2 Corinthians 1

“He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For as the sufferings of Messiah overflow to us, so our comfort overflows through Messiah.  If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in the endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.”  2 Corinthians 1:4-6 (HCSB)

I have made a lot of mistakes.  Unlike Frank Sinatra’s song, “My Way,” my mistakes are too many to mention.  Perhaps my mistakes are why I am interested in teaching the Bible to others.  I want to warn people of the enemy’s lies and inform them of the Lord’s faithfulness.

Because the Lord is faithful, His people should also be faithful.  And how do we acquire faith?

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

And how does interfacing with God’s Word result in man’s faithfulness?  In the words of Shakespeare (who was quoting Ecclesiastes), “Nothing is new under the sun.”  The people we read of in the Bible deal with the same fundamental issues, complications, and sins that we deal with today.    

“No sin has taken you except what is common to man.  God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also so that you will be able to bear it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13 (HCSB)

When we read their stories, we learn to stay away from where they fell.  We learn how patient, gracious, and merciful the Lord is to sinners.  We also learn how His patience has limits, and He rebukes, disciplines, and judges sin & sinners.

Put simply, as we experience the Lord’s interaction with the men and women of the Bible, we learn who God is…we learn His heart.  He is Holy, Just, and Trustworthy.  He is Faithful so that we can place our faith in Him.

Often, our faith choices lead us into difficult situations through which the Lord proves Himself faithful…and so it goes.  When God’s faithfulness is experienced, we are inclined to share it with others.  This is when the testimony of Scripture transcends the page and takes on “flesh.”  This is when we can comfort others with the comfort with which we have been comforted.