The Father of Mercies and the God of All Comfort [2 Corinthians 1]

 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who 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. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

 

I have been thinking about mercy lately and thinking it is time to do a word study on "mercy." The Greek word in this passage is a different word from the more common word eleos.  They are both wonderful wordsthat remind us about how God deals with us in our weaknesses and sins.  The word in this passage is oiktirmon [3528] and means "to have compassion on" and is connected with sympathetic feelings which seek expression in tears and lamentation. 


Are you suffering today?  Are you in any afflictions?  Then know that the God of all comfort understands and is weeping with you.  Or I should say, He is wailing for you.  He understands and has compassion about the untimely, harsh words that were spoken to you.  He is tenderly caring for you even as you are recognizing your frustrations with your own actions or words.


I am reminded of the words in Hebrews 4:15-16, "Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time."


Dear Friend, hold onto your confession- Jesus the Son of God.  He understands your weaknesses and is offering mercy and grace.  Approach Him with boldness, receive God's compassion and let Him be your God of all comfort today.   Ask Him to show that same mercy through you to the ones who have caused your suffering.

Verna McCrillis, 12/19/2008
Feedback:
Verna McCrillis 12/19/2008 15:54
I appreciate that it is only by grace that we can experience his mercy on us, that while he wails for us in our afflictions that it is only by grace that we can experience the peace of this knowledge.
-Allison
Melinda (Guest) 12/21/2008 15:18
"He is tenderly caring for you even as you are recognizing your frustrations with your own actions or words." Just what I needed to hear today.
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