(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 affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in
any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
(5) For just as
the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant
through Christ.
(6) But if we are
afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is
for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same
sufferings which we also suffer;
(7) and our hope
for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings,
so also you are sharers of our comfort.
Paul begins
here by praising God. He says He is the
Father of all mercies and comfort. Why
is it such a big deal that God is merciful and comforting? Paul is encouraging us to rely on God when we
are having trouble. The world can
sometimes feel like a vise is squeezing the life out of us. We are faced with troubles and trials and it
is God that brings comfort to our lives.
It is when we are under the pressures of the world that God comes
shining through.
God intends
for us to share this comfort that He brings into our life. We should never be a sponge when it comes to
receiving comfort. We should be a funnel
and make sure we comfort others who may be going through similar situations.
We must
advance the cause of Christ. Everywhere
Paul went he faced trials and tribulations. We will certainly face the same as
we lift Jesus up to the World. However,
we must never get discouraged. Paul’s
hope was steadfast. We may have times of suffering but God will comfort us.
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