Derek Smith, Lead Pastor LHBC
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, 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. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
A Little Boy wanted $100.00 badly and prayed to God for a whole week, but nothing happened. So, he decided to write God a letter requesting the $100.00. When the Post Office got the letter addressed to God they forwarded it on to the Whitehouse. The President was very impressed, touched, and amused so he instructed his aid to send the boy $5.00. He thought $5.00 would be a lot to the little boy. The boy was, indeed, delighted by the money. He sat down and wrote a thank you note immediately, which read:
Dear God,
Thank you very much for sending the money. However, I noticed that for some reason you had to send it through Washington and, as usual, they kept most of it.
Do you ever feel cheated? Sometimes we can feel this way in our flesh toward God. Paul gives us some awesome news in 2 Corinthians 1, but it’s also wrapped in some bad news. The tough news is you’re going to go through affliction. Suffering is a natural part of a fallen world. Because of Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden, and our continued sin to this day, we live in a broken messed up world. With this comes pain and hardship. Also, Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted. Some hardship even comes from the hand of God because James 1 tells us to count all trials with joy because God is at work in us through them. Man, this Christian life is tough!
However, in the midst of the tough times Jesus is with us! He promises to never leave us nor forsake us! He says we can cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us! Right here Paul tells the church at Corinth that He is the Father of all comfort and the God of all mercies. He comforts us in our hardship, and it’s for a purpose: so that we can comfort others who walk through the same stuff.
No matter what you’re going through know that the Lord Jesus is with you. You are never alone and what God is allowing in your life right now will lead to your growth in Him. Nothing happens in our lives outside His permission and compassion, and He is a gracious God. Feel cheated? We all do sometimes, but we must set our eyes on the very character and nature of our God. Trust Him by faith, and you will have a testimony to share which will leave a lasting imprint for His glory!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, thank You for being with me in all things. I know that the hardship I go through will result in my good if I will seek You in it and trust You through it. Thank you for being such a comforting merciful God. In Jesus name, amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Ephesians 4:29 ESV
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.