Peaceable Fruits – Part 3
Finally, grief helps us serve others. Jesus was a faithful and merciful high priest due to the things which He suffered (Hebrews 2:17, 18). Truly, those who have suffered are able to comfort those who are suffering. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” When we suffer affliction ourselves, we may help others who are suffering and this brings glory to God because He is the ultimate source of all comfort.
Here, at least, are a few “peaceable fruits” that we can glean from our own personal sufferings and grief: 1) A deeper understanding of God’s love, 2) A greater understanding of the brevity of life and its associated sorrows, 3) A better ability to discern that which is truly joyous, and 4) the ability to be a better servant in God’s vineyard. Through these peaceable fruits of righteousness, we can bring more souls to salvation, build up the church which Jesus built, and further the cause of Christ. The Hebrew writer further exhorts with these words, “Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees; and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:12, 13). Let each of us re solve to understand God’s purpose for grief and sorrow and to live according to His great purposes for our life every day.
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley