God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

2 Corinthians 1:3-4a reads "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..."

God nowhere promises to make your life comfortable free from trials and tribulation.  For the Christian, just as it was for Christ, precisely the opposite is true.  But God does promise that in times of affliction, he will be our comfort.  And we know that this promise is not an empty one because of the incarnation.  The second person of the trinity took on flesh and became a human being, just like you and me.  As a result, God's knowledge of our trials and temptations is not a mere cognitive awareness, but an experiential appreciation.  "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus has experienced every form of temptation we might experience, and he has endured more suffering than we will ever endure.  As a result, he can truly be a comfort to us in all situations, and we can sing, especially in the midst of times of great difficulty and unrest,

God rest ye merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

My prayer for you this Advent season is that Christ Jesus may indeed be your comfort and joy!

Previous posts in this series:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (part 1)

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (part 2)

O Little Town of Bethlehem