Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 4.
Have you ever thought about why Christians in the US receive so much ridicule for their beliefs, and why Christians across the world in countries like Nigeria are being killed right now for their beliefs, more so than any other religion? If you sit back and think about it, the answer is pretty simple… Christianity is the only religion that is true. This is why Satan is constantly working against Christianity to the point of death for some Christians. Other religions are working right along with his game plan by leading people away from Christ. We hear and see other religions must be given more freedom to be spoken, but yet somehow the Gospel of Jesus must be silenced for the sake of the freedom. Something doesn’t add up. The Bible tells us is Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Reading 2 Corinthians 4 makes me very grateful for Paul and so many others over the last 2,000 years who have been willing to speak the Gospel so that myself and my children, and someday my grandchildren, know Jesus. Paul writes the following…
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 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. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
2 Corinthians 4:8-12
Pastor Brandon Grant once said, “The Gospel is just one generation away from extinction.” This is heavy when you think about it. This statement fills me with gratitude for Paul and those who have lived and spread the Gospel since then before me and yet also carries the weight of responsibility..not only to advance the Gospel with my children…but with others I interact with or meet each day.
Paul puts things in perspective in this chapter as well..
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 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.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
While Paul and all those who have spread the Gospel since deserve our thanks and gratitude, Paul also puts things in perspective..
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
2 Corinthians 4:7
God, thank you for continuing to pursue us and please continue to give us courage and use us as your instrument to spread the Gospel until Jesus comes again. May you receive all the glory and the praise. Amen
