Comfort in Christ

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

I Corinthians 1:3-7 (NASB)

We live in a time where many wish they could have some comfort, for a great many reasons. In Christ, there is great comfort and peace. Paul writes to the church in Philippi that the peace of Christ goes beyond what we can understand (Philippians 4:7).

In order to receive the comfort offered in Christ, we must first be in Christ (I Peter 5:14). If we are not in Christ, then we do not have the peace and comfort which He offers. Being in Christ requires having come to faith and obedience (Galatians 3:27).

Part of this comfort offered by Christ is in knowing that the Lord cares for you (I Peter 5:7). In Matthew 6:24-34, Christ makes a promise to those who follow Him. That they will be taken care of and provided for. Now, notice that this passage does not say that His disciples will be wealthy or well off. Nor does He say that they will be of good health. Nor does He say that nothing bad will occur in their life. The only promise made is that we will have what we need for as long as we need it. While a far cry from the “gospel of health and wealth” that many advocate, it is nonetheless a comforting thought.

Part of the comfort offered by Christ is knowing that there are others who obey Christ who will be there to help us and work with us in the Lord's service (II Corinthians 7:6). As in all things, it is comforting to know that others are with us. More importantly, we have the promise that God is with us (Matthew 18:20). The Lord who will strengthen us is always with us, if we live in faith and obedience (Philippians 4:13).

Part of the comfort offered by Christ is knowing that no matter happens in this life, we have something more to look forward to. This is why Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica,
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I Thessalonians 4:16-18

However, the Lord's return is only of comfort to those who have lived for Him. For those who have not put their faith in the Lord, obeyed Him, it should be a terrifying thought (II Corinthians 5:11).