Day 1 – 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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 affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.

Paul, in his introduction to the church in Corinth, writes about affliction and comfort. On the surface it would seem that he is either expressing profound gratitude for the comfort he received in his suffering or just fishing for sympathy. The fact that he does not specify the suffering he endured seems to suggest that he is much more interested in making a theological statement about affliction and comfort. What generally happens when we encounter affliction? We draw in our borders and retreat into ourselves. Feeling sorry for ourselves, we only want to be comforted by others who see our affliction. But Paul seems to challenge us here to a broader understanding. We are the body of Christ, and though we may not go through the same afflictions we share in them nonetheless. When one suffers we all share in that suffering and in a similar manner we also share in the comfort. How do we share? Through our prayer life, through empathy and sympathy we express, and through making our presence known. Let us today pause in the midst of our business to lift someone in prayer, sincerely inquire about a fellow believer’s welfare, really listen to the one who cries for help, offer tangible help where you can, but mostly be present. Doing so causes God’s favor to be bestowed on them and on you.

Dear Father, we are often so busy that we hardly take the time to pray for more than our personal needs or the needs of our small circle of family and friends. Forgive us for our lack of empathy and sympathy. Help us today to reach out to those around us suffering through all manner of affliction whether close or distant. Give us a burden that will move us to pray so that abundant suffering might give way to abundant comfort in Christ. Amen.