The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Corinthians 2:3-4,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"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."
Here in his introductory remarks to the church in Corinth, Paul observes that our God is "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles". As I consider Paul's observation this morning I am reminded that God's comfort is not found in God averting troubles from my life or my ability to avoid them. Paul's observation is an acknowledgement that troubles do come into our lives as we live in a lost world under the curse of God - but that our God catches us in his arms of compassion and comfort as we are thrust through the difficult experiences in life.
Troubles we encounter may have nothing to do with what we have or have not done or they may have everything to do with what we have or have not done. No matter the cause, the outcome has purpose and benefit for us at the hand of God. In Romans 8:28-29 we read, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
This is the same passage where a few verses later Paul says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'" We encounter troubles in this life, but troubles are unable to separate us from the love of our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ.
No question about it, our loving God does not shield us from the troubles of this life… but as "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" he carries us through those difficult times, sustaining us through his grace by possibly providing a brother or sister that will be there for us, or nudging us in some way so as to let us know that he is there, that he cares, that he both hurts with us at times and that he also brings about an inexpressible joy in our lives at other times.
Our God is a big God. He is a transcendent God who surpasses my ability to conceive the boundless love he has for us as expressed in his compassion and comfort he provides us. And although I may not be able to comprehend the full depth of his love, compassion and kindness toward us, it certainly doesn't stop me from exulting, celebrating and reveling in it!
Here in his introductory remarks to the church in Corinth, Paul observes that our God is "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles". As I consider Paul's observation this morning I am reminded that God's comfort is not found in God averting troubles from my life or my ability to avoid them. Paul's observation is an acknowledgement that troubles do come into our lives as we live in a lost world under the curse of God - but that our God catches us in his arms of compassion and comfort as we are thrust through the difficult experiences in life.
Troubles we encounter may have nothing to do with what we have or have not done or they may have everything to do with what we have or have not done. No matter the cause, the outcome has purpose and benefit for us at the hand of God. In Romans 8:28-29 we read, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
This is the same passage where a few verses later Paul says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'" We encounter troubles in this life, but troubles are unable to separate us from the love of our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ.
No question about it, our loving God does not shield us from the troubles of this life… but as "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" he carries us through those difficult times, sustaining us through his grace by possibly providing a brother or sister that will be there for us, or nudging us in some way so as to let us know that he is there, that he cares, that he both hurts with us at times and that he also brings about an inexpressible joy in our lives at other times.
Our God is a big God. He is a transcendent God who surpasses my ability to conceive the boundless love he has for us as expressed in his compassion and comfort he provides us. And although I may not be able to comprehend the full depth of his love, compassion and kindness toward us, it certainly doesn't stop me from exulting, celebrating and reveling in it!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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