The God of All Comfort
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies an
Here, Paul offers both a receiving and a giving.
Recently my wifes father, LeRoy Ringsmith, passed away peacefully at the age of 87 in Melbourne, Florida. The great comfort that Nancy and I have received, along with her sister and her brother and their families, is not only the reality signifying their dads entrance into what the Bible calls Paradise at the time of his death, but also the tremendous outpouring of love, prayers, cards, delicious food, and tender comments from our Christian community and friends. LeRoy was a Christian, and the Bible says that although his body had given out, his soul had been healed the moment he received Jesus as His Lord and Savior, the One the Bible says is the true Resurrection and the Life!
In this passage of Scripture, Paul also addresses the ministry of comfort. This past year, Nancy and I have been touched by the tender and gentle way in which her dads caregivers at Salus House where he lived in Melbourne, attended to his every need. One caregiver told me the day of LeRoy’s memorial service that he was the grandfather she had never had. Blessings received, blessings, given!
Pastor Charles Stanley, in commenting on this Scripture says Whatever the level of affliction, God’s comfort is available and adequate to meet the need. There will be trial, sorrow, and grief in the Christian life, but Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort!
Praise to the Comforter and the Call to Comfort Others,
Pastor Louie