'Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 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 everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 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 God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 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 to himself. 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. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.'
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/2CO.4.1-18
Paul said that they did would not lose heart or be discouraged because God in His mercy entrusted them with this ministry. It was not anything that they had done to earn it, but the work that the Lord did in them that allowed the Lord to trust them. Not only did the Lord perform miracles in Paul and the disciples to prepare them for this ministry, but He would also help them with it. They would not be able to do what the Lord called them to do without depending on Him. He gives us His treasure in “jars of clay” so that He gets all the glory! Those who preach the Gospel on their own without depending on the Lord end up altering the Word and using deception. The only way to accurately interpret the Word of God is with the Holy Spirit which is His Mind. The Gospel is veiled to those who are perishing. Satan, who is referred to here are the god of this world, blinds the mind of unbelievers so that they do not understand the beauty of God’s Word. He does not want them to understand it because then they would be saved and belong to the Lord instead of to him. However, God can reach the minds of anyone. He shines His light in our hearts to open our eyes to His Truth.
When we walk with the Lord in obedience to His Word and we share His Gospel, we will be persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed, etc. God will not allow the enemy to crush or destroy us. He is our protector. We will go through tough times, but not without His goodness and mercy following us. He is such a good God!! Always!! May we never forget that!
Not only to we suffer in the body so that the Lord is glorified in us, but also so that others receive the same gift of salvation and revival that we experienced. In both cases, it is worth it. That is why they did not lose heart and why we should not either. In order to not lose heart, we can fix our eyes of Jesus and be Kingdom minded. Amen!!
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/2CO.4.1-18
Paul said that they did would not lose heart or be discouraged because God in His mercy entrusted them with this ministry. It was not anything that they had done to earn it, but the work that the Lord did in them that allowed the Lord to trust them. Not only did the Lord perform miracles in Paul and the disciples to prepare them for this ministry, but He would also help them with it. They would not be able to do what the Lord called them to do without depending on Him. He gives us His treasure in “jars of clay” so that He gets all the glory! Those who preach the Gospel on their own without depending on the Lord end up altering the Word and using deception. The only way to accurately interpret the Word of God is with the Holy Spirit which is His Mind. The Gospel is veiled to those who are perishing. Satan, who is referred to here are the god of this world, blinds the mind of unbelievers so that they do not understand the beauty of God’s Word. He does not want them to understand it because then they would be saved and belong to the Lord instead of to him. However, God can reach the minds of anyone. He shines His light in our hearts to open our eyes to His Truth.
When we walk with the Lord in obedience to His Word and we share His Gospel, we will be persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed, etc. God will not allow the enemy to crush or destroy us. He is our protector. We will go through tough times, but not without His goodness and mercy following us. He is such a good God!! Always!! May we never forget that!
Not only to we suffer in the body so that the Lord is glorified in us, but also so that others receive the same gift of salvation and revival that we experienced. In both cases, it is worth it. That is why they did not lose heart and why we should not either. In order to not lose heart, we can fix our eyes of Jesus and be Kingdom minded. Amen!!