Chris Schenkel, the ABC Sportscaster and Encourager, not only was aware of those he encountered whom he built up; he was also a comforter. Comfort literally means “to call alongside.” It comes from the Latin, com meaning “together” and fortis which is translated “strong.” Consequently, comfort means that we come alongside someone in order to invite him to restoration, we strengthen together.
When I had shared with Chris my Holy Spirit prompting to become a direct carrier of the message of restoration toward authenticity, I had expected him to say something similar to what he had said twenty-four months earlier when he articulated how my business needed me. I was wrong. He encouraged me to move forward with the prompting. He comforted me in my most difficult business decision. In essence, he came alongside and strengthened me.
Jesus was not only aware of the needs of others and not only built them up with words of affirmation, but He also comforted them by meeting their needs through restoration. He called the Holy Spirit the “Comforter” (John 14:26 NASB). The psalmist said that God encourages the afflicted (Psalm 10:17). He comforts us in our times of trouble.
Paul described Christ as the source and the flow of comfort when he wrote: “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 trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). Christ is the inlet, the flow, and the passion for the outlet.
Paul equated encouragement with strengthening and comfort: “But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3). There is something about Christ’s encouragement that restores the heart.
Comfort others by coming alongside them and inviting them to restoration.
Episode 20: Living Water from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.
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