(2Co 1:6)  “And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.”  Notice Paul’s life-view. He saw the trials of health or persecution to have a purpose; not so much caused by the Lord but allowed of.  Should you and I not look upon them as the same?  

(2Co 1:5) “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” Notice that as the sufferings “abound”, so does the consolation – the hand of God ministering to the sufferer. Our Lord is sufficient for all things we go through a His Child. Remember, to experience this dedicated servant of God’s blessing, you must also be seeking to please your Savior.

 (2Co 1:4) “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”   Imagine being able, like Paul here, to look at tribulation as, not something one simply endured, but as something used of God for the benefit of others. If one can do so, it will change our outlook towards all hardships.

(2Co 1:4) “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”  Sadly, it is through the troubles of this life we grow the most (Rom 5:3-4; James 1). Yet, it is through this we experience the love of our Father. This enables us to minister to others who walk through that same valley of life.

(2Co 1:3) “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”   Almost every funeral I have ever done has found me using this verse to point those grieving to the Lord. Our Lord is the only true source of comfort. He alone fully understands everything you are going through. The man Jesus knew firsthand what it was to suffer loss.

(2Co 1:3) “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”  Here we have a wonderful reminder that the very reason the Lord Jesus came to this earth is to give us mercy. The nature of God’s holiness demands a payment for sin. He fulfilled His Own righteous need of character by paying the price of sin – death! Father of mercies!

(2Co 1:2) “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”  “Grace”, “peace”: a true Shepherd will do what is best for his flock. He, as Paul, will do the hard thing of rebuke when necessary. But it will always be for the welfare of the flock, desiring the best for them: grace, peace.

(2Co 1:1)  “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:”   It is important to note: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,…”  Those who fill the office of bishop, pastor,  are to do so only because it they are singled out, called, according to God’s will.

(1Co 15:58) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”  Why be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord? Answer: There is a great reward coming: the resurrection of our bodies. Reward is not accurate, for it speaks of getting by giving. It is more like, be faithful, for you cannot out-give God.

(1Co 15:57) “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  May we ever be mindful that every privilege of being the Child of God comes through, and only through the merit of Jesus Christ our Lord!