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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
October 6
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Today's Pathway:
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Yesterday when we were introducing the book of II Corinthians we mentioned that Paul deals extensively with the topic of suffering. He begins discussing that subject immediately in verse 3. He praises God, and refers to Him as the "Father of mercies and the God of all comfort". Paul's focus in his blessing of the Lord is not on all the wonderful things that God has done for him. This is not David writing in Psalm 68:19,
"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits."
This is Paul praising God for the mercy and comfort that He gives. Charles Spurgeon commented,
"Here was a man, who never knew but what he might be dead the next day, for his enemies were many, and cruel, and mighty; and yet he spent a great part of his time in praising and blessing God.”
Paul first uses the term "mercies". The root idea of that term is "compassion and pity". It represents the display of concern over another’s misfortune.It is not simply observing someone's struggles, but also taking action to try to alleviate them. God is merciful to the sinner, for He sent His Son to die for mankind so that we might not have to suffer the eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire that we deserve. He is merciful to us on a daily basis as well. We do not deserve any benefits from the Lord, for we still sin and do that which does not please Him. Yet He does not always punish us, nor does He turn His back on us. Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:22-23,
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
Next, Paul speaks of the comfort that comes from God. The word translated "comfort" is the Greek word "paraklesis", which is the word used for the Holy Spirit in John 14:26 where He is referred to as "the Comforter". The word itself refers to being called to someone's side for the purpose of providing solace, comfort, consolation, exhortation, and encouragement. Paul writes in verse 4 that God comforts us in "all our tribulation". Paul understood this because he had lived it. We have seen previously some of the situations that Paul dealt with in his ministry. Near the end of his life, Paul wrote in II Timothy 4:16-17,
"At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me...Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me."
The word translated "tribulation" was used for crushing grapes to get the juice out of them. Paul says that when life is crushing us with afflictions, oppositions, and stress God is there to encourage and console us. Ray Steadman wrote,
"'Tribulation' is whatever ties knots in your stomach and makes you feel anxious or troubled about what lies ahead. It is what makes for hectic days and for sleepless nights. It gnaws continually at your mind and threatens your well-being; it refuses to go away and leave you alone; it depresses you and darkens the future with forebodings of disaster. Now that is pressure, stress, and we all live in it. But they were not any different in the 1st century. They lived under pressure and stress just as we do. Paul experienced it as well, but along with it he experienced the comfort of God. Now, 'comfort' is more than just a little cheer or friendly word of encouragement. Paul does not mean that. The word basically means 'to strengthen.' What Paul experienced was the strengthening of God to give him a peaceful, restful spirit to meet the pressure and the stress with which he lived."
We will continue discussing this topic tomorrow. But for now, we need to understand that the comfort that Paul received is still available to us today. Let Him help you with the stress of life.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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