The Devotional - A Look at the Book #871

by Jesse Abel

Thoughts from Papa “J”

 

The Holy Spirit stays within the Authority of His Office when He Speaks. John 16: 13-15. Isaiah explains in Isaiah 11:2 that His Official Authority includes wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, fear and delight. All of these attributes are available in-part to those who hold the office of the Gospel in their heart as TRUTH. Romans 8:23

 

Good Morning

 

In 2 Corinthians 1:5 we read; “for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ”. I think like you, now just what does this mean exactly and while there is only one interpretation, God allows for His Word to cover many applications and this is one of those verses that does just that; that in suffering there are many life events that qualify.

 

The suffering of Christ in His ministry on this earth was not just in His final day and His Death at Calvary. Many religions zero in on this event and religiously focus on the three to six hours of His passion. Now don’t get me wrong, there is not one human other than the God/man Jesus; the Messiah who could have endured this moment in time without personal sin. Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:1-12.

 

Also, which we seldom consider are the thirty plus years of His life. Walking about just as you and I do and taking in the conditions of the heart that people presented to Him each day. We only see what was recorded by His disciples, like when Jesus saw the unbelief of His half-brothers. The doubt from the lips of John the Baptizer and His disciple Thomas and so on.

 

What about His omniscience in that He knew the heart of everyone He came in contact with. Like the woman at the well, Mary Magdalene and His disciple Peter who would deny Him. He knew the love that His disciples had for Him, even the sinful hate of Judas who misunderstood Him; just as we understand the love and misunderstandings of people around us, but because He is God, He DID NOT SIN when these faltered, as we personally do so often when we hear words like; “don't take it personal I was only kidding!”

 

So there it is really. Christ’s suffering was complete from the moment He stepped into humanity until the moment He returned to Heaven HE SUFFERED the sin of people around Him, yet He Himself DID NOT sin. But this is what He did in sins place. He comforted, consoled and saved us sinners.

 

Now the excitement that comes to me in this is that in the next verse, verse 6 the apostle says that his hope for us is confident, as we will see as we study these things that we are called to be partakers of is the very same ministry, the ministry of comfort and salvation through suffering.

 

Paul's confidence is in this way in that if we are partakers of the sufferings of Christ then we are also to be partakers of comforting or consoling others. You see then NO ONE can comfort another, if the one providing comfort has not suffered in the same way that Jesus suffered such hostility against Himself. Hebrews 12:1-11. This form of discipline is to train us to resist sin, the sins of self and the sins of others. A discipline that can only be administered by God.