Pastor Glenn’s Weblog

2 Corinthians 1:3-7.  I have seen how Paul’s faith touched other lives in times of trouble (Acts 27) and how his blessing for the Romans was that their trust would overflow in hope, joy and peace (Romans 15:13).  Now I see a similar thought in this familiar passage to the Corinthians.  Again we’re told that God’s work in our lives should overflow to the lives of others.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”

Last night I was at a banquet where the speaker gave, what seemed to me, a very disorganized talk.  However, one thing he said stood out.  I’m not sure the exact quote, but it was something along these lines: “We’ve exchanged desperation for God and a fear of God for institutionalism and programs.”  The point was that our ministry often comes out of doing what the church is doing rather than out of the overflow from God filling the neediness in our lives.  May my pursuit be of God alone, and may the hope, joy, peace and comfort which he ministers to me overflow to all those around me.