Bible Society of South Africa
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Called to Care
Called to Care – Day 3

Called to Care – Day 3

God is the source of all caregiving

Bible text(s)

Words of Hope

1“Comfort my people,” says our God. “Comfort them!

2Encourage the people of Jerusalem.

Tell them they have suffered long enough

and their sins are now forgiven.

I have punished them in full for all their sins.”

Isaiah 40:1-2GNBOpen in Bible reader

13Sing, heavens! Shout for joy, earth!

Let the mountains burst into song!

The LORD will comfort his people;

he will have pity on his suffering people.

14But the people of Jerusalem said,

“The LORD has abandoned us!

He has forgotten us.”

15So the LORD answers,

“Can a woman forget her own baby

and not love the child she bore?

Even if a mother should forget her child,

I will never forget you.

16Jerusalem, I can never forget you!

I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

17“Those who will rebuild you are coming soon,

and those who destroyed you will leave.

18Look around and see what is happening!

Your people are assembling — they are coming home!

As surely as I am the living God,

you will be proud of your people,

as proud as a bride is of her jewels.

Isaiah 49:13-18GNBOpen in Bible reader

Paul Gives Thanks to God

3Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all help comes! 4He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God. 5Just as we have a share in Christ's many sufferings, so also through Christ we share in God's great help. 6If we suffer, it is for your help and salvation; if we are helped, then you too are helped and given the strength to endure with patience the same sufferings that we also endure. 7So our hope in you is never shaken; we know that just as you share in our sufferings, you also share in the help we receive.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7GNBOpen in Bible reader

Caregiving involves giving comfort – trying to make someone else’s suffering more bearable; physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Bible talks a lot about this, and especially about God comforting his people or ordering someone to comfort them.

In his second letter to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul explains where the source of our own comfort lies, as well as our ability to comfort others.

Bible Society of South Africav.4.18.12
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