Morning Moments

2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (HCSB)
3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
4 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.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows.
6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in ⌊your⌋ endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.
7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so ⌊you will share⌋ in the comfort.
8 For we don’t want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in Asia: we were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength—so that we even despaired of life.
9 Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.
10 He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and He will deliver us. We have put our hope in Him that He will deliver us again
11 while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gift that came to us through ⌊the prayers of⌋ many.

Mercies
Comfort
Affliction
Sufferings
Salvation
Despaired of life
Death sentence
Delivered
Helping by your prayers

I could spend this time defining these terms but for most of us they are self explanatory. Here is the point, whether Job, James, or Jesus, if you live, you will suffer and SOMEBODY (believers) needs to be an encouragement to you while you suffer. If fact, if you don't give it, you probably won't get it.

In my life of almost 68 years, I have, it seems, been rarely on the suffering end, but have always sought to "comfort" others knowing that it was likely the time for my need of comfort would come.

None of us always knows what to say or how to say it when it comes to comforting another. "God bless you", "I will be praying for you", "I know how you feel", "I have been where you are now". All these are usually warn and well intended expressions of encouragement.

In our text, Paul is using his own experience to show the part we are to play in one another's lives - namely "to come along side" in order to help. In my afflication I have experience this help is so many ways. Assurance of prayers has come from over the world. The hand of God was strong.

There were those who wanted to be near, but could not, yet sent notes and calls of love and encouragement. There were others such as my elder son who, when I could not even push myself up in bed due to inflamation of my joints in my hands and feet, would lift me to comfort.

The words of Paul ring true in my life that "He has delivered us from such a terrible death". My doctot said, "The cancer you had is usually fatal, but I think we got it all." My prayer was that Christ be magnified in my body whether by life or by death.

BUT HERE IS THE MAIN THING: One of my doctors is a Shia Muslim. We immediately made a connection. He sensed it and so did I. It was a very strange connection but it was of God. He said, "Have them call me so that I can visit with you after your surgery." I did and they did and he came. We share together for almost an hour and a half. The seed was sown and now it is growing. I believe he is now a target of the grace of God. He has called to check on me since I came home. He said, "We know that healing comes from God." I said, "Yes, as does eternal life."

What if all this:

The trip to India where I first began to suffer,
The visit to the doctor about passing blood,
The hospital stay for 5 days where a gastrologist found something he did not life,
The CT scans, the EUS and blood tests,
The surgery of 5 hours and 6 hours in recovery,
The week in the hospital, changing rooms 4 times,
The bad medicine that brought hallucinations,
The bad news about agressive rare cancer,
The good news of getting it all,
The Preaching again 16 days after surgery,
And on and on - WHAT IF

This is all for my Shia Muslim friend?
Is is worth is? You better believe it!
Would you do it again?
In a minute!

God is my portion and my strength, and what has happened to bring my deliverance has been by the supply of the Spirit and prayers of the saints. Thank you precious ones for your comfort, and may I be more faithful in my comfort to others.

BLESSINGS!