Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you.
Before his conversion, Paul was a Pharisee, trained in the law and well educated. As such, his writing is sometimes confusing, especially after the translation from 1st century Greek to modern English. However, if we listen closely to the message, it becomes easier to understand.
The word “comfort” in various forms occurs six times in this passage. The Greek language often had multiple words for what we consider the same word in English, depending on the situation or those involved. Paul is teaching that the comfort we have received from God is to be passed onto others.
This is Christ’s lesson, to love one another, offering comfort to each other through Him. Perhaps we can’t resolve the situation by ourselves, perhaps it is beyond human solving. However, we can always offer the “the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”.
Gracious God, we are thankful for the care and comfort You offer us. Help us to follow the example Jesus gave, caring for and comforting one another. Amen.
