I love the word of God! I love the way it speaks to my soul as if I’m sitting in a house in the town of Corinth in the year 55 A.D. and I receive the letter of Paul. I read it as though he had written to me and I’m in that day. Wait… we are in that day. For the Bible is an eternal word, not only a word of the year 55 A.D when it was written. It’s relevance never fades. So this morning as I sit in my recliner having my morning coffee, I am comforted in these day of unrest. Unrest from a lack of sleep, unrest from concerns of the day and concerns for my “people.” I’m not facing anything close what Paul and his friends were facing.
The image above is an original art piece, not an original thought. I had seen once done similarly on instagram and I loved the thought of the arms of Christ around me. I wish the world could feel that now. Many can, but far more can’t. They have no concept of the Holy Spirit of God and how He is as present today as He was in the days leading up to His crucifixion. So, Paul writes to remind us…
2 Corinthians 1:1-12 KJV
[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: [2] Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
THE GOD OF ALL
Well, almost. The God of the church of Corinth, the God of Victory Baptist Church, the God of (insert your church name here). The churches of God. Not the buildings, but the people. Where ever you happen to be, as you listen to God’s words believing in the power of His Son, Jesus Christ. But not to the believers of Buddha, Mohammad or any other of the “little g” gods of this day. He is not their God, and He is not their comfort.
When Paul talked talked to King Agrippa in Acts 26 the king said “Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” He was almost King Agrippa’s God. But almost doesn’t count in eternity. You will not “almost make it.” You’ll either be in Heaven with God, or Hell with Satan and his demons. It was Agrippa’s choice and it is ours.
THE COMFORT OF ALL
Well almost. All those in Christ. Do you see the theme? It’s that almost that I want to ring in your ears, because it’s ringing in mine today.
[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. [5] For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. [6] And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
It’s my responsibility, as it was Paul’s, to share that comfort with you. I can’t give it to you without your acceptance and understanding that it comes from Christ, but I can share it with you and afford you the opportunity to experience it in your life as I do in mine. Just as we share the afflictions of this day, we too can share the same comfort. Paul said that the comfort of Christ was for “any trouble.” Do you have “any” trouble? I’ll bet you do! It may not be the COVID19 virus. It could be any number of issues, but for certain God is the comfort of you and your circumstance.
THE HOPE OF ALL
Yes, you’ve likely fallen into line by now. “Almost” all. Those who know…
[7] And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
My hope will be in the fact that you are in the hope of Christ. Paul was counting on the fact that his friends knew Christ and regardless of their circumstances, he believed they had hope.
Do your friends have hope? Many of mine do, but some do not. And that word ringing in my ears this morning is “share the hope, Shari!!!!” It’s our responsibility in life and it will be our accountability in the afterlife to answer for whether or not we have shared that hope.
THE DELIVERANCE OF ALL
Yes, almost all.
[8] For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: [9] But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: [10] Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us ; [11] Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. [12] For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
Did you catch your part of the story? It put a shout in my soul this morning as I write myself happy! Paul thanked his friends for their part of his deliverance. Yes, to God be the glory for certain, but it was in part because of the prayers of the saints, and the salvation of many will be in part because of the prayers and sharing of the gospel of those who are in Christ Jesus today. Oh glory! That’s me. I fail a lot. But God and the angels are not counting my failures, they’re rejoicing in the saints who know Jesus because I’ve done my part. Because you too have done your part! And because of our part, there will be those who not almost, but in full know the comfort, the hope and the deliverance of God.
Glory!!!!! Do you your part. Tell the world about Jesus. Share the gospel, either your story or that of folks like me who God has gifted the platform of grace.
Stay safe and well friends….
