Thought for the Season

I have not been able to stop thinking about the message from my daily devotional last week: "God doesn't comfort us to make us comfortable; He comforts us to make us comforters."

Sometimes God gives us the opportunity to use the lessons we've learned and the comfort He's given us during difficult times to help others in special ways. II Corinthians 1:3-4 says: "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."

Reading this places a sense of responsibility on my shoulders. I think of all that God has given me and the abundant resources he has provided me with and the natural question for me to ask myself is: "What am I giving back? Am I using my time, talents and resources for His glory--and to show others God's love?"

As we celebrate Christ's birth--the Christian's ultimate sense of comfort, I pray that the Lord will show me how to better comfort others. As we enter into a new year--full of anticipation, hope and good intentions--I pray that I will be able to tangibly show comfort and love to others--and not just people I consider friends, but in relationships outside of my comfort zone.

Take time to consider how you can be a comfort to others!