October 4

2 Corinthians 1:3‑4
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” ―2 Corinthians 1:3, 43Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3‑4).
THE God of all comfort! How our troubled hearts respond to such words as these. He who has manifested Himself in the cross as the Gad of all grace meeting every need of our souls when distressed by a sense of guilt, now makes Himself known as the source of all consolation when we are troubled by the sorrows of the way and in danger of being cast down because of burdens that seem too heavy to bear. It is noteworthy that every person of the Holy Trinity is engaged in this gracious ministry. Here it is the Father who is the God of all comfort. Both the Son and the Spirit are designated as Comforters. The word for “Advocate” in 1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1) is the same as that which the Lord uses in John, chapter 14 to 16, when speaking of the Holy Spirit, who is “another Comforter.” It is for God’s tried saints to find their solace in Him and so to share with others the comfort He gives.
“Be comforted! in God thy comfort lies!
If He doth pain, He also would console;
The anodyne which soothes—just He supplies;
He, He alone, the wounded can make whole.
The word is His! Nor will it mock nor fail!
Be comforted! Let Him thy comfort be;
Balm for all pain, and light for loneliest vale.
Himself the peace, the joy, the company.”
—J. Denson Smith.