Forgiven and Encouraged

2 Corinthians 1.1-11

        Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the 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 (2 Corinthians 1.3-4). He who alone is to be Blessed, alone is worthy of all praise, demonstrates His worthiness through two of His characteristics. He is the Father of all mercies; He is the Father of all compassion. He sees us in our miserable state, our being consumed with sinfulness, our rightfully facing judgment, our inability to do anything to rescue ourselves from the deadness of our natural state, and He takes pity on us. In His great mercy, He forgives us. Though we ae most undeserving, He makes us His own, calls Himself our Father, cleanses us of all sin through the blood of His Son, and secures us for eternity in His glorious presence.

        He is the God of all comfort; the God of all encouragement who stands close by our side and comes to our aid in our needy times, which is all the time. In every trial, trouble, struggle, moment of distress or despair, and every time of confusion, uncertainty, fear, discouragement, and weakness, our God is and will be our encouragement. He sees us where we are and as we are, and comes alongside us to keep us. He will not neglect, ignore, forsake, or leave us. He gives us His strength, understanding, promises, and confidence, enabling us to move forward in doing His will no matter how difficult the situation. However, He does not encourage us to simply bask in His blessings, but rather that we would be used by Him to bring encouragement to others, to come alongside others so they would see and know what we have seen and known in our God and Father. He alone is worthy of all praise, and we praise Him when we speak of Him and show His mercy and encouragement to others.

All praise to Him who reigns above
In majesty supreme,
Who gave His Son for man to die,
That He might man redeem!

His name above all names shall stand,
Exalted more and more,
At God the Father’s own right hand,
Where angel hosts adore.

Redeemer, Savior, friend of man
Once ruined by the fall,
Thou hast devised salvation’s plan,
For Thou hast died for all.

His name shall be the Counselor,
The mighty Prince of Peace,
Of all earth’s kingdoms conqueror,
Whose reign shall never cease.

Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!

                                                  William Clark / Ralph Hudson

Forgiven and Encouraged by our Lord – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry