THE FATHER OF COMPASSION AND COMFORT - PART 6

SATURDAY 02 DECEMBER 2023

When Paul says, "Praise to the Father of compassion and the God of all Comfort", it doesn't suggest that you must be in suffering, in sickness and in pain, in order to experience God's compassion or gain His practical knowledge as your comforter. So you don't have to suffer like Paul did. By this I mean that your expectations from God must be full of more of His goodness. Never wish or long to be imprisoned, in severe pain, abject hunger, beaten by rod, shipwrecked or hunted by troubling trials and humbling predicament, like Paul encountered, in order to experience divine compassion and comfort, or to prove that you love God. More below!

Reference 2 Corinthians 1:3 New International Version (NIV) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort."

I understand that apostle Paul wrote further in verse 4, "Praise be to the God...who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." However, as I come to the end of this topic, I want you to gain the understanding that God's compassion and comfort equally mean progressive prosperity and rest of mind. In fact, the word, comfort, in a hidden sense, means getting or being comfortable, and the "unacknowledged" underlying meaning suggests functioning from a comfort zone. It doesn't necessarily imply being in a state of needing sympathy. If comfort is defined as a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraints, then it can also be seen as implicit interpretation of condition or pattern of progression that comes with ease and without painful experiences.

For instance, Proverbs 10:22 (AMP) reads, "The blessing of the Lord brings [true] riches, And He adds no sorrow to it [for it comes as a blessing from God]." Beloved, this is a true definition of divine compassion and comfort (denoting a state of physical ease and freedom from pain and sorrow). Got it? Divine compassion and comfort come with great care and delight, thereby positioning us to experience the fullness of God's pleasure in any given situation. So they bear a constant testimony to good success, free of pain and sorrow. Oftentimes, it is when we seem to have come to the end of trusting our capabilities, leaning on our own competence and understanding, as well as counting on anything that resembles human effort, that we see and experience God's compassion and comfort without struggles - in an entirely new way that multiplies or ushers His grace into our lives on a whole new level.

Comforting those in any trouble with the comfort we receive from God, could also be expressed in form of benevolence or generosity, social conscience and societal improvement, charitable works or almsgiving, encouraging words and intercession on behalf of those in need of it. We can indulge in friendly, helpful, or cooperative activities in our Christian community and also, participate in largesse, in the Spirit of trust and confidence in the Lord. To that effect, apostle Paul stated, "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind" (Philippians 2:1-2 NIV). Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Matthew 20:34; Mark 8:2; Romans 15:5; Philippians 2:19-21.

Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, I'm greatly moved by your gigantic faithfulness and solicitude, which come with earnestness, constancy and joyful delight. Through the strength of your goodness and mercy, I bear both adversity and prosperity in such a way that allows nothing unworthy of the profession of the gospel, in Jesus' Name, Amen!