“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort…” (2 Corinthians 1:3; KJV).
Thayer’s defines the word “comfort” to mean to call near for the purpose of comfort, solace. The Creator of all things, the Sustainer of all living things, the Redeemer of all mankind is calling those created in His image to come to Him. To draw near to Him for the purpose of being comforted by Him.
Our God is the Father of Comfort. “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation” (2 Corinthians 1:3-7; NKJV).
Jesus is the comfort of Israel. “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him” (Luke 2:25; NKJV).
As the people of God we are to be people of comfort. “Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement)…” (Acts 4:36; NASBU).
We are to walk in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied” (Acts 9:31; NKJV).
The Scriptures contain words of comfort which produce hope in our hearts. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4; ASV).
The God of All Comfort longs for us to have strong comfort deep within our hearts. “…so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18; ESV).
Our Prayer: May our God of all comfort, our Father grant us to be likeminded toward one another, according to Jesus Christ, that we may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. See Romans 15:5.
Jason
