Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ... 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 1:3-4
The light of the sun is God's free public utility to all people. It is the same for everyone: for the sunbather resting on the beach, for the farmer tilling his fields, for the woman growing flowers in her yard. Since the sunshine is meant for all, those who are healthy can share it with the weak by taking them for walks; by letting more sunshine come into our dark city slums; by providing solaria, or sunshine rooms, for the sick and the institutionalized.
As is the Creator's sunlight, so is the comfort of our heavenly Father in Jesus Christ. It is free, and it is the same for all, as Saint Paul writes: "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."
God's comfort is the same for rich and poor, young and old, learned and unlearned, pastors and lay members in the church. Social standing, ethnic background, and skin color are no factors. In Jesus Christ, His Son, God loved and redeemed the whole world -- all humanity -- inviting everyone to accept the comfort of His forgiveness. Also with respect to God's compassion and consolation, in Saint Paul's words: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
The apostle makes this important point: God comforts us not only for our own sakes but also to equip us for comforting others in their troubles. The comfort is the same. How wonderful and God-pleasing, when Christians who have experienced divine comfort take that same consolation and speak it to others in their distress! It is like sharing God's sunshine.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord God, for comforting me with Your forgiving love in Christ Jesus. Help me bring comfort to others. Amen.
(Devotions from "With Jesus Every Day" copyright 1997, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Deuteronomy 14-16 Luke 5:1-16
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