2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

God is the God of all comfort. He is the author of comfort. The word used by Paul for comfort means to call alongside. Imagine for a moment someone who is sick and calls for someone to come to their side and care for them. Maybe to give them a glass of water or to adjust their pillows or bring a blanket. The main idea is that to comfort means to come to the side of someone who is struggling. God being the God of comfort comes to our side to aid and encourage us when we are struggling or hurting. Each of us can look into our lives and see moments where God has come alongside us to walk with us through a particularly difficult time in life. No doubt we are thankful for these times. God does this not only to help us in our time of need, but also to teach us what it means to comfort the afflicted. The comfort that God gives to us is not to stop with us. This comfort should flow through us to others that God has placed in our lives. Being comforted by God is the greatest means of teaching us how to comfort others.

Often times we complicate the situation by imposing pressure on ourselves to have answers when what God calls us to is to be present. What is needed more than answers is the calm, steady presence of a trusted individual. Take the death of a loved one. There are no words at this moment that automatically brings healing, but our presence is reassuring during this difficult time.

Notice the number of times the word comfort is used. Four times in two verses the word comfort gets used. The basic logic of this verse is God comforts us because He is the God of all comfort and to teach us how to comfort others. In many ways, God is teaching us to be His hands and feet through the ministry of comfort. So now the question becomes, Who has God placed in your life that you need to comfort? Go and be the hands and feet of God this week.

Pastor Scott