Comforted in Your Comfort 2 Corinthians 7:13

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth he did not write, “for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you”, and in chapter seven and verse thirteen of Second Corinthians, Paul shared with the church members about how they, “were comforted in” the church member's “comfort” where we read:

Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yes, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

The verse begins, “Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: ” Paul began with the word, “therefore” which means “so then and wherefore” “we were comforted” which means “Paul and his companions were called to one's side, admonished, exhorted, entreated and beseeched”“in your comfort” which refers to “in the church members' calling near, summons, importation, supplication, exhortation, admonition, entreaty and encouragement”. Paul and his companions were “ministered to and entreated” by the church member's “entreaty and encouragement”.

The verse continues, “yes, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.” Paul added the word, “yes” which means “and exceedingly” or “much more, abundantly and in a greater degree” “the more joyed we” which refers to “to a greater degree and by far Paul and his companions' gladness and rejoicing” “for the joy” or “for the gladness and occasion of joy” “of Titus” whose name means “nurse” and was “a Gentile Christian and Paul's companion in some of his journeys”, “because” or “since” “his spirit” which means “Titus' simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting” “was refreshed” or “caused or permitted to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength” “by you all” which refers to “through each, every, the whole and everyone of the church members”. Paul noted how he and his companions were “abundantly glad” because the church members “blessed” Titus in his “spirit”.

When we think through words of Paul, we note how he and his companions “rejoiced” because the church members “blessed” or made Titus to “rejoice”. In other words, Paul and his companions were made glad because the church members made Titus glad. This “rejoicing” within Jesus' church is a necessary element to a healthy state. Church members should help others to “rejoice”, and when reports of such activity are presented, “rejoicing” should be the result of it. God Almighty desires a church that is filled with “comfort” - “comfort for others and comfort by others”. May all who read these words be encouraged to “comfort, be comforted and rejoice” over one another within the church.

Next time Paul tells the church members,“if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.