Calling and Purpose 44—The Intersection of God’s Roles and Ours—Part III
God is our Comforter, who comforts us as a mother comforts her children:
Jeremiah 8:18 You who are my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me.
Isaiah 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”
As a result, we are called to mirror that role by giving comfort to others. How? Because we have known His comfort. Since we have received solace from Jesus Himself, we are better able to extend it to those who are suffering and grieving:
2 Corinthians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
But, the message here (and in the previous two blog posts) is not about “trying harder” to mirror God’s character. The following passages tell us Who truly builds, establishes, and empowers:
Moses said in Psalm 90:17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
Solomon said in Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
Jesus said in John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
When we abide in Jesus as our Source of strength and gifts and comfort, God is the One Who establishes the work of our hands and our hearts. What He does prospers. The Lord’s purposes prevail. We can do anything in Jesus’ strength (Philippians 4:13).
Reflect:
· Think of a time when God has been your comfort and your Comforter.
· How has this helped you to comfort others who are struggling?
· How can you stay aware of your need for Jesus to empower you to do all that you are called and purposed to do this week?
There is a God’s Roles—Our Roles Study Guide you can use with your small group on the Resources page of GodGiftsYou.com It covers Parts I, II, and III and can be done in one sitting or three sessions.
(For more on gifts, check out the Resources page at GodGiftsYou.com. Take the free assessment and see what gifts God has bestowed on you to contribute to the whole.)
Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and leaders in a diversity of fields for over 30 years. She has also been EquipConnectServe Director at her 1,200 member church since 1999.
Photo © Shirley Giles Davis, all rights reserved.