Comfort and Suffering, Part 2

Chorus: The Comforter Has Come
The Comforter has come,
The Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from heav'n, (heaven)
The Father's promise giv'n; (given)
O spread the tidings round, (spread good news to people)
Wherever man (people) is found,
The Comforter has come!
(Frank Bottome, Sing His Praise)

2 Corinthians 1:5-7 NCV
"We share in the many sufferings of Christ. In the same way, much comfort comes to us through Christ. If we have troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation, and if we have comfort, you also have comfort. This helps you to accept patiently the same sufferings we have. Our hope for you is strong, knowing that you share in our suffering and also in the comfort we receive."

Paul, through his writing letters (epistle) emphasizes that the Christian life does have the combination of the suffering and the comfort of Christ. The word, combination, combine means to be part of something as to become one; like one cannot be without the other. Example: combine the ingredients of a recipe.

Suffering and comfort come together as part of our Christian lives. When we suffer, we are partners with Christ and Christ is our comfort. KJV quotes, "ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation (to comfort in times of grief, distress, or suffering)." 2 Corinthians 1:7b

Paul asked Corinthian Christians to pray for him to endure the sufferings and he also know that they share in sufferings with him (2 Cor.1:11). So if any of you are suffering, ask others to pray with you that you may be comfort in Christ. KJV: "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ" (2 Cor. 1:5) (Abound=fill with something).

Prayer card: LORD, I am asking you to help me to order my steps today. Make me strong, not for the sake of having strength, but to make me sufficient for the crisis moments in my life and in the lives of others who reach out to me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!

Dorothy