The God of All Comfort

Matthew 5:4 (KJV) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

     Today I would like you to consider the Apostle Paul.  Here was a man that never knew if he was going to be alive the next day.  Compassed about on every hand by those that would like to kill or imprison him.  Pressed daily by the enemies of the cross.  Persecuted by those that disagreed with his theology.  His enemies were many and they were powerful.  Yet, Paul could be found in all places, at all times, praising and glorifying the Lord Jesus.  We find him in prison with Silas twisted in the cruel stocks of the Romans singing praises to God.  We find him in the midst of a storm that was about to leave him ship wrecked encouraging those around him to trust in the Lord.  Paul was not a victim of his circumstances.  Oh no!  Paul seemed to rise above his circumstances with purpose and clarity that defied explanation.  Men and women like Paul walk into disastrous situations with calm assurance and bring clarity and comfort to those around them. 

     As a police officer, I was dispatched to many situations where civility and calm had broken down into chaos.  When you walk into a bar or home and people are beating each other or threatening each others with weapons the last thing that is needed is another hot head.  You can’t have a melt down and feel sorry for yourself because your perfect day has been interrupted by this overwhelming problem, so, you rely on your training and knowledge to bring calm, comfort, to the situation.  It always helps to know that there are 500 more police officers to back you up.  Your response is from a position of strength.  You never stand alone.  Walking with Jesus is like that.  He said that “Anything you ask in my name the Father will give it to you.”  (John 15:16)  He said, “I will never leave you”.  We can depend on God to be with us as we face the storm. 

    In our passage today Jesus tells His disciples, “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.”  This week we have spent much time discerning the blessedness of mourning our sin.  The emptying of self establishes the foundation for the filling of our souls with the Spirit of the Living God.  “You are not your own, you were bought with a price.” (1 Cor. 6:19)  This is the comfort, the peace, which passes all understanding.  I’m not here trying to figure out a path to victory.  I am here to follow Jesus!  I am here to obey His command!  He will lead me beside still waters!  He will restore my soul!  We cry out with Job, “Though God slay me yet I trust Him…He also shall be my salvation.”  (Job 13:15)  We can stand in calm assurance even though our enemies rage like a roaring lion. 

    Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.  Who comforts us in all our tribulation…”  On this journey we may find ourselves ship wrecked, imprisoned, cast out of town, cast down into a pit, compassed on every side, but no matter what may come our way we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.  Why?  Because He loves us!  He died for us!  He rescued us!  He restores us!  Child of God know this, there is nothing too hard for God and there is no where that He cannot go, that He will not go, for you.  I don’t know about you but I feel like praising His name!