January 23, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Deuteronomy and Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Corinthians 4 (NIV)
Present Weakness and Resurrection Life
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.……Continue Reading
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
What a powerful chapter! The privelege we have to serve a God that cares so much for us that He made a way for us to spend eternity with Him. Yes life is hard! Challenges are all around us, money, parenting, marriage, protecting ourselves from the pressures of this world to give in to self, even our health can fail but we walk with a God that understands, has even lived through life on this earth, and He is with us each step!
“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body”
How will we respond to these trials, will we find the joy in them knowing we are not alone and the hope of knowing it is all just temporary and shine His light by showing this world that we have joy and peace in the struggle that they might desire to have that too!
Well said, Kelly!
2Corinthians 4
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, so we fix our eyes on not what is seen, but what is unseen for what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal. Scripture is just so full of uplifting truths. If that doesn’t make your spirit leap. Check for a pulse!! And to think our troubles are allowed by our father. With a purpose. So let the world see that we live beyond our feelings and circumstances. As troubles remind us of what our savior went through our troubles keep us from pride. Paul’s thorn. We can look beyond this temporary life, as people see us smile through what those without Christ struggle with.
2 Corinthians 4
2 Corinthians 4
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”. In this day and age, it is harder than ever to reach those that are blinded by the god of this world. This portion speaks to me and encourages me to step up my game in reaching those that are lost and deceived. Pray for me that I may be empowered to step out of my comfort zone and be a light to those around me in this dark world!
As fragile humans we will certainly have our share of temporal darkness, challenges and weakness. Paul reminds us not to lose heart but to put our dependence on God. Our gain through these momentary trials is bringing us to eternal glory…..never forgetting to put our hope in the ‘unseen’….for what is ‘unseen’ is eternal. That is what our true faith is all about!
2 Cor 4
Let us have hope as we perservere through the diffficulties of life. For God said, “Let light shine out of darkness.” We have his all-surpassing power at our disposal. So although we are hard pressed on every side, we will not be shaken. We fix our eyes not on what is seen (our difficulties), but on what is unseen (God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit – our Rock, our Salvation, our Helper). For what is seen is temporary (our difficulties), but what is unseen is eternal (our heavenly glory).
2 Corinthians 1
Sean, I feel the same, I am around a lost and dying world everywhere I go. I prepare my mind to speak the truth of Christ in love. But too often, I find myself arguing Christ, “to win the debate,” and this is way off base.
I am praying right now that you and I will be Spirit-equipped to show Christ to the stranger,and that we shall do so by Sunday.
Amen, Gordon!
Thank God that our eyes were opened up to the truth! We certainly don`t deserve it. The god {Satan} of this world is working hard to try to stop people from coming to know the truth. Just look at the poison and destruction he has brought upon the U.S.A and the whole world. Satan is really trying to destroy mankind. We all need to get back to a Biblical worldview and not a humanistic worldview. Either we are for Him or against Him. Even as Christians are we following a Biblical worldview in all ways? Something to think about. Everything should be about Jesus in some way. There is such a worldly mind set in each of us because of the culture we have been brought up in. We need to be soaking up the word of God as much as possible. We certainly can`t be walking with the Lord in our own strength for we are weak vessels and constantly need His great and powerful strength to help us. When we are weak; then He is strong. He then is able to show to the world His love for mankind by us telling about Him. We as sinners don`t deserve His mercy but He has commanded us as His children to share about His death and resurrection. It is one sinner telling another sinner how to be saved. We are no better than anyone else but thank God someone shared Christ with me long ago and I repented putting my complete trust in Him. In verse 14 is an encouraging statement. Jesus was raised up and so will we be raised up with Him. This sounds like the end times when we meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thess. 4:14–17. God bless you all.
Amen, Dennis!
How merciful is our great God to allow us to be in relationship with Him and it is our privilege to represent Him to the world. Because He is so great and pure, we don’t need to use corrupted means to convince people to believe. It is unfortunate though that, even though their need is great, many people are blinded to the reality of who God is, even though the manifestation of His goodness and glory is all around us. And how great that God indwells people like us, jars of clay, so we know that anything good that comes from us is about God and not us. But because we are a target of the world and the devil, challenges and hardships will abound in our lives. But we don’t lose heart. We have a secured promise of resurrection and we at anytime can choose to focus on those things that are eternal, because anything else on earth is temporary. And if our troubles here on earth lead to a greater glory in heaven, then it is all worth it!
”Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.“
II Corinthians 4:16 NKJV
Paul and the apostles faced physical persecution and death, and yet experienced renewal every day.