For
Our Present Troubles
Are
Small
And
Won't Last Very Long.
Scripture
2
Corinthians 4
7 We
now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like
fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear
that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
8 We are
pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are
perplexed, but not driven to despair.
10 Through
suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that
the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
11 Yes,
we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so
that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.
13 But
we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the
psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”
14 We
know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us
with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.
16 That
is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are
being renewed every day.
17 For
our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they
produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last
forever!
18 So
we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our
gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will
soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Observation
As
I read 2 Corinthians 4 this morning I was thinking about my very good
friend Garry Davis, who went to be with the Lord yesterday. Garry was
diagnosed with throat cancer in 2012, a year after I had my heart
attack. What an amazing guy! He loved the Lord and he loved his
family so much!
This
passage is a great reminder to me that we are very fragile, we are
like jars of clay. And if you haven't realized it yet that body of
yours (and mine) is wearing out!
I
was also reminded as I read this chapter that just as God raised
Jesus from the dead that He is also going to raise me from the dead!
One
day, in a blink of an eye (in God's timing), we who are in Christ,
will all be together again!
Application
I
will fix my gaze on the things that cannot be seen! (verse 18)
How
about you?
Prayer
Heavenly
Father, You are the God of all comfort and all compassion. I pray
that You comfort Joy Davis and her family. I know that my friend
Garry is not suffering today. He is celebrating! Help his family as
they grieve this loss. Draw them to a closer relationship with You.
Thank You for all the promises in Your Word. Guide them to Your Word
for strength.
Daily
Bible Reading: Numbers 8,9; Acts 28; I added: Proverbs 21; 2
Corinthians 4
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