In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul begins by encouraging the saints by reminding them about their (and our) “Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction” (1:3,4). Paul himself had been so utterly burdened beyond his strength that he “despaired of life itself” (1:8). But the difficulties, according to Paul, were “to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead” (1:9).
There are some jewels here, which I think I sometimes forget. “For all the promises of God find their Yes (Amen) in him” (1:20). And, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2:14). And, “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are perishing” (2:15).
And, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (3:5). And, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (3:18). And, “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (4:5). And what about, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies” (4:7-10). Good stuff here!
Sing praise to God who reigns above,
the God of all creation,
the God of power, the God of love,
the God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul is filled
and every faithless murmur stilled:
To God all praise and glory.
The Lord is never far away,
but through all grief distressing,
an ever present help and stay,
our peace and joy and blessing.
As with a mother's tender hand,
God gently leads the chosen band:
To God all praise and glory. -- Johann Jakob Schütz (1675)
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