God of All Comfort Has Sealed His Promises to You [2 Corinthians 1]

2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.


20For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. 21Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.


Paul begins this letter with truth about the nature of God.  He is "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  He is "the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort." Grace and peace come from Him and Jesus. 

Paul is aware of their suffering and the afflictions that they are experiencing.  He knows his first letter was hard for them to hear, as well.  So he begins, reminding them about God, encouraging them to pay attention to the truth they need. He ends this section reminding them of God's promises and His pledge.


What could be more comforting than to know that all God's promises are yes?  It makes me think of my four year-old grandson, Noah, asking if he can do something or have something.  When I say yes, he turns to his mom and says with great enthusiasm,  "Grandma says 'YES'"'  If only that answer meant as much to me.  If I felt the way Noah felt I would be declaring to you, "God says 'YES' when I ask for His comfort.  He says 'YES' when I need His protection.  He says 'YES' when I am wondering if I am loved." Today, because "as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes," lets declare together:


Yes, God has sealed us and has given us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.  Yes, God is the God of all comfort. Yes, He is the Father of mercies.

 

Verna McCrillis, 6/17/2009