I'm just now sitting down to have devotions and blog, here at 10:00 a.m., because I had an early morning "rise and shine" (5:30). Our church had the privilege of ministering to a wonderful group of middle school teachers today. They are having a teacher workday; so, some of our members brought them breakfast. What a privilege to love on those who give so much to our community.
Today's text is 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 (NET):
Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged. 2 But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, 4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.
Last night, Hubster and I had the privilege of hosting some college-age students from church in our home for Bible study. We were talking about, in part, how God will often give us a task to do that seems impossible to us. Our pastor has said before that, "if the task is not God-sized, if it doesn't force you to depend on Him to do it, then it probably is not from God." Yet, even so, it is easy for us to get discouraged in our ministries, isn't it?
First of all, things "rarely go according to plan"....our plan, that is. When that happens, we question whether or not we are really doing what God called to do, or even if He called us to it at all! Sure, there are times when we can have "misheard" the Lord, that is, Satan has deceived us. Usually though, it is simply that Satan is opposing our efforts because God is using us and wanting to use us even more for the advancement of His kingdom. Setbacks should not surprise us or dissuade us.
Paul also said here that it is the mercy of God that motivated him in ministry. Because God showed mercy to him, he got past his temporary discouragement to go on and show God's mercy to others. He did this by proclaiming the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He stated that he was a "slave" to this ministry, this life-calling of shining the light of Jesus Christ into a dark, fallen world. Jesus shined brilliant light into Paul's life on the road to Damascus. Because of this Paul gained the glorious truth about God, the truth embodied in Jesus.
In the college Bible study, we just began a book study of David Platt's book, Radical. It has already been such a blessing, and we are just into the first chapters! You can't truly encounter Jesus Christ, as Paul did, as I have, as many others have, and come away unchanged. Those who claim to have done so have never really met Him. Instead they have met some pale imitation or some distortion. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes hearts, changes lives. It is the ONLY solution to man's many problems. David Platt asks us, "So, how do we respond to this gospel?"1 How can we keep this to ourselves? Paul couldn't; and neither should we.
It is this knowledge, this treasure we possess, which lifts us out of our periodic discouragements. Because we have been utterly transformed, we cannot be silent. Although our message is often ridiculed as "nonsense", "foolishness", and even the sign of a low IQ, we have experienced the power of The One and Only. We have tasted of Jesus Christ. We have drunk from the well of salvation to become His Beloved. We know that nothing is greater, or higher, or better or more satisfying. And, that radicalizes us to share this incomparable Light, which shines out of the darkness of mistakes, willful sin, self-centeredness, pride - - - the slime pit of the world in which people find themselves mired. We extend the hand of faith to them and say, "Brother, let me lead you to the Savior, because He is sufficient for every need, the source of all good things. All else is, ultimately, unsatisfying."
So, Christian, don't be discouraged. Every day presents a new opportunity to share the life-changing truth of Jesus with someone in desperate need. Take those opportunities God puts before you. Don't let the enemy "talk you down". None of us is immune, as this is one of Satan's most potent weapons. Don't play right into his hand. He's defeated before he even starts, and it's okay to remind him of that. Shine your light today, for the glory of The Incomparable One.
Father, you are a good, good Father, in spite of "circumstances". Help us to center our thoughts on You, to keep our eyes on our Savior, in order to fight off discouragement. You have given each one of us a special skill-set, to use in the advancement of Your kingdom. Empower us to do what You have called each of us to do, for Your praise and for Your glory alone. In Jesus' name, amen.
Source:
1 Platt, David. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Multnomah, 2010. p. 36. Print.
No comments:
Post a Comment