Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Psalms 140-145
     New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 1

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Second Corinthians is the most personal and revealing of Paul’s letters to churches in the New Testament. In it, he opens his heart to the believers of Corinth, many of whom still seem critical of him. Paul had written at least three earlier letters to the church at Corinth, where he dealt graciously but bluntly with issues tearing at the unity of the church. In this warm letter, Paul wants to communicate his love to those who were hurt by his earlier letters, encourage those suffering from the persecutions of the early church, and warn those who still rebelled against his authority.

Paul begins this letter with praise to God. He referred to God as Father twice in verse three. First as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ then Paul described God as the Father of mercies. Our God is merciful and compassionate by His very nature. The Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations (Ex 34: 6b-7a).

In addition, Paul states that He is the God of all comfort. This affirms Paul’s claim that God comforts us in all our affliction. Certainly, Paul saw his share of affliction, but in every case, he found comfort from the Lord. In describing his affliction that took place in Asia, Paul said, Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and he will deliver us. We have put our hope in him that he will deliver us again (v9-10).

Discouragement is no respecter of persons. The seasoned saint, as well as the beginning believer, can suffer periods of discouragement. In times of suffering, most of us are prone to think only of ourselves. Yet one reason for our trials is that we might learn to be a channel of blessing to comfort and encourage others. Because God has encouraged us, we can encourage others who may face similar afflictions. However, Paul clarified we do not need to experience the same trials to share God’s encouragement. If we have experienced God’s comfort, then we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction (v4b).

God promises to comfort us in our troubles, then asks us to share that comfort with others. Remember, we can’t give away what we don’t possess. We are to pass on what God gives to us and encourage and comfort others with the encouragement and comfort God gives us.