Daily Bread 2010 - 2 Corinthians 1
The God of All Comfort
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If 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. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
As Paul starts this second letter to the Corinthians, much has happened in his life and he has experienced plenty of suffering for the cause of Christ, including being imprisoned in Ephesus for three years. Paul had to write a letter discussing the issue of those who were claiming that he was a false apostle because he was not one of the original 12.
Paul also explains why he wasn’t able to make a second visit to the church and dismisses the claims that he makes plans in a worldly way where his yes was not yes but yes and no. In the verses for today, Paul stresses that no matter what he is going through God’s comfort was present. Just as Jesus suffered, he suffered and yet through these sufferings God’s comfort encouraged him.
When Paul experienced the sufferings of Christ, he also participated in the comfort of sharing in Christ’s sufferings. For Paul this helped him to become a model for the Corinthians in their own suffering. Therefore, Paul found a purpose in His suffering. First, to identify with Jesus and His suffering and secondly that the comfort he found God through Jesus could overflow to others who were also suffering.
Although none of us would choose suffering, it comes to each of us in different ways and in different seasons. As we are able to face our suffering like Paul does, we can be assured that we will become more like God’s Son. Second, it will be a source of comfort to others as Christ’s presence overflows through us.
Are you going through a time of suffering or hardship? Even though suffering is never easy or fun, we can be comforted by our heavenly Father in it. And through it we can become like His son. The result will be that we can also be a source and comfort and strength to others thus completing the circle.
God of all comfort, strengthen us in our time of need. May we grow as we participate in the sufferings of Christ and receive strength from Him in our time of need that flows over into others who need God’s comfort and strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If 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. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
As Paul starts this second letter to the Corinthians, much has happened in his life and he has experienced plenty of suffering for the cause of Christ, including being imprisoned in Ephesus for three years. Paul had to write a letter discussing the issue of those who were claiming that he was a false apostle because he was not one of the original 12.
Paul also explains why he wasn’t able to make a second visit to the church and dismisses the claims that he makes plans in a worldly way where his yes was not yes but yes and no. In the verses for today, Paul stresses that no matter what he is going through God’s comfort was present. Just as Jesus suffered, he suffered and yet through these sufferings God’s comfort encouraged him.
When Paul experienced the sufferings of Christ, he also participated in the comfort of sharing in Christ’s sufferings. For Paul this helped him to become a model for the Corinthians in their own suffering. Therefore, Paul found a purpose in His suffering. First, to identify with Jesus and His suffering and secondly that the comfort he found God through Jesus could overflow to others who were also suffering.
Although none of us would choose suffering, it comes to each of us in different ways and in different seasons. As we are able to face our suffering like Paul does, we can be assured that we will become more like God’s Son. Second, it will be a source of comfort to others as Christ’s presence overflows through us.
Are you going through a time of suffering or hardship? Even though suffering is never easy or fun, we can be comforted by our heavenly Father in it. And through it we can become like His son. The result will be that we can also be a source and comfort and strength to others thus completing the circle.
God of all comfort, strengthen us in our time of need. May we grow as we participate in the sufferings of Christ and receive strength from Him in our time of need that flows over into others who need God’s comfort and strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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