Thought for June 10

History:
  • 1692: Bridget Bishop is the first person hung for witchcraft in Salem
  • 1720: First paste style mustard made in England
  • 1752: Ben Franklin tests the lightning conductor with his kite
  • 1768: British seize John Hancock's ship suspecting he unloaded cargo without paying tax
  • 1793: First public zoo opens--Paris
  • 1845: Andrew Jackson's parrot, Poll, is removed from Jackson's funeral at the Hermitage for swearing
  • 1854: First class graduates from the Naval Academy
  • 1899: Order of the Elks forms
  • 1933: John Dillinger robs his first bank
  • 1935: Bill Wilson and Robert Smith form Alcoholics Anonymous
  • 1977: Al Geiberger posts a 59 at the Danny Thomas Classic
  • 1991: Final episode of "Twin Peaks"
  • Born: Jacques Marquette, Hattie McDaniel, Clyde Beatty [wild animal trainer], Saul Bellow, Judy Garland, Maurice Sendak, F Lee Bailey, Dan Fouts, Eliot Spitzer, Jeane Tripplehorn, Elizabeth Hurley, Tara Lipinski, Kate Upton, 
  • Died: Alexander the Great, Marcus Garvey [Back to Africa], Jack Johnson [boxer], Spencer Tracy, Louis L'Amour, Lindsey Nelson, Ray Charles, Gordie Howe, 
Thought:
Considering 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Paul is writing to the church at Corinth again. Both Paul and the church are suffering for their faith. Paul begins this letter with a strong word of encouragement that I need to hear. When I am suffering it is easy to allow pain make me feel helpless, hopeless, separated and alone. I fight pain by reciting scripture--my God is "the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." When I need help facing affliction, disease, injury, pain, I can go to the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort. 

God comforts by giving us strength for today, hope for tomorrow, and assurance that there is a purpose for our suffering. God comforts by sending the Holy Spirit who reminds us of all God's promises. God comforts by reminding us that these sufferings are temporary and an eternity of joy and peace awaits us. 

Notice that God comforts us for a purpose--so that we can comfort others. I have written before about a lady in our church who suffered the loss of her children in two separate car accidents that occurred a mile apart on Old Hickory Blvd. The God of all comfort gave her peace, restored her joy and comforted her with a heavenly comfort. After that, whenever a parent lost a child, she was the first to go to share the comfort that God had given her. The same happens today when those who have beaten cancer share their comfort with those fighting the disease. Or those who have faced a certain surgery bring comfort to those facing that surgery. 

We should also consider verse 5. God's comfort matches and exceeds our suffering. If we are suffering greatly, God sends abundant comfort to us. Our suffering never exceeds God's ability to comfort us. Now Satan may tell us that God has forgotten us, God has not helped us, God does not care. But 1:20 reminds us that all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ. Christ is the fulfillment of all God's promises and in Him we have the comfort that God provides in abundance. 

The last thing God shows me here is in verse 6--I must be patient in enduring my affliction and pain. And that patience comes from God's comfort, strength and power. 

My prayer for all who read this post is that the God of all comfort would comfort you with His abundant and powerful comfort through the Holy Spirit. Night lasts but a little while--there is joy in the morning.

Blessings
Larry

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