2 Corinthians 7:1-7: a reflection

1Having therefore these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one. 3I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and live together. 4Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction. 5For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside. 6Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

Paul writes of a hard season in which he found no relief: afflicted on every side, fightings without, fears within, downcast and distressed. But then comes comfort, and notice how it came: God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. God's comfort came to Paul through the arrival of a friend, and through the good news Titus brought of the Corinthians' love and longing. The comfort of God reached Paul through a fellow believer.

Notice how God comforted Paul: through the coming of Titus, a fellow worker and friend. Paul was downcast, afflicted, fearful; and God's comfort came, not as a voice from heaven, but through a person, through the arrival of Titus and the encouraging news he brought. God, who comforts the downcast, chose to comfort Paul through a fellow believer, through the fellowship and encouragement of a friend. The comfort was truly God's, but it came through a person.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's comfort often comes to us through others, through fellow believers, friends, the fellowship of God's people. When we are downcast, afflicted, fearful, we may look for comfort to come dramatically, directly; but often God comforts us as he comforted Paul, through the coming of a friend, the encouragement of a fellow believer, the fellowship of God's people. Do not overlook the comfort God sends through others; when you are downcast, God may comfort you through the coming of a friend, the encouragement of a fellow believer, as he comforted Paul through Titus. And be, for others, a means of God's comfort; your coming, your encouragement, your fellowship, may be how God comforts a downcast fellow believer, as Titus's coming comforted Paul. God comforts the downcast, and often does so through his people; receive his comfort through others, and be a means of his comfort to others, as Titus was to Paul in his affliction.

Lord, Paul wrote of a hard season in which he found no relief, afflicted on every side, fightings without, fears within; but then comfort came, and it came through the coming of Titus, a friend, and the good news he brought. Your comfort reached Paul through a fellow believer. Show me how you comforted Paul: through the coming of Titus. Paul was downcast, afflicted, fearful; and your comfort came, not as a voice from heaven, but through a person, through the arrival of a friend and the encouraging news he brought. You, who comfort the downcast, chose to comfort Paul through a fellow believer. Take that to my heart, for your comfort often comes to me through others, through fellow believers, friends, the fellowship of your people. When I am downcast, afflicted, fearful, I may look for comfort to come dramatically, directly; but often you comfort me as you comforted Paul, through the coming of a friend. Keep me from overlooking the comfort you send through others; when I am downcast, you may comfort me through the coming of a friend, as you comforted Paul through Titus. And help me be, for others, a means of your comfort; my coming, my encouragement, my fellowship, may be how you comfort a downcast fellow believer. Help me receive your comfort through others, Lord, and be a means of your comfort to others, as Titus was to Paul. Thank you that you comfort the downcast, often through your people.