verses for today are so important because they remind us that we have a constant companion, always ready to deliver compassion and comfort in the exact quantity and quality needed. Look at these words of the Apostle Paul drawn from the opening of 2 Corinthians, chapter 1. As we saw in yesterday’s message, he is addressing the church of Corinth as well as other believers in the Roman province of Achaia. He writes:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
“Praise be to God.”
That’s the opening exhortation. An exclamation of admiration to the God and Father of Jesus and all people.
In this specific instance, Paul is praising God for being “the Father of compassion” and “God of all comfort.” This lets us know that the one true and perfect source of compassion and comfort is found in God and God alone.
Indeed, Paul goes on to tell his readers that this “God of all comfort” brings comfort to His people in all their troubles, not just some of them. All means all and this means that there isn’t one single trouble we will go through that God is not ready to bring comfort over. What a blessed assurance this is for us!
Now, this would be great enough just left as it is but note that there is more purpose to the comfort we receive from God than just the benefit and relief it brings us. For we, the comforted, are to use the comfort we receive from the God of all comfort and pay it forward to someone else who is in trouble.
In other words, comfort is received from God and then extended to others. Comfort begets comfort.
Yes, life is hard and has its share of trials and tribulations, many of which will lead us into suffering but God never promised us a life free from affliction. Rather, He promised that He would be with us in the midst of whatever we were going through, bringing us comfort when needed.
In the end translation, we will share in every part of the life of Jesus when we choose to become His disciple. We will enjoy blessings from the work He calls us to but we also will endure suffering along the way. We will share in His sufferings. It’s part of the total package when we become a Christian however we also receive comfort, comfort that abounds through Jesus, comfort that reminds us that no amount of difficulty or misery can ever separate us from the love of God as shown through Christ Jesus and the salvation He brings us.
No matter what life brings our way, we are destined for victory over death and the grave. There is a far better and greater existence than this worldly one and we’ll abide in that new existence forever, never having to suffer again.
It’s the ultimate comfort, the comfort that brings us hope and peace, so today and every day, let us mimic the word of Paul saying, “Praise be to God, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.”
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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