Tribulation And Consolation For The Sake Of Others

 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 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 are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 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. 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.


consolation- the act of consoling (Webster's)
console- to alleviate or lessen the grief, sorrow or disappointment of (Webster's)


"We are joint heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may ALSO be glorified together (with Him)."
(Romans 8:17)


"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
(Hebrews 12:1)


Who is it that can adequately explain the sufferings of Christ to us? Or the consolation? What form will the sufferings of Christ take? Certainly we know there will be enemies that curse, hate, spitefully use and persecute. Weakness and sickness come, even death if we partake unworthily of communion with Him. He consoles by revealing Himself through the Holy Spirit alleviating the grief, sorrow and disappointment of the soul that knows Him only in part.


As the sufferings of Christ come, documented in the lives of Job, Peter and Paul, so also the consolation abounds through Christ. It is imperative that we, who are being saved, understand how important this process is for our brothers/sisters to see in us. We must be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we are comforted by God. The consolation or comfort goes hand in hand with the willingness to submit to Him. All are suffering, whether they know it or not. Most are suffering apart from Him, few with Him. Paul writes that he HOPES that we will be willing to partake of the Christ's consolation.

The writer of this blog can be reached at  ngm0811gdh@gmail.com.