Word for Today, Tue, 31 May 2005: Hope from Experience
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
The apostle Paul had experiences that many of us have never had.
In some ways, that is a good thing. Experientially, I can't
imagine anyone wanting to have to go through what Paul went
through. He was severely persecuted for his faith and ultimately
died for his faith. On the other hand, before receiving the name
Paul, he was Saul, and he persecuted Christians, including the
earliest recorded Christian martyr, Stephen, the early church
deacon who served others.
Saul heard Stephen's testimony as he was being stoned to death,
and many people believe it was the seed of conviction in Saul's
heart that enabled Saul to hear the voice of Jesus calling to Him
on the road to Damascus, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
That set of events changed Saul forever. Even his name was
changed - to Paul. The apostle Paul later wrote the following
words to the early church at Corinth, a large city in the Roman
empire.
If you are struggling today, don't lose heart. Learn from Paul.
Learn from people you trust, who exhibit characteristics from God
in their life. Know the Word of God so that you will know what
those characteristics are. The passage below is one such
passage. I encourage you to read it and ponder how it applies to
your life today.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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2 Corinthians 4
Treasures in Jars of Clay
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 every man's conscience in the sight of
God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those
who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of
unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of
the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not
preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your
servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine
out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this
all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard
pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in
despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not
destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of
Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our
body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to
death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our
mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at
work in you.
13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken. "With
that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14
because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the
dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his
presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that
is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to
overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are
wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an
eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes
not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is
temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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