AUGUST 3 READING…2 CORINTHIANS 4
Paul reminds the church that it has been privileged to have a great ministry given by God. The power to accomplish this ministry comes from God. It is never based in the self-promotion of any personality in the church…but it is Jesus that needs to be preached and glorified in all the ministries of the church. Those who share in the work of this great ministry need to see themselves as servants of the great King. The message of the Gospel always goes out by the power of God…and is always received by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel remains veiled, and not understood, by those who are perishing. It is impossible for them to understand and receive merely by human understanding. As we present the Gospel in these fallen “earthen” vessels, let us remember that the message is greater than we messengers, because it comes from our great God.
Paul then speaks words of great encouragement to us as we live in this sin fallen world and go through difficult times. “We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed…perplexed, but not in despair…persecuted, but not forsaken…struck, but not destroyed.” We are united with Christ in His death, so that His life might be our life. We live, serve, and even suffer knowing that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. Therefore, whatever we face we are encouraged not to lose heart, for though out outward person is perishing, our inward man is eternally alive in the Lord. We understand that any suffering in this temporal world is but a moment in relation to the promise we have of eternal life.
Please share your thoughts from today’s reading.
TOMORROW’S READING…2 CORINTHIANS 5
Comments