Leviticus 14:1-32, Proverbs 8, Mark 10:35-45, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, Psalm 80: Have you ever gone through a traumatic experience and wonder how people ever survive such? When you heard of someone else going through the same ordeal how did you respond? I would hope that you would have responded as the scripture today says,
2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”
For those who think that believers should not suffer they could not be further from the truth. The truth is that we do suffer but we suffer as those with hope. Then when others suffer we are able to share the hope of Christ that carries us through. Suffering doesn’t mean that God does not love or care for us. It means He is allowing hardships in our lives so we can be dependent on Him and remember that life here is passing. We will one day be truly Home where there is no sorrow, no evil, no tears. Until then we will suffer and we will be given opportunity to comfort others suffering as well.
Look around you today to see who in your world needs a touch of mercy and love from the Father. Then speak words of encouragement or do something that speaks the love of the Father for them. This is a great opportunity to share the gospel message!