Daily Bread_September 17, 2013

Title: Never Give Up and Never Give In

Text:

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 (NLT)
¹ Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up.
² We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don't try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.
³ If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.
⁴ Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
⁵ You see, we don't go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus' sake.
⁶ For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

Observation:

The Apostle Paul had nothing to hide in his ministry to the church at Corinth; he was different from the false teachers. The Apostle Paul was transparent in his preaching of the gospel of Christ. He said this to the church at Rome.

Romans 1:16 (NLT)
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

Paul's goal was to reveal the gospel of Christ; not to hide what his agenda was like the false teachers who taught another gospel. Paul believed that if you didn't stand for "the way", you would fall for anything. This is an example of a church that did.

Galatians 1:6-7 (NLT)
⁶ I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News
⁷ but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

Prayer:

Father God, I pray that I will never lose my hunger and thirst for you, and for the gospel of Christ. Father, I am so glad for that glorious day when I first saw the light, and the burdens of my heart rolled away.

Father, may I never forget the source of my salvation, and my strength for daily living.  I ask these blessings in the name that is above every name, the name of Jesus, Amen.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadow o'er me.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/1059#ixzz2f9AcSVeJ

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Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

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