Monday, September 4, 2017, 9:16 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Lord, Move Me.” Speak, Lord, your words
to my heart. I read 2 Corinthians 4
(NASB).
Things Hidden
(vv. 1-2)
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received
mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of
shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the
manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the
sight of God.
When we share with people the
gospel of our salvation from sin, in Jesus Christ, our Lord, we should do so in
truth and in complete integrity. So, if we want to be certain that what we are
sharing with people is the truth, then we must study the Word of God, in
particular the New Testament, and we need to learn what the gospel message
teaches. For, many people today are adulterating (polluting, infecting) the Word
of Truth by twisting scripture to their advantage or by picking and choosing
only a few select scriptures which, taken out of context, say what they want to
hear, while they ignore the rest. They, thus, fit the scriptures to their
lifestyles rather than fit their lifestyles to the teachings of scripture.
Also, when we share with
people the gospel of our salvation from sin, we need to not do so hypocritically.
We should make certain we are walking the talk and not just talking the walk. We
ought to be people of God, born of the Spirit of God, who are walking in
holiness and righteousness, and who are not given over to sinful addictions. We
must be godly people who have renounced secretive and shameful ways, instead of
being people who make a profession of faith only, or who are not living what we
are teaching others. It is imperative, too, that we make no pretense, and that
we participate in no hidden sins, as well as that our walk matches our talk.
Blinded Minds
(vv. 3-6)
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to
those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the
minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of
the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves
but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has
shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Christ.
The truth of the gospel
should not be hidden from people on our account because we failed to learn the
truth, and because we trusted in the lies (half-truths) being taught by others.
If the truth is hidden from them, it should be because Satan has blinded their
eyes, and because others, not ourselves, are the ones polluting the gospel to
make it more acceptable and appealing to human flesh. We should be ones who are
committed to knowing and sharing the truth of God’s Word, because the truth is
what will change human hearts, and set them free, not clever lies disguised as
truth which leave people still in bondage (slavery, addiction) to sin.
So, we must be bearers of
Light, not of a mixture of light and darkness, disguised as light. What we
proclaim must also be focused in Jesus Christ and not in giving glory to
ourselves. We should be promoting Jesus, not humans. And, we ought to present
ourselves as servants of Christ and give him all the glory for all that he does
in us and through us. For what we have, and what we are, and what we do should
be all because of what Jesus did for us in dying on the cross for our sins, and
because he delivered us out of slavery to sin so that we might walk in his
righteousness, in his power and strength. And, all the praise, honor and glory ought
to go to him alone.
Earthen Vessels
(vv. 7-12)
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that
the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we
are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying
about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be
manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to
death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our
mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you.
It was God’s design and plan
that he would use human beings, his followers, to spread his gospel message
throughout the earth. Yet, we live in flesh bodies, and we get sick, tired, and
weak, and we have our enemy Satan fighting continually against us, even through
other humans, so we must rely on the strength, power and wisdom of God to
continue in the work of the ministry to which he has called us. But, that is a
good thing, because then we know that when God uses us that it wasn’t us who
did it, but it was God. So, it keeps us humble and trusting and resting in our
Lord, even for the strength to keep going, at times, and then for the
empowerment of his Spirit in our lives in knowing what to do and say. Then, he
gets the glory, not us.
Sometimes life can get pretty
tough. Sometimes the opposition against us can get pretty severe, too. We may
feel, at times, as though the weight of the world has come crashing down upon
us. We may lose sight of God’s sovereignty over our lives, and feel like we are
drowning in our circumstances, but we should never give up hope. We may go
through some serious trials on this earth, because we are being given over to
death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our lives. But,
our Lord is always with us, he is in control over all that he has made, and he
will never abandon us. He has a plan and a purpose for what he allows us to go
through on this earth, and it is to make us holy, to purify our hearts, and to
make us more like Jesus, so that his life shines through ours to the world.
Don’t Lose Heart (vv. 13-18)
But having the same spirit of faith, according to what
is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also
speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus
and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the
grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks
to abound to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer
man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary,
light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all
comparison, 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.
Even though we may be going
through some hard stuff in this life, on this earth, we do not lose heart, or
we should not lose heart, because we have the hope of eternal life with God in
heaven. Not only that, but Jesus Christ is doing some awesome things in our
lives while we still live on this earth, if we will let him by submitting to
his will for our lives, and by walking in the Spirit and no longer according to
our sinful flesh. He uses these trials in our lives to mature us in him, and to
grow us in our faith, and to teach us to rely on him and not on ourselves. So,
even though we may be going through a difficult period of time, he is busy
changing our hearts by inwardly renewing us day by day. So, he is working it
all out for our good (what is best for us).
So, we need to keep our focus
on Jesus and not on our circumstances or on ourselves or what we are going
through. We must trust him with our lives and with our life situations and let
him lead us in the way he would have us to go. We can’t see what lies ahead for
us, so we don’t always know why things are happening to us the way they are,
but God knows. So, we must trust him. And, we must follow his lead. He won’t
lead us down the wrong path. We just need to take his hand, and follow him. We should
always keep an eternal perspective and not let what is temporary cause us to
lose sight of what is eternal. God will make a way where there seems to be no
way. He works in ways we cannot see. So, rest in him. Believe him. And, follow
him.
Lord, Move Me / An
Original Work / October 16, 2011
Be my desire, my heart set on fire,
Lord, move me to worship You only, I
pray.
Fill with Your Spirit, my heart
overflow.
Lord, may I long for You; Your word to
know.
Teach me to walk with You, Lord, in
Your power,
And may I serve You, Lord, right now in
this hour.
Lord, how I want to obey You forever.
Help me to hear You, Lord, so I will
not stray.
Teach me to love You; adore You always.
Envelope me, Lord, with Your grace
today.
Meet me in my need, and show me Your mercy.
Forgive me for all things, as I humbly
pray.
Counsel me, lead me, direct me, and
guide me,
So I follow You, Lord, where’er You
lead now.
I love to hear You speak Your words to
me.
I am so grateful that You set me free.
Wash me, and cleanse me, and make me
like You, Lord,
And I will live with You for eternity.
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