Comfort in Connection 在联络中获得安慰
Dexu Xia
“The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
Today's Scripture 2 Corinthians 1
Today's Insights
Notice the words all and any in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” These are comprehensive descriptors that provide extraordinary comfort because they assure us that no matter what we go through, God will provide His all-encompassing comfort. In addition, we can console others who are experiencing trials and heartaches, whether we’ve experienced them or not. This is the greatness of God. As our Creator, He fully understands what we’re suffering and knows how to comfort our hurting hearts. As He comforts us, we pass along His comfort to others so they too can become a conduit for His comfort, mercy, and grace.
Today's Devotion
After a fifty-five year wait, England’s soccer team finally made it to the European Football Championship Cup finals. Locked in a tie with Italy, the game was decided by a penalty shootout. England’s last chance fell to a young player named Bukayo Saka. But as Saka kicked the penalty shot, Italy’s goalkeeper deflected it. England fans wept; the Cup was lost.
Few will forget what happened next, though. England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, walked over to the devastated Saka and embraced him. Southgate knew how Saka felt. In 1996 it was he, as a young player, who had missed the penalty shot that cost England a place in the semifinals, and England’s then-manager Terry Venables had comforted him in the very same way.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Paul says, “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Just as Southgate passed on to Saka what he’d received from Venables, Paul discovered that God’s comfort in his distress enabled him to comfort others in theirs, building their endurance (v. 6). Our “God of all comfort” (v. 3) can use our disappointment for good.
So let’s do the same, passing on God’s comfort to create an endless chain of encouragement.
Reflect & Pray
How has God comforted you in a time of loss or distress? How-- can you pass that comfort on to someone else today? God of comfort, through each trial I face, please help me pass on Your comfort to others.
----Our daily Bread
“赐各样安慰的神，在我们一切患难中安慰我们，叫我们能用神所赐的安慰去安慰那遭各样患难的人。”（哥林多后书 1:3-4）
今日经文：哥林多后书 1章
今日启示 请注意哥林多后书 1:3-4 中的“各样”和“任何”这两个词：“赐各样安慰的神，在我们一切患难中安慰我们，叫我们能用神所赐的安慰，去安慰那遭各样患难的人。”这些描述全面而深刻，给人带来无比的安慰，因为它们向我们保证，无论我们经历什么，神都会提供祂那包罗万象的安慰。此外，无论我们是否经历过试炼和心痛，我们都可以安慰那些正在经历试炼和心痛的人。这就是神的伟大。作为我们的创造主，祂完全了解我们的苦难，也知道如何安慰我们受伤的心灵。当祂安慰我们时，我们也把祂的安慰传递给他人，使他们也能成为祂安慰、怜悯和恩典的管道。
今日灵修 经过五十五年的等待，英格兰足球队终于晋级欧洲足球锦标赛决赛。与意大利战成平局后，比赛进入点球大战。英格兰的最后机会落在了年轻球员布卡约·萨卡的肩上。然而，萨卡的点球被意大利门将扑出，使英格兰与冠军奖杯失之交臂，球迷泪流满面。但接下来发生的事却令人难忘。英格兰队主教练加雷斯·索斯盖特走到沮丧的萨卡身边，拥抱了他。索斯盖特深知萨卡的感受。1996年，年轻的索斯盖特也曾罚丢点球，导致英格兰无缘半决赛，当时的英格兰队主教练特里·维纳布尔斯也曾以同样的方式安慰他。
保罗说：“愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父神，他在我们一切患难中安慰我们，叫我们能用神所赐的安慰去安慰那遭各样患难的人”（哥林多后书 1:3-4）。正如索斯盖特将他从维纳布尔斯那里得到的安慰传递给萨卡一样，保罗也发现，神在他患难中的安慰使他能够安慰他人，增强他们的忍耐力（6节）。我们“赐一切安慰的神”（3节）能化我们的失望为益处。所以，让我们也这样做，传递神的安慰，形成一个永无止境的鼓励之链。
反思与祷告 在失落或困苦之时，神是如何安慰你的？今天，你如何将这份安慰传递给他人？安慰之神，在我所经历的每一次试炼中，求你帮助我将您的安慰传递给他人。 ——《每日灵粮》