SCRIPTURE:
“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
OBSERVATION:
Paul was exhorting the people of Corinth, for those who were suffering; to turn to the Lord for comfort. And as we know that the Lord can bring comfort directly, Paul was exhorting them to comfort others as they have been comforted. Furthermore, he reminded them that their sufferings and experiences would often bring comfort as they shared their recollection of their sufferings, and God’s comfort to them. Basically, Paul was directing them to have hope in their sufferings, but for the believers to encourage others in their sufferings. Thus, in sharing their sufferings with a heart of comfort, Paul was encouraging them to testify of Christ. Paul was encouraging them to extend Jesus’ comfort and sufferings with the heart of hope, peace, grace, healing, and wholeness.
APPLICATION:
This is a great reminder of the saying that “people often don’t care what you have to say, until they know how much you care.” In other words, when we see others suffering or needing encouragement; before we preach, perhaps we can reach; reach into their hearts by relating to what they are going through, and approaching them with compassion, comfort, understanding, and empathy. Our comfort and compassion can often open the door of acceptance and willingness to receive. It’s then that we can serve, minister, and testify; all with the heart of the will of Christ coming upon them.
I was recently in a counseling session, and immediately saw the challenge and problem that was occurring with the person. The person was angry, was venting, and it was hard to get a word in. Finally, I took a position of listening, empathy, and comfort. It resulted in the whole situation becoming calm where we could talk nicely and get to the root of the situation. What’s that old adage, to put the fire out, you can’t throw more gas on the fire, but instead water it down, or cover it and smother it with grace.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for Jesus and the example He is in His sufferings and How what He did can and will bring comfort that we can learn from, embrace, and extend to others. That when we do so, doors and hearts will open to see you and receive what we offer in you.
