Through God’s mercy we have this ministry.

Today’s Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1, NIV- “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”

Are you some kind of preacher? I recall a person asking me this question after reading some of my posts over the years. Who me? No, this is just something I do.

Since hearing the words or having them impressed upon me approaching two decades ago, “Tom, every affirmation you will ever need is found in My Word.” I have been on a treasure hunt. Encouraged to write a blog because it was like writing a book one day at a time, my heart continues to burst open morning after morning.

Why? Because of God’s mercy on me when I was a broken alcoholic. God called me into His care and mercy. So yes, out of God’s mercy we all have a ministry. They are different yet the same. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 guarantees, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

We all reflect the Spirit of the Lord. So, are you some kind of preacher? Yes, we all are being transformed to share the light we have received from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unlike the fading light on the face of Moses, the light of the Spirit of God is meant to be reflected and exposed so the eyes and spirits of all.

We do have “this ministry” and we must let the light that has shone into our hearts be exposed. As 2 Corinthians 4:6 encourages us, “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

God Himself has commanded that the light that He has shone into our darkened hearts now gives light to others the hope and promises of Jesus Christ. Although we are fragile, God’s design is that we show our brokenness to the world so that the world comes to know, what we know. That we can only do our ministries for Christ because of the all-surpassing power that is from God and not from us.

As 2 Corinthians 4:7 professes we have “this treasure” in earthly vessels that break wide open to expose the treasures of the light of God. 2 Corinthians 4:9-10 promise that although we may have been knocked down, we were not destroyed. In our broken lives we receive the treasures of God’s mercy so that the life of Jesus may be revealed through us.

Life is at work in us. As Paul was inspired to write 2 Corinthians 4:13 he was reminded of David’s words in Psalm 116:10 where David stated, “I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.” David began in Psalm 116:1 that “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.” Out of David’s love and thanksgiving to the LORD for hearing his cries from his afflictions, he provided his ministry.

We are the same. We are not to be ashamed of our afflictions. We are to cry out like David did in Psalm 116:4, “Please, LORD, save me!” (NLT), “O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!” (NKJV) In this place is where we find God and our ministry because God hears us and shines His light into our souls.

As You and I share the lights of our souls. We share and serve God. This is what we do, this becomes who we are. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:1-2, we have now become reference letters for the ministry of God. “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.” (ESV)

We are to live the lives today, written on our hearts by the Spirit of Christ, allowing God’s light to shine out of our darkness so the world may see our savior. Will you let the light of your ministry shine today?

Today’s Prayer: Father God, thank You for hearing our cries from our darkest places. Thank You LORD for saving us. LORD use our broken earthly vessels to expose Your all-surpassing power to a world dying to know You. Use us LORD as Your reference letters that you have written and shone into our hearts. Bless our ministries LORD to share Your gospel of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Amen.