Evening Scripture

2 Corinthians, Chapter 1 

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

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. 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.

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea.

Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us — by me and Silas and Timothy — was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

I call God as my witness — and I stake my life on it — that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.

Evening Reflection

When we are in the midst of life’s trials, it’s hard to fathom that one day we will be able to help others through theirs. 2 Corinthians 1 emphasizes how God not only comforts us, but he also works through us to bring comfort to those who are hurting.

As followers of Christ, we have the Holy Spirit here with us. He guides us on the right path and comforts us in times of trouble. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian church, referred to God as “the source of all comfort.” What a blessing to know that God, our ultimate source, will comfort us even when we walk through the darkest valley (Psalm 23:4).

But Paul’s message didn’t stop there. He went on to say that God had an even greater plan in mind — to equip his children to pass on the love and comfort we have received. 

Maybe you’ve met someone facing the same battle you once faced. How did God bring you through that difficult season? Is there some way you can offer the same comfort God gave you?

Tonight, as we read 2 Corinthians 1, let’s thank the Lord for sending the Holy Spirit to live within us. Then, let’s pray about who we can reach out to in their troubles. Comfort is something we shouldn’t keep to ourselves. Instead, we can choose to pass it on.

Evening Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you for being the source of my comfort. When I am facing life’s most difficult circumstances, I have your Holy Spirit here with me to comfort and guide me. But the comfort you give isn’t just for me. You desire that I share it with others.

Help me understand your plan for providing comfort to those who are in need. Show me the people in my life who are hurting, Lord. Help me know how to pass on comfort so that they can have peace in the middle of their struggle. I give you praise, honor, and glory.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Evening Scripture
2 Corinthians, Chapter 1&nbsp;
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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 receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
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. 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.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God&rsquo;s grace. For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea.
Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both &ldquo;Yes, yes&rdquo; and &ldquo;No, no&rdquo;? But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; and &ldquo;No.&rdquo; For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us &mdash; by me and Silas and Timothy &mdash; was not &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; and &ldquo;No,&rdquo; but in him it has always been &ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; in Christ. And so through him the &ldquo;Amen&rdquo; is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
I call God as my witness &mdash; and I stake my life on it &mdash; that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
Evening Reflection
When we are in the midst of life&rsquo;s trials, it&rsquo;s hard to fathom that one day we will be able to help others through theirs. <a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/2-corinthians/1.html">2 Corinthians 1</a> emphasizes how God not only comforts us, but he also works through us to bring comfort to those who are hurting.
As followers of Christ, we have the Holy Spirit here with us. He guides us on the right path and comforts us in times of trouble. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian church, referred to God as &ldquo;the source of all comfort.&rdquo; What a blessing to know that God, our ultimate source, will comfort us even when we walk through the darkest valley (<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/23-4.html">Psalm 23:4</a>).
But Paul&rsquo;s message didn&rsquo;t stop there. He went on to say that God had an even greater plan in mind &mdash; to equip his children to pass on the love and comfort we have received.&nbsp;
Maybe you&rsquo;ve met someone facing the same battle you once faced. How did God bring you through that difficult season? Is there some way you can offer the same comfort God gave you?
Tonight, as we read <a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/2-corinthians/1.html">2 Corinthians 1</a>, let&rsquo;s thank the Lord for sending the Holy Spirit to live within us. Then, let&rsquo;s pray about who we can reach out to in their troubles. Comfort is something we shouldn&rsquo;t keep to ourselves. Instead, we can choose to pass it on.
Evening Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for being the source of my comfort. When I am facing life&rsquo;s most difficult circumstances, I have your Holy Spirit here with me to comfort and guide me. But the comfort you give isn&rsquo;t just for me. You desire that I share it with others.
Help me understand your plan for providing comfort to those who are in need. Show me the people in my life who are hurting, Lord. Help me know how to pass on comfort so that they can have peace in the middle of their struggle. I give you praise, honor, and glory.
In Jesus&rsquo; name,
Amen.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION&reg;. NIV&reg;. Copyright &copy; 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="https://www.biblica.com/">Biblica</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.
&nbsp;
Want More?
Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Click to Listen to Signs of Life: <a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was&mdash;and is&mdash;an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>

Your Nightly Scripture — 365-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God’s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.

Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Want more prayers and practical spiritual tips each week? We're excited to introduce The Good Word, a new way to receive weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement right in your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ 

Your Nightly Scripture &mdash; 365-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God&rsquo;s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.
Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.
Want more prayers and practical spiritual tips each week? We're excited to introduce The Good Word, a new way to receive weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement right in your inbox. Join our community today:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/</a>&nbsp;

Your Nightly Scripture

Comforted So I Can Comfort Others (2 Corinthians 1)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/5598c458-4cf3-4e83-948f-b4ef00caed35/transcript