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.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.—2 Corinthians 1:3-6
Writing these verses down for me is akin to walking on holy ground. My spirit testifies with Paul’s that these words are true. I am so grateful that my comfort in my suffering comes from my Father in heaven who is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. As the Father of mercies, He is tender and kind toward me. As the God of all comfort, He is the one who comes alongside and encourages and strengthens my heart to endure. His love shed abroad in my heart, amazingly, enables me to share this mercy and comfort with fellow believers who are in need of both. As I surrender to Him, the God of all Comfort works through me and does this work. In fact, this is happening as I read this very passage because I am receiving from Paul, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the same comfort with which our God comforted Him! I am consoled...I am encouraged...I am strengthened.
Verse 5 tells us the reason why Paul (and we)can comfort others in their sufferings...because the comforts of Christ are equal to the sufferings endured for Him. The sufferings of Christ are the sufferings that come to us because we name His name. Like He was, we are mocked, rejected and betrayed. We face hostility and are hated without a cause. As we suffer these things here, He suffers and endures them with us.
In all their affliction He was afflicted,
And the Angel of His Presence saved them;
In His love and in His pity He redeemed them;
And He bore them and carried them
All the days of old.—Isaiah 63:9
Verse 6 reminds me that my God brings good out of both the suffering and the consolation. Both my sufferings and my consolation are for the glory of God. They are set apart by the cross of Christ. If I am afflicted, others will see how God’s grace to me abounds and gets me through. As they are consoled, encouraged and strengthened, they in turn by His Spirit, will strengthen and console others.
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.—2 Corinthians 4:15-18
No comments:
Post a Comment