Are You Comfortable?

Daily Reading: 2 Corinthians 1

Scripture Focus: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction… (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Devotional Thought: In Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, he reminds the believers of the comfort given to them by God the Father, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. This word “comfort” in the original Greek, was written as “paraklēsis.” Since Paul uses the word so much in the opening of this letter, it is good for us to consider its original meaning.

We sometimes have a negative connotation with the word “comfort” in our Christian walk, as it implies that we are not leaving our “comfort zone” to do the necessary work of spreading the gospel. Used in this context, that is certainly right. We should be bold for Christ, and at times (often), that is uncomfortable. However, Paul is using a Greek word with a broader meaning than what we normally associate with comfort. Paraklēsis is a calling alongside, for exhortation, strong appeal, and consolation.

The early church was not comfortable by any definition! They faced persecution, dissent, and false teaching. They needed each other for mutual encouragement and consolation, because they were facing suffering and afflictions on a daily basis. They needed reminders of who their Comforter was, and his ability to comfort those in any affliction. During our times of suffering, we are called alongside other believers, to receive consolation, but also exhortation. This has a grander purpose, “so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God,” (v.4). Even though life is sometimes uncomfortable, we can rest in full assurance that “it is God who establishes us with you in Christ… and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee,” (v.21-22).

Jenny

Prayer: Lord, give us hope and joy as we face suffering. In our own times of comfort, give us the strength of character to reach out and be a comfort to others who are suffering. Thank you for your Spirit, whom you have put in our hearts as a guarantee!

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 116.15-19

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord

is the death of his saints.

16 O Lord, I am your servant;

I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.

You have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving

and call on the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows to the Lord

in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,

in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!