antabanta posted:Keith posted:"3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV))
So, as your friend stated you do have compassion. What drives your compassion for others? In particularly for those children in the hospital? Is it LOVE?
When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus responded that it is to love God with all our heart, mind and strength. But He added that the second commandment "is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Matthew 22:34-40).
We are not doing God work for him, as you put it. We are simply OBEYING his commandment and following HIS example which is to love and have compassion for each other.It is pathetic that you need your God to command you to show compassion. You said "Consider the truth in Paul’s words—that God “comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction” (2 Corinthians 1:4)."
This statement says very clearly your God comforts us so that we in will be able to comfort others. Why does your God need our help to comfort others? God is holy, eternal, almighty, and totally self-sufficient. He does not need any created being, but we do need Him. All of creation is dependent on the life that God alone sustains.The idea of "comfort" implies at least two parties, one who gives the comfort and one who receives it. It also implies a need one that Scripture speaks of exclusively for humans. Animals have no capacity to receive spiritual comfort.
In 2 Corinthians 1:3, God is called the "Father of compassion" and the "God of all comfort." In His mercy and love, God is eager to provide comfort to His children in any and all circumstances. Whatever the trial we face, our Heavenly Father knows the situation and offers comfort as needed. The fact that He is the God of all comfort teaches that all comfort ultimately comes from Him. He is our source of peace and happiness and blessing.
Why doesn't he comfort them himself? Who say He does not?
In 2 Corinthians 1:3, God is called the "Father of compassion" and the "God of all comfort." In His mercy and love, God is eager to provide comfort to His children in any and all circumstances. Whatever the trial we face, God knows the situation and offers comfort as needed. The fact that He is the God of all comfort teaches that all comfort ultimately comes from Him. He is our source of peace and happiness and blessing.
The comfort we Christians receive flows through us to others "so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God" (2 Corinthians 1:4). Like grace, comfort is an active, powerful gift to be not merely received but actively shared with others, supernaturally multiplied to advance God’s kingdom (Matthew 25:14–30). And so the Bible commends those who are simply with people in trouble, such as those who are sick or in prison, whether or not we can change their circumstances (Matthew 25:36–40). In bringing comfort to those in trouble, we glorify God by giving a glimpse of how He comforts those who are in distress.
