God of Comfort
2 Corinthians 1:1-14
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ...who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
The word "comfort" in the Greek New Testament is a wonderful word. It describes the passion of the Holy Spirit who comes alongside in a powerful way, who gave Paul strength and courage when he faced being hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. Verse 4 talks of the trouble and tribulation of devastating pressure that would easily weaken or even crush the spirit altogether. Perhaps you are reading this today, knowing that it sounds much like your own life.
I sat with a US Army General some years ago in his office as he described the immense strain he was under. I could hardly imagine anyone being able to accomplish what he'd been ordered to do. Daily he faced debate; criticism, roadblocks, and potential danger. I had what this man needed: a word of comfort from the God of all Comfort! "Sir," I said, "let's ask God for His help and for His comfort for you."
Our Comforter has come! "The Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones" (Isaiah 49:13).
INSIGHT
God's comfort is not an end in itself; through it we can be comforters to others.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 37-38
Psalm 60
Luke 23
2 Corinthians 1:1-14
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise to the God of All Comfort
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,[a] about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Paul’s Change of Plans
12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[b] and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.
2 Corinthians 1:1-14
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ...who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
The word "comfort" in the Greek New Testament is a wonderful word. It describes the passion of the Holy Spirit who comes alongside in a powerful way, who gave Paul strength and courage when he faced being hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. Verse 4 talks of the trouble and tribulation of devastating pressure that would easily weaken or even crush the spirit altogether. Perhaps you are reading this today, knowing that it sounds much like your own life.
I sat with a US Army General some years ago in his office as he described the immense strain he was under. I could hardly imagine anyone being able to accomplish what he'd been ordered to do. Daily he faced debate; criticism, roadblocks, and potential danger. I had what this man needed: a word of comfort from the God of all Comfort! "Sir," I said, "let's ask God for His help and for His comfort for you."
Our Comforter has come! "The Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones" (Isaiah 49:13).
INSIGHT
God's comfort is not an end in itself; through it we can be comforters to others.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 37-38
Psalm 60
Luke 23
2 Corinthians 1:1-14
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise to the God of All Comfort
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,[a] about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Paul’s Change of Plans
12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[b] and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.
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