2 CORINTHIANS 7:5-6 – For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.

THEME OF THE DAY. EVERY CHRISTIAN’S MINISTRY. It is one of those “go to” portions of scripture when life with its various trials and troubles comes over us with dark clouds of discouragement and pain. It is in those seasons we experience a heaviness of spirit weighing us down like an anchor that we run to this precious section of God’s Word. Many Christians give testimony of how these glorious truths brought “sunshine” to their darkened and hurting hearts. No, I am not referring to today’s scripture, though, we will see the connection shortly. In times of pain, sorrow, suffering, and our need for God’s comfort being the cry of our souls, here is our life-preserver – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). The Father of mercies and God of all comfort. What titles describing our God! What soul relief in the God of mercies and comfort! And that leads to the question . . . “How does the Father of mercies provide comfort to His needy people?” Well, we may quickly answer, and correctly, that He does so by His Word and prayer. Who has not experienced His comfort from time in the scriptures and seeking prayer? But there is another way God gives comfort, and it is an important way for two reasons. First, He expects, even commands it. And secondly, it is His design. So, what is this way of comfort? That brings today’s scripture into the conversation.

God comforts His people by and through His people. Observe the hearts of the Apostle Paul and his co-laborers. To simply say, “Yes, they were hurting emotionally, physically, and spiritually” would be to underestimate what they were enduring. Pay attention to descriptive words used – “our bodies had no rest”, “we were afflicted at every turn – fighting without and fear within”, “downcast.” These servants of God were exhausted, suffering outward pains, gripped with fear within their hearts and languishing deep in the dark dungeons of depression, even despondency. That is what the word “downcast” means; to be melancholy, despondent. And every Christian, to some extent, knows this type of suffering by personal experience. So, how does God comfort His hurting servants? He sent Titus. He sent another believer to be the agent of comfort. Titus would be the “breath of fresh air of encouragement” and “the lifter up of their downcast hearts”. How would he have done so? By reminding them of God’s goodness, God’s promises, God’s love, and simply be a brother who listened, prayed, and pointed them to the Lord Jesus. And here comes the application . . . are you being God’s agent of comfort, a “Titus” in the lives of other believers? Am I? I hope so because it is a ministry that every one of us are both privileged to do and responsible for. But there is a “catch” if we are going to be instruments of comforting grace toward other believers. We must take our eyes off ourselves understanding the call of God upon our lives is to serve, not be served, and that service is in being the hands and feet of the God of all comfort to our hurting brothers and sisters.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to be an instrument of comforting grace to Your hurting people.”

QUOTE: “God often chooses to comfort His people by and through His people.”