Daily Bible Reading (Wednesday, August 2nd)

3

2 Corinthians 4(ESV)

 

The Light of the Gospel

 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,[a] we do not lose heart.But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice[b]cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants[c] for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self[d] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:1 Greek having this ministry as we have received mercy
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Greek to walk in
  3. 2 Corinthians 4:5 Or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
  4. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Greek man

3 Comments

Wow! Verses 5&6 resonate. Taking to heart verse 10, examining verses 11&12. Father, thank you for Your convicting truth. Help me in continual understanding and dying to self.

"For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." It does not say, "For God, who said, "Let light shine when it's comfortable" or when it feels it won't feel awkward or be rejected. I love how the Lord specifies let the light shine out of darkness! A room full of light doesn't need a lantern, but a dark room does! We need to spread the light to everyone in darkness!!!

Paul says we are "jars of clay" in verse 7 reminding us that it is not use who have the power to do what God calls us to do. But, he doesn't leave it there, he goes on to say that God uses jars of clay to "show the surpassing power" that belongs to God. We have the very power of God when we involved in Gospel ministry. So, no matter how we are afflicted, we can prevail as Paul did.

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