Daily Devotion in II Corinthians 4


Daily Nugget:
So many take the responsibilities of a Christian lightly. Hoardingly, they keep their salvation to themselves. Many of their closest family members and friends may not even know of their salvation. Sharing the Good News that saved them rarely happens. Paul, however, took his salvation and responsibilities seriously. This chapter lets us see how earnest he was in giving out what God had given him to share with the world.
He was not going to let hardships get him off course from his burden to share the Gospel (vs. 1). His persecutions, imprisonments, cruel treatments, and rejections did not deter him from his task (vss. 8-10).
Paul did his best to give the whole counsel of God, as honestly as he could (vs. 2) to all he could. His testimony proved that in his uncompromising and courageous stand for the Truth.
If the Gospel was hid from anyone, at least on his watch, it was not his doing (vs. 3); it was from the efforts of the enemy of God, Satan (vs. 4).
Paul preached Jesus, not himself (vs. 5). His preaching was not to gain a job for himself, popularity, or a weekly paycheck. His mission was to tell the truth he had learned the hard way.
As frail as our bodies are, and as distracted as we can be by temptations, we have a body that was designed to serve God (vs. 7). Imagine that! God wants to use us! What an honor!
Although we may face persecutions and hardships in this life, when it all is said and done, we have an eternal future in heaven (vs. 14) — if we are saved!
God used Paul, not for his talents or for what he had, but for his attitude and willingness to please His Saviour. We are to emulate our Saviour. Following the guidelines set by biblical heroes, such as Paul, are also good examples. If our attitude to please our Saviour was as Paul’s, we would all be busy about the Master’s work.
Today’s Thought: If we, who kow the truth, don’t tell them, who will?
Today’s Reading: II Corinthians 4
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 ¶ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (KJV)

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