July 29, 2010, 2 Corinthians 1

Key Verses:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 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.

(2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

Central Truth:
You will always have our Lord Jesus Christ waiting to show you his mercy and love.

MY MAMA ALWAYS SAID, "LIFE IS NOT A BED OF ROSES."

Life can be tiring - not just for a select group of people, but people of all ages, gender, race, Christian and non Christian. We all will, at some time, struggle with bills, school, work, health, friends, family, uncertainty, etc. When we attempt to handle these burdens alone, it is no wonder that we can become discouraged. Discouragement can only lead to low self esteem. It steals your hope, your peace and your happiness. We do not have to carry these burdens alone. Hopefully, we have family & friends to provide encouragement. Still, sometimes, for whatever reason, they may not be there to support us in our struggles. One thing is certain, however; our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort will always be there and never fail us. He will provide encouragement, comfort, strength and direction. We can be assured that He will have compassion for us, and He will not leave us alone, unloved, or uncared for. Be encouraged because God is a God of mercy and comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:4, states that God comforts us so that we can better comfort others. Isn’t it a pleasant thought to know that in times of trouble, we can call out to God, and He really listens and cares? Often I greet someone by saying, "How are you?" I’m sure that you have too. Do we really care or is this just a familiar courtesy greeting that we are accustomed to using? I think that we genuinely care how others are doing; however, we are not prepared for anything other than the expected response of, “I’m fine, and how are you?” Truthfully, they probably don’t care either. When the formal greetings are out of the way, we can go about our business of talking about other things. Our Father of Compassion and God of all comfort encourages us to really care as He does. He wishes for all brothers and sisters to share their burdens and provide comfort and compassion to each other. We should encourage each other to trust in God that He will carry our burdens; after all He is the God that carried the Cross and died for us so that we can be forgiven for all sins.

In the future, as I greet someone with, “How are you?” I will really care, and I’ll also be prepared should they answer back, “I’m not doing well; can you help me?”

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)