Finding Consolation In Christ

King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Finding Consolation In Christ
Date: Monday November 28, 2011
Chapters: II Corinthians 1-4
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-28
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

The word consolation means comfort; alleviation of misery, or distress of mind; refreshment of mind or spirits. It's a comparative degree of happiness in distress or misfortune, springing from any circumstance that destroys the evil, or supports and strengthens the mind, as hope, joy, courage and the like. Affliction comes and goes, sometimes it seems to last a lifetime, but through every trial, every circumstance, and every bit of suffering, Christ grows, strengthens, and gives consolation to every person who comes to Him. “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” -II Thessalonians 2:15-17.

The book of II Corinthians is the forty-seventh book of the Bible, eight book of the New Testament, and contains thirteen chapters. The author of the book is Paul and it was written to the believers at Corinth. The timeline for this letter took place approximately 60AD. The purpose of the book was to reestablish his apostolic authority and to show gratitude and thanks for their faithfulness in Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that human weakness provides an opportunity for the manifestation of the power of God. “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.” - II Corinthians 13:4.

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians is one of discipline, this one, which was written about a year later, was written when he himself was in despair and heard that they had turned things around. He wanted to show them how pleased he was that they were living by the true Gospel, reminding them that they are also an encouragement to others.

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” -II Corinthians 1:1-7.

We really have no idea the impact we have on others who are depressed and discouraged, to live a life with Christ, to endure our afflictions with Him, really gives consolation and salvation to others. We are going to be afflicted from time to time, but it is during that affliction that we find comfort in God and learn that Christ is with us. Also, we must be careful not to let those who find no consolation in Christ discourage us, many people think that the second they call on Christ to save them that all their troubles will disappear immediately and they can bring discouragement to us as well. We cannot grow in Christ without affliction, He suffered more than we ever will and survived, we too can survive. We did not get into the messes that we get into overnight, it takes some time, so, we cannot expect all our sufferings to go away overnight either. What we can do is trust God and let Him handle it in the manner He knows best for us. “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” - I Timothy 4:10.

I understand how affliction can cause depression and discouragement, it happens, but we can get through it with God's help, we must also be careful not to let our afflictions cause others to become discouraged, there is nothing worse than a bunch of negative people hanging around each other. We can find only find consolation in our afflictions when we hand them over to God. Paul explains this further.

“But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you...Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” - II Corinthians 2:1-4,14-17.

Think about it, if God cleaned up our messes without any repercussions how would we find consolation in Him? Likewise, if we had everything handed to us, how would we learn to depend on God? Everything that we go through in life is placed before us, not only to get us to be dependent on God for everything, but to get us to realize that it all comes from Him. We are going to face trials whether we choose to follow Christ or not, at least by following Him we have that assurance that someone is on our side and that greater blessings will come as we learn to trust Him. I have had kids in my Sunday School class never made an effort to improve their behavior because they were never taught the consequences of doing wrong. We all must face the consequences for our actions, whether we are saved or not, salvation is not a free ticket to live a wicked life and not face any consequences for it, we will suffer here on earth until we figure that out. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” - I Peter 4:17-19.

If you are saved and living a life with Christ in it, it is not by chance, it is not because you were forced, it is because you willingly chose Christ. From that moment on your name was written in the Book of Life, you are not better than anyone else, you just have God's favor. Paul makes an apology for seeming to boast of himself, and is careful not to assume too much of himself, but give all praise to God for his changed life. “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life...But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” -II Corinthians 3:3-6.

We can face trials and suffering with consolation, knowing that our Lord never makes a mistake in what He does in our lives. As we submit to His will during times of testing, God imparts consolation through the Holy Spirit who not only lifts our burdens, but also qualifies us to be of consolation to others. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body...For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” -II Corinthians 4:7-10,17,18. Praise God!

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
When affliction comes my way, I admit that I can lose sight of You, all I want to do it hide in a corner somewhere and not talk to anyone, but when I come to my senses You are always there, ready to pick me up and show me how to handle things. You are so merciful to me that it tears me to think that I suffered when all I had to do was come to You. Lord, there is no one like You, so loving, so trusting, so fearing, just as a Father should be, You may not remove the thorn from my side, but Your grace is sufficient enough to help me through it and I thank You for that. Walk with me, guide me, and abide in me, give me that consolation that I know only comes as I remain in Your presence. I love You Lord and ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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