August 21, 2015
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
Questions for Reflection:
Paul begins his second letter to the church at Corinth with a prayer. How does he refer to God in verse 3? What does he claim that God does for us? On Sunday, Bret said that we are to show compassion. He defined compassion as seeing other people through their eyes. Part of compassion is comforting those in need. According to Paul in verse 4, how can comfort others? Christ’s death and resurrection, the gospel, inform all of life. It should motivate how we act and respond at all times. How can the gospel motivate how you parent or relate to teenagers? Spend time today praying specifically for a teenager that you know.