Grace through Comfort

THE REWARD OF THE SPIRIT’S COMPASSION: THAT WE WOULD BE COMFORTED (2 CORINTHIANS 1:4A)

The reward of the Spirit’s great compassion is His comfort. The comfort He bestows on us is an assurance that we will be able to survive the arrows of pain and suffering. Like a dart through our hearts, we suffer from the persecution of this world and for the sin in our lives. But we also suffer for the cause of Christ.

In all cases of physical and psychological pain, the Spirit is there is give us comfort. He provides peace in the time of turmoil. He quiets us silences the noise of this world. He gives us rest when we feel exhausted. The Spirit calms us in the turbulence and confusion that comes with pressure. He refreshes us when we are weary but must battle on. He provides serenity in moments of agitation, disturbance, and disruption.

I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,

Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;

For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,

And His glory is flooding my soul.

Peace! peace! wonderful peace,

Coming down from the Father above;

Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,

In fathomless billows of love.

THE REACTION OF THE SPIRIT’S COMFORT: PROVIDING COMFORT TO OTHERS (2 CORINTHIANS 1:4B)

Since we are comforted, we should comfort others. This is an appropriate reaction to the security and the ongoing assurance we find through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Live a life that comforts others as a sign of the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Jesus said these words about those who would comfort others (Matthew 25:35-40, NKJV),

“I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

WE COMFORT OTHERS THROUGH:

We comfort others by Prayer, sitting quietly as they pour out their hearts, drying their tears, by not judging them for the lives that cause their suffering, being empathetic to their pain, by just being there for those who are suffering loss, and meeting the physical needs

There is only one peace, only one comfort, and only one hope of eternity. Since there is only one comfort, there is only one comforter. That comfort is a gift from God given to us through the Holy Spirit. The whole of the Trinity is our Comfort.

In all things, the Holy Spirit is the believer’s Comforter.