2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – That We May Comfort
God comforts us that we may in turn comfort others. First of all, God comforts us. Paul says that we are suffering the sufferings of Christ. Later in his letter, Paul will relate what some of those sufferings have been in his own life. Paul identifies these sufferings as the sufferings of Christ. Paul is identifying us with our Redeemer. He’s identifying us in such a way that when we suffer, we can take comfort in our union with Christ who suffered for us. And we can say along with Paul that when our sufferings increased, so does our consolation. So does the comfort that we have because God comes to us. God comes to us and by His Spirit, by His presence, He overflows in love to us.
But the force of this passage presses us not just to have our eyes on Christ and to see how we are comforted in Him, but then to look around us and to see how we are enabled to comfort others. The church is described as the body of Christ such that when one member of the body hurts, the whole body rallies around it to encourage, to help, to comfort the hurting member. Paul compares the comfort that we give to the love of God Himself. Maybe you’re like me – that you run up against a brother or sister in Christ who is undergoing something that is a very terrible trial, and you wonder: ‘How can I be of comfort in this situation?’ Showing the love of God by being with an individual is one way of showing comfort that goes beyond words itself. Just the act of being there is a comfort. Remember that that’s the type of comfort that God often gives. It’s just the assurance of His presence. And He reminds us that He loves us as we suffer these trials. In a very similar way, just the physical act of being there can communicate the love of God that you have for that individual. It’s communicated by the prayers that are shared together, by the phone call even to say, I’m praying for you in this situation.
In verse 6 Paul says we are afflicted and comforted for your comfort and salvation. We can never take someone else’s punishment on our backs and bear that. That right belongs to Jesus Christ alone. So, what does this mean? How is it that our affliction and our comfort works for the comfort and salvation of the church? By loving each other in a self-sacrificing way, following the example of Christ, who laid down His life for us.
In verse 7 we see that we comfort others through a steadfast hope in Jesus Christ. It’s like knowing that the cavalry is on its way in the midst of a battle. Think of the comfort that can be given to the soldier who’s standing next to you. If you can tell them in the midst of that battle, hold on, the cavalry is coming. And we know that there is a steadfast hope because The faith that we have in Jesus Christ is grounded on the sure words that He gives, that He will never leave us or forsake us.
Question
- What are we to do when we have been comforted?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would comfort others with the comfort we have been given.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.