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2 Corinthians 4 Devotional – Day 2

ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness

GOD IS LOVE

John tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). We see evidence that this attribute of God was active even before creation among the members of the Trinity. Jesus speaks to his Father of “my glory which you have given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24), indicating that there was love from the Father to the Son from all eternity. It continues at the present time, for we read, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand” (John 3:35).

Praise God that He is Love. 

Praise God that his love is demonstrated in Jesus’ death on the cross. Praise God that HE IS LOVE! He does not just do loving acts, He defines love. Love flows freely from His being because He is Love! Praise Him that you could not earn or erase His love.

CONFESSION: Confess your sins to God and receive his continued mercy.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

THANKSGIVING: Giving thanks to God for his specific blessings in our lives.

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100

SUPPLICATION: Bringing our requests to God.

  • Bring your personal prayer requests to God.
  • Pray for Youth Horizons. Ask God to use the work in the mentoring program and the residential program to bring children to saving faith in Christ.
  • Pray that the blinders over unbelieving eyes would be lifted.
  • Ask God to speak to you as you read the scriptures.

SCRIPTURE READING:

2 Corinthians 4 English Standard Version

The Light of the Gospel
4 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:

As Ezra read the word of God to the exiles returned to Jerusalem they wept and wept. It’s a good thing that on occasion when we read or hear the Bible taught that we become sad. It exposes us. It cuts us open and reveals things that need to change. But the intent of God’s word is like that of a skilled surgeon. It doesn’t cut to wound, it cuts to heal.
When Nehemiah got up to address the people he encouraged them to stop mourning and start feasting. He said “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” God is a being of immense joy. He cannot stop being joyful any more than he can stop being holy, or infinite. His joy, overflowing into our lives, is to be a source of our strength. His joy=our strength. Perhaps you have tried many ways to be strong. You have tried discipline. You have tried to put away sin and put on good works. You have determined in your mind and will to become a better person, a more consistent Christian. I would say all these things are good and a part of what it means to grow. Of course you cannot earn salvation but of course you must work at growing in faith and good works. But I wonder how often we try “joy” as a path to strength. What does it mean to “try joy?” I think the first step is simply to think about joy. Have you thought much about joy and how it is a pipeline of God’s strength? Have you considered joy something that “happens” to you or do you believe it is something you can actually choose…like love, or contentment, or hope? Think about it today, experiment with choosing joy…the joy of the Lord.

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