2 Corinthians 1:1-7

2 Corinthians 1:1-7  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia: grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.  If 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.  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Are you called by the will of God?  As surely as Paul was called, each of us is called to fulfill a certain role in the world and IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.  Believe it or not, God did not call spectators: He called workers.  In Jesus' parables, He talks about landlords and servants.  Guess which one we are?  As Christians we have been called to do God's will, yet we still DESIRE TO DO OUR OWN WILL.  Many American Christians like the role of a spectator better than other roles because it doesn't cost us much, just our time.  Or we like to be servants, but only under our own terms, at our convenience.  Unfortunately, we usually would rather sit in the pews and determine whether other servants are serving us well.  "Honey, wasn't the service good today?"  "Yes, but I noticed the worship team was kind of flat on the first song."  "Hmm, they did seem a little off."  "Also, Jane, wasn't too happy with her Sunday school teacher; she forgot their treat today."  "Oh, that's too bad.  Maybe next week she'll remember."  "Well, on the whole, church was good today, wasn't it?"  "Yes, if the pastor just wouldn't preach quite so long."  The Bible says, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.  What are YOU by the will of God?  Are we encouragers, builders, people of hope or do we tend to oversee, find fault, tear down the ministry of the church?  Hmm.  Sometimes we don't like to think about that, but we should.  We haven't been called just to be spectators, hanger-ons, or judges; we are called to be an integral functioning parts of the BODY OF CHRIST, and we need to participate faithfully in those God-given roles.  

In this opening passage, Paul indicates to the Corinthians he has suffered in his ministry, but his suffering is beneficial for the rest of the body because he comforts others with the comfort he receives from God.  Otherwise, he can tell others God will be with them through their trials and distresses because God has been with him.  As humans this world's troubles sometimes affect our ability to cope.  We experience sleepless nights and days preoccupied with thoughts of our difficulties.  We need help.  We need the comfort of the Lord; we need the church functioning properly.  When we are too sick, wounded, or troubled to go on, we need the other parts of the body to help us through our ordeals.  A hug, a prayer, or an encouraging word is needed from a brother or sister in Christ.  We cannot be onlookers; we must function as members of the body, sharing Christ's love.  We can give the comfort we have received, as instruments of healing.  We can strengthen the body of Christ by strengthening a broken or bruised spirit.  Paul is saying that none of our heartbreaks or trials are wasted if we yield them to God to use in his church.  We can share our testimony of how God brought us through our times of struggle, encouraging others to keep on going, trusting God in all circumstances.  We can remind others they are heaven bound, and Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding for them.  As Christians we weep with those who weep, and we rejoice with those who rejoice.  We share in each other's suffering, and we share in each other's comfort, for we are one in Christ--his very body.  Nothing can defeat a healthy functioning body.  Therefore, as you fulfill your calling as a servant in the household of faith, you will not only receive a reward in heaven, but in this life you will also receive grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.