God of all comfort

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.”

Comfort: Receive it and then give it

Although it is now mid-morning of the next day in the region where I reside, I am still going to post comments on the Verse of the Day for March 8, 2016, even though it is actually March 9. Here is that selected passage:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (AMP):

Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

The passage opens by giving praise to “God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” who is described as the source of all mercies. Furthermore, He is the source of “all comfort” who imparts “the only true and perfect comfort in every instance,” according to Logos Bible software. The passage refers to comfort, used as both a noun, that which God provides and as a verb, whereby we, as believers, ease the grief or trouble of someone; we console those who are hurting.

Because we have been comforted and encouraged when we go through “any kind of trouble” or “all our tribulation,” we are able to comfort and encourage others who are going through similarly stressful situations.

The God of all comfort, the Father of mercies provides comfort in very specific ways. Jesus Christ assures us: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” The Psalmist also provides this assurance:

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.

Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, which makes reference to the Word of God in some form or another in every verse, also reveals the source of our comfort:

Psalm 119:50:

This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me and given me life.

Psalm 119:52:

I have remembered [carefully] Your ancient ordinances, O Lord, And I have taken comfort.

Psalm 119:76

O may Your lovingkindness and graciousness comfort me, According to Your word (promise) to Your servant.

Psalm 119:82

My eyes fail [with longing, watching] for [the fulfillment of] Your promise, Saying, “When will You comfort me?”

The ultimate source of comfort, however, is the Holy Spirit, called “The Comforter” whose coming began with a promise from Jesus Christ who assured those who believed on him:

John 14:16

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever—

Jesus Christ further reveals the purpose of the Comforter that was to come:

John 14:26

But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.

John 15:26 further explains:

“But when the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, He will testify and bear witness about Me.

Jesus Christ explains why he has to go away in order that the Comforter might come:

John 16:7

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

Because we have received the Comforter, we are able to provide comfort and encouragement or to comfort one another.  1 Thessalonians 5:11 reminds us

Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.

In reflecting upon the passage, I noted how believers go through trying circumstances, described as troubles or tribulation and receive comfort and encouragement, so that in turn we can comfort and encourage others who are facing similar circumstances that we have endured. In actuality, in the same way, the sufferings of Jesus Christ and all that he endured ultimately were designed to benefit others. I thought of a song which captures the essence of that message, recalling that I had used the song in a previous blog post.

Ruben Studdard and The Black Academy Choir performed a comforting soul ballad called “Medicine (For Someone Else).” When I looked up the previous entry, I noted that it was posted three years ago to the exact date. Here is a link to that post which has the title

A New Prescription: “Medicine (For Someone Else)”—More Good Medicine

We close with another dose of “good medicine” from the shelves of Dr. J’s Apothecary Shoppe: