Jesus Comforts You So That You Can Comfort Others
Christians don't keep God's comfort to themselves.
God comforts us - but He doesn’t intend us to hoard His comfort all to ourselves.
Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth of this very thing.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
Did you catch the order Paul gave?
God is the Father of Jesus, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.
He comforts us in all our affliction.
He comforts us so that we can comfort others with the same comfort God provides us.
God the Father comforts us. Jesus, His only begotten Son, also provides comfort to us.
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)
The word “Advocate” could also be translated as “helper” or “comforter.” Jesus comforts us.
When others are hurting or going through trials - we must apply the Golden Rule.
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
When we are going through afflictions, we long for the comfort God provides. How then should we respond when others are facing troubles? We should them the way we would want to be treated - the way God treats us.
As God’s people, we must let our light shine in this world for God’s glory (Matthew 5:16). We ought to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).
By comforting those who are hurting, we imitate our merciful heavenly Father. As His children (1 John 3:1), it should be our life’s joy to be like our Father.
What a blessing God didn’t keep His mercy and comfort to Himself.
Now - Christian, go and do likewise.