by Rev Steve Nickodemus

Comforted, not Comfortable!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“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.”
2 Corinthians 1:3

At Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, I met Noah, a Golden Retriever Comfort Dog. Noah has received training to bring comfort, and peace, to those who are troubled in body or soul. Noah radiates love, devotion, and affection to all those around him. To be with Noah, to be literally in touch with Noah, comforts many people.

Do you know someone who could use a comfort dog in their life? Or better yet, do you know someone who could use a comforting God in their troubled life? Saint Paul tells us that God comforts us in Christ Jesus with the everlasting comfort of salvation, and peace, in His Son, so that we might bring comfort to others.

It is good to have a comfort dog, but how much more important it is that you and I have been comforted in the hopelessness of our sin, and in the despair of our condemnation, by the God of all comfort!? The Lord sent His Son to bring forgiveness, and His eternal Presence, so that we might comfort others. For we were not comforted by God so that we could sit back and be comfortable, but so that we might bring that same comfort in Christ Jesus to a troubled, broken, world.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the comfort you have given me taking away my sin and bringing peace to my troubled life. Send Your Holy Spirit to give me a willing and generous heart in sharing Your comfort with a troubled world. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado