8 March 2017
The Comfort Cycle
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others... Mercy, compassion, comfort... These are all God’s design. It is no one’s default setting to express any of these wonderful things. God shows us mercy, compassion, and comfort and we catch on. Missionaries and Christian organizations, for example, bring aid, build schools, orphanages and hospitals in places absolutely no one wants to go. Lots of people, religious or not, participate in Operation Christmas Child these days, but where’d the idea come from? Christians in a church with some extra shoe boxes lying around.
Only God makes everything better. He does this by thinking of us. If I want to help make someone’s life better, I must think of them & their needs not my own like God has done for me. This is the cycle of comfort.
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. (Philippians 2:1-5)
Dear God,
Thank you for the comfort I have received from you and from others in my lifetime. Specifically, thank you for how my husband, our parents, my sister, my close friends, and even my kids who love me, are not selfish towards me and think of my needs and interests not only their own. Thank you for opportunities for me to treat others in this way as well so that I can take part in your wonderful cycle of comfort that is good for my heart and has truly made the world a better place. I love you and praise you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
RSS Feed