One of the best parts about finding our comfort at the cross is that it cannot be taken from us! Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” And indeed, it was. The book of Hebrews tells us that after He had atoned for our sins, Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 10:12). Considering all that Jesus has accomplished, we can say with Job, “Though He slay me; I will hope in Him.” (Job 13:15) No matter how trying things in this life might be, those who believe in Jesus always have the comfort of His presence and His love. We have our eyes fixed not on our momentary troubles, but on that which is unseen and eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
Now that we have remembered the comfort we’ve received from God, let us return again to 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 and see the appropriate response: “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.”
God comforts us so that we will be able to comfort others who are in distress, not with our goodness but His. We are called and equipped to comfort others with this sweet and precious comfort we've received through Christ's death and resurrection.
Please pray and ask God if He would want you to become a mentor with Setting Captives Free. Every day, hurting and broken-hearted people come to Setting Captives Free seeking hope and help in their time of need. As a mentor, you would use the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) to help these women by comforting them with the comfort you have received in Christ. We have prepared a short mentorship course to help ready you for the ministry. You need not have everything all figured out or resolved before you help others. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 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.” (2 Corinthians 4:5-10)
We aren’t proclaiming ourselves, but Christ and what He has done and can do. He is our Treasure and Comfort. He is the One to whom we point and encourage others to anchor their souls. We, ourselves, might be perplexed, persecuted or distressed, we are “jars of clay” (temporary, breakable), but we carry Jesus within us, and He is more than enough comfort and strength for all the hurting hearts there are.
Even if you decide not to become a mentor with Setting Captives Free, I pray that you will reach out to those who are local to you with loving arms of gospel comfort and hope whenever God gives you the opportunity.
Question 6. Will you pray about going on to become a mentor with the A United Front course?
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:1-4)
May God enable us to look not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others in the days ahead; let us never withhold the comfort of the cross from anyone who is seeking it, especially our spouse.
Question 7. What are your final thoughts about this lesson? Do you have any questions? Please share.
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In the next and final lesson, you will have the opportunity to share a testimony of what God has done in your heart and life. Please pray about what God would have you share. Your testimony of the transforming power of the gospel of Christ's atoning death and victorious resurrection and how it has brought healing to your heart might be the very word of hope and encouragement that another hurting spouse needs to hear.