BIBLE READING PLAN WEEK 4
EXITING OUR COMFORT
DAY 4
In our readings this week, we’re focusing on the key idea from Exodus 5 & 6: “Sometimes the most uncomfortable moments in our life are so we can find our comfort in God.” Today, we will read from 2 Corinthians 1 as we think more about that.
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 receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 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. 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.
Reflection: God calls us to exit comfort, but that doesn’t mean life is all grin and bear it. The Apostle Paul tells us today that God is the God of all comfort. As we exit our comfort, He also comes alongside us and comforts us in a multitude of ways.- How has God comforted you in the past? Thank Him for that.
- Is there any area of your life you need to know God’s comfort right now? Pray about that, and ask for His comfort.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. 12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Reflection: As we think about exiting our comfort this week, today’s passage seems to be going backwards! The Apostle Pauls repeats again and again in verses 3-7 how God comforts us and even says that God is “the God of all comfort” (1:3). And indeed He is. The reality is that God calls us to exit comfort, but that doesn’t mean life is all grin and bear it. We can know if we exit our “worldly” comfort for Him and the sake of others, he will be right there to comfort us as well. He will give us peace, joy, security and guidance. As Paul says, “as we share…in the sufferings…so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” We may suffer, but we will also experience a comfort that is richer and deeper than any comfort this world can provide. And that is comfort that we can pass on. As Paul says, “we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”- How has God comforted you in the past? Thank Him for that.
- Is there an area of your life you need to know God’s comfort right now? Pray about that, and ask for His comfort.
- Who is someone you know who could use an encouraging word or some kind of “pick me up” today? Pray for them and show them God’s comfort today!
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 receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 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. 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.
Reflection: What is something that makes you comfortable? It could be something that actually makes you comfortable physically, like your favorite comfy shoes, or the giant fluffy blanket on your bed. It could be something that makes you comfortable inside, like a big hug from someone you love when you’re upset, or fresh chocolate chip cookies after you’ve had a tough day (speaking of which, don’t you think you should make some cookies tonight? Nevermind, we’re getting off track). There are lots of things that give us comfort in life, but there is something, or someone, that gives us more comfort than any of those things. It’s Jesus! Think about it, what is more comforting than knowing that the creator of the entire world loves YOU, and you specifically? What is more comforting than knowing that when we are going through something hard, that Jesus is with us, and is stronger than whatever we are facing? Here’s the deal, bad things are going to happen in life. There are going to be tough days, hard times, and things that happen that just flat out stink. But through all of those things, we have the comfort of knowing that Jesus, who is stronger than ANY of those things, is on our side, and loves us through it all.- Have you ever been comforted by Jesus? Where you were uncomfortable, but then you remembered that Jesus was there with you, and it made you feel better?
- How can we help ourselves remember that Jesus brings us comfort? (prayer, reading Bible, going to church, etc.)
Focus Verse: For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5
Devotional:
God calls us to exit comfort, but that doesn’t mean life is all grin and bear it. We can know if we exit our “worldly” comfort for Him and the sake of others, he will be right there to comfort us as well. As Paul says, “as we share…in the sufferings…so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” We may suffer, but we will also experience a comfort that is richer and deeper than any comfort this world can provide. And that is comfort that we can pass on. As Paul says, “we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
- How has God comforted you in the past? Thank Him for that.
- Is there an area of your life you need to know God’s comfort right now? Pray about that, and ask for His comfort.
- Who is someone you know who could use an encouraging word or some kind of “pick me up” today? Pray for them and show them God’s comfort today!
Focus Verse: For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5
Devotional:
God calls us to exit comfort, but that doesn’t mean life is all grin and bear it. We can know if we exit our "worldly" comfort for Him and the sake of others, he will be right there to comfort us as well. As Paul says, “as we share…in the sufferings…so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” We may suffer, but we will also experience a comfort that is richer and deeper than any comfort this world can provide. And that is comfort that we can pass on. As Paul says, “we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
- How has God comforted you in the past? Thank Him for that.
- Is there an area of your life you need to know God’s comfort right now? Pray about that, and ask for His comfort.
- Who is someone you know who could use an encouraging word or some kind of “pick me up” today? Pray for them and show them God’s comfort today!
