sit a while in 2nd Corinthians-Part I

I. He is the Father of Compassion
2 Corinthians: 3-7

• vs.3: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comforts,
• vs.4: who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
• vs.5: For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
• vs.6: If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
• vs.7: And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
  

Application of verses 3-7:

• vs. 3: Praise Him for being the Father of Comfort & Compassion-no man or woman or thing on earth can satisfy our thirst for comfort the way God can.

• vs. 4 & 5: He comforts us in ALL our troubles. Not one trouble, but ALL of them can be comforted by Christ. Once we experience comfort, we then can comfort others. Simple: extend comfort to others b/c of His comfort for us through heartaches, disappointments, death, any trouble we face. An overflowing brook of comfort from one believer to the next is experienced if we allow Christ to comfort us.

• vs. 6-7:Comfort produces patient endurance & brings hope to endure the tough times. This hope in Christ is comforting b/c we know without Him, there is no hope or comfort. So, enduring sufferings together = receiving comfort from Christ = sharing Christ Like Comfort with others.
• Active steps: step away from distractions---ouch! discipline hurts; worldly comforts; truly give your troubles to God---verbalize your trouble(s) out loud in a very real way; don't pick up the phone or punch the keys---talk to Him 1st & then ask for prayer from a trusted source. Look below at the words "share your hardships". I am speaking to myself, believe me.
  

Below is vs. 8-11: our hardships are suppose to be shared. This is a charge to all of us to HELP one another with prayers so that we may receive comfort & hope.

• vs.8: We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
• vs.9: Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
• vs.10: He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
• vs.11: as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our^[a] behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

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How do we live this out? I am declaring Wednesdays "Worldless Wednesdays" & I'd like to invite you to be a part of this. For now, I plan on sharing a devotion out of 2 Corinthians & starting "blog prayer time". Look back at vs. 8: Paul is urging us to not be uninformed about hardships we suffer. Now, skip to vs. 11---prayers help---our Hope is in Him; we were created to share sufferings, share comforting we receive from our Father, endure together. Prayer between believers is intimate; brings Hope; draws us nearer to Him; comforts & ultimately breaks bondage.
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How do I participate? Each WEDNESDAY, simply post your prayer request to the devotion I or someone else posts. Look at the next post & you'll see a prayer need. You simply commit to pray for this need, offer scripture that comforts, & God will do the rest.

I love you all & excitingly anticipate the comfort we'll receive & overflow into one another's lives!

jenn. r.