Verse of the Day 9/10

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

New International Version

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

One thing for sure is that the older you get the more adversity you will face.  From personal illness, loss, accidents and economic woes life throws us some curve balls.  Hopefully, we have learned from these experiences and also received comfort and encouragement from God, His Word and from His servants; our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Have you ever said "my heart goes out to you" to someone?  Most likely you have tried to comfort and encourage them by sharing personal experience followed by a verse of encouragement.

Pastor Greg Laurie writes, "adversity gives us a new compassion for others who are in pain. When you go through adversity, you have a new consideration of others. It has been said that success builds walls, and failures build bridges. If everything is always perfect and life is always firing on every cylinder, people don't relate to that. But they do relate to a person who is going through or who has been through pain. The apostle Paul said, "[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us" (2 Corinthians 1:4). We need to continue in the faith. Some may say, "Well, my faith has been tested, and I can't handle this." But the faith that cannot be tested is the faith that cannot be trusted. With all respect, the faith that cannot make it through adversity is not real faith……Real faith gets stronger through hardship, not weaker. It becomes more resilient. It doesn't fall apart. Emotions come and go. The Bible says, "The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17 NKJV); it doesn't say the just shall live by feeling. So press on. And when you are facing adversity, don't focus on emotions that fluctuate. Remember that God is there with you. And remember that he is in control."

If you've been helped and encouraged by someone as a result of one of the "various trials" (James 1:2) that you have faced, be prepared to show compassion to someone else who may face a similar trial.  In so doing may we pass along the faith to another.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

New International Version

Praise to the God of All Comfort

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.