Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. II Corinthians 1.3-4
As my family and I were working the other morning, I played a sermon my pastor preached some time ago titled ‘The Children of the Devil’. The theme, of course, was about the current behaviors and actions of people today. In these end times, we see an abundance of disobedient and disrespectful adults and adolescents. It is a sad state of affairs, but they are just doing what is natural or that which that have learned from the example of others. In his sermon, my pastor stated “children take on the characteristics of the parents”. As a parent, I thought within myself, ‘boy, what a statement!’.
Today’s text verse was laid on my heart several weeks ago. The thought rested securely in the fact that God, our Father in Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (the great Three in One) is the ‘God of all comfort’. In today’s Scripture verse, the Apostle Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes, in verse 4, “Who comforteth us in all tribulation...”. The ‘Who’ refers to God, as noted at the end of the verse as well as at the beginning of verse 3. It is within these six words we find the blessedness of God’s comfort. The word ‘comforteth’ is different that ‘comfort’ or ‘comforts’. This special word and the context in which it is written denotes the fact that it is a Continuing Comfort. The ‘eth’ on the end of comfort reveals that God’s comforting efforts (grace) are on-going, continuing, ever-flowing and enduring through all tribulation. His comfort is for today, tomorrow and every day we continue to live on this earth as we deal with struggles of the flesh in a world consumed by ugliness, sin, temptation, confrontation, anger and hatred.
We also find it is a Caring Comfort. Our Lord comforts us in the midst of trial, trouble and tribulation, simply because He cares. He loves His people, the very creatures which were placed on this earth to bring glory unto Himself. The “God of all comfort” reaches down from vastness of Heaven to comfort our hearts, souls and minds just because He cares. This leads to the keynote of the entire second epistle written unto the Corinthians. The Lord’s comfort is a Characteristic Comfort. Verse 3 states that the Lord is “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort”. With all the troubles in today’s ministry as well as in basic life, we require God’s mercy comfort. He being the Father of mercies, His very nature is to bestow mercy upon the people He loves. Being the God of all comfort, again, it is the Lord’s nature to comfort those that are hurting. In times of need, in days of distress, in nights of anguish, He is there! Whatever the situation, our Lord is there ready and willing to comfort the broken hearted and heal the hurting. With the Lord and His inspired Word given to us, there is always a reason beyond the simplicity of our personal needs woven within the Scriptures. Recall, my pastor’s statement concerning the children of the devil. He said, “children take on the characteristics of the parents”. How true that is! Verse 4 not only tells us that God continues to comfort us, but does so “that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble”. If the “Father of all mercies” is our Father and children take on the characteristics of their parents, then we are privileged to adopt God’s character to offer comfort those who are suffering. It is much like the fruit of the Spirit; Paul lists nine fruits (nine being the number of fruitfulness) in the epistle unto the Galatians. Fruit from any source is never intended for the benefit of the bearer. No tree has ever reached down and taken of itself the fruit it grows for it’s own nourishment. The fruits of the Spirit in the life of the children of God are intended for the benefit or nourishment for those around them.
In the same context, we are comforted by our Heavenly Father and by His nature we are to extend comfort to those around us, “by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”.
Let us strive to comfort those in trouble in the same manner as our Father comforteth us in all tribulations.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
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