I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God’s deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part.ġ2-14 Now that the worst is over, we’re pleased we can report that we’ve come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world-and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation-I don’t want you in the dark about that either. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally-not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us.
It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. When we see that you’re just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you’re going to make it, no doubt about it.Ĩ-11 We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching.
We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort-we get a full measure of that, too.Ħ-7 When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. The Rescueģ-5 All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours! Timothy, someone you know and trust, joins me in this greeting. I write this to God’s congregation in Corinth, and to believers all over Achaia province. 1 1-2 I, Paul, have been sent on a special mission by the Messiah, Jesus, planned by God himself.