2 Corinthians 4 -- We Do Not Lose Heart!

"The key theme of this section is we do not lose heart ... Paul knew what he possessed in Jesus Christ!  Instead of complaining about what he did not have, Paul rejoiced in what he did have; and you and I can do the same thing," my commentary said.

We Have A Glorious Ministry -- "This ministry is a gift -- we receive it from God.  It is given to us because of God's mercy, not because of anything we are or have done ... This kept him from being a quitter ... With the divine calling came the divine enabling; Paul knew that God would see him through."

"It kept him from being a deceiver ... unlike the Judaizers, Paul had nothing to hide, either in his personal life or in his preaching of the Word."

"The mind of the lost sinner is blinded by Satan, and fallen man finds it easier to believe lies than to believe truth... Paul had already mentioned the veiled minds of the Jews.  The minds of the Gentiles are also blinded!  Those who are lost cannot understand the message of the gospel.  Satan does not want the glorious light of salvation to shine into their hearts ... Satan keeps lost sinners in the dark.  The sad thing is that Satan uses religious teachers (like the Judaizers) to deceive people!"

We Have A Valuable Treasure -- "It is the treasure within the vessel that gives the vessel its value ... God has made us the way we are so that we can do the work He wants us to do ... No Christian should ever complain to God because of his lack of gifts or abilities, or because of his limitations or handicaps ... Our very genetic structure is in the hands of God.  Each of us must accept himself and be himself.  The important thing about a vessel is that it be clean, empty, and available for service ... Paul was not afraid of suffering or trial, because he knew that God would guard the vessel so long as Paul was guarding the treasure.  God permits trials, God controls trials, and God uses trials for His own glory ... Sometimes God permits our vessels to be jarred so that some of the treasure will spill out and enrich others.  Suffering reveals not only the weaknesses of man but also the glory of God."

We Have A Confident Faith -- "Paul was sure of ultimate victory.  If Jesus Christ has conquered death, the last enemy, then why fear anything else?... Until a person is prepared to die, he is not really prepared to live ... Paul was sure God would be glorified, and he was sure that his trials were working for him, not against him.  He was sure that the invisible world was real.  Dr. A.W. Tozer used to remind us that the invisible world described in the Bible was the only real world.  If we could only see the visible world the way God wants us to see it, we would never be attracted by what it offers."

Father, thank You for reminding me of what You've given me in ministry, and thank You for stoking my strength when I feel like giving up.  Thank You for the valuable treasure You've placed within this clay jar, and for allowing me to see the invisible world and to know that You are actively working with me in it.

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Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford