The Verse of the Day for March 8, 2018 provides another magnificent illustration of who God is and what He provides for His people:
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV):
[Praise to the God of All Comfort] 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.
Throughout the Scriptures we see that God is a source of comfort.
Isaiah 49:13 (NIV) makes this clear:
Shout for joy, you heavens;
rejoice, you earth;
burst into song, you mountains
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Isaiah 51:12 (NIV) reinforces the message
“I, even I, am he who comforts you.
Who are you that you fear mere mortals,
human beings who are but grass
Isaiah 66:13 (NIV) speaks comfort to Israel
As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”
The Verse of the Day also brings to mind Ephesians 1:3 to show us that “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Indeed, we are complete in Christ, blessed in that we have received everything that we need to live fruitful and meaningful lives spiritually. Paul asks, “What do you have that you have not received?” We recognize that before we can share anything with others we must have received what we desire to share. So it is with comfort, as the Verse of the Day reminds of the principle of receiving and giving and giving and receiving, We have received great comfort from God so that we are in a position to give great comfort to others.
In addition, we discover that God is source of all comfort for those who look to Him to find comfort and strength, particularly in times of distress and trouble. We receive comfort in knowing that we not only have hope, but we have a living hope
1 Peter 1:3 reminds us all our gracious Father has given us:
[Praise to God for a Living Hope]
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
As believers we first of all receive “comfort from God” particularly during times of trouble. We are then able to give comfort to others in the same way that we have been comforted by the God of all comfort, thus we follow this exhortation:
Therefore comfort one another
Therefore encourage and comfort one another
and build up one another, just as you are doing.1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore comfort one another, as the Father tells us to.
May our words always be seasoned with salt, though they may be few.
Just as the Lord strengthens and encourages with words of hope,
So the love we share lightens the load, helping others to cope.
May the love of God abound in all we say and do.
God is faithful to keep His promises, for His Word is true.
Each day offers another chance, for the Father makes all things new.
Take comfort in knowing that we have a living hope;
Therefore comfort one another.
To walk in God’s love is the more excellent way we pursue.
Though we share in Christ’s afflictions, we share in his comfort too.
The comfort we give comes back in a far greater measure of hope,
For to see life from God’s viewpoint offers an even grander scope.
Though troubled on every hand, God’s great comfort will see us through;
Therefore comfort one another.
We close with a musical tribute to the “God of all Comfort.”