Welcome! Over the next few weeks we are going to be reading 2 Corinthians together as a church, 1 chapter every week day. We’re encouraging everyone to read the passage, pray, and share with a few others what they felt God was pointing out to them in his word. Every day we’re going to be hearing from someone at Redeemer about what they felt God pointed out to them as they read the passage.
This morning Tara is sharing with us, you can watch her video above. She has also shared some more of her thoughts on the passage below.
I thank God that he has unveiled my faith and sent an atomic bomb to shed His Light on my darkness.
I particularly loved the reminder of Paul’s war cry prophesy in verses 8-9. I am so grateful that in my weakness and darkest moments I have this declaration. I am particularly declaring this over our frontline NHS staff members.
In chapter 4 Paul encourages us “I believed, and so I spoke.” This is not the season for unspoken faith. But the season to confess and speak Gods word into existence.
I loved the image of “that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” Gods Grace is extending to so many during this season and we must continue to be the light and salt of the earth.
I am encouraged not to lose heart. Though we are not exempt from suffering and our outer self fades we have the hope that our inner self is 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 4:17-18
Further Study
Paul’s ministry was by no means a story of total success and minimal hurdles, and as we read in today’s passage, there was clearly many people who weren’t responding to his gospel message! This is similar in many ways to our own experience of evangelism. In this talk (link below) from September 2017, Mike Cain of Emmanuel Bristol shares with us how to respond “when it appears the gospel isn’t working”.
