The pathway to full maturity as Sons and Daughters includes trials and tribulation. They will strengthen those who are committed to this level of maturity. Paul was and so am I, are you? I must teach on the flame of Good News!
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4:
1 Now, it’s because of God’s mercy that we have been entrusted with the privilege of this new covenant ministry. And we will not quit or faint with weariness. 2 We reject every shameful cover-up and refuse to resort to cunning trickery or distorting the Word of God. Instead, we open up our souls to you by presenting the Truth to everyone’s conscience in the sight and presence of God.
There is much to reject these days, more so than in the last fifty plus years of walk with MY LORD. I see cunning trickery throughout the earth as the nefarious ones try to brainwash the masses into believing lies. Real Truth only comes from The Word of GOD whether written or spoken.
3 Even if our Gospel message is veiled, it is only veiled to those who are perishing, 4 for their minds have been blinded by the god of this age, leaving them in unbelief. Their blindness keeps them from seeing the dayspring light of the wonderful news of the glory of Jesus Christ, who is the divine image of God.
You become like the company you keep is so true. Everyone has a bias in their thoughts and actions and want to reassure themselves by having others agree with them even though they are walking in unrighteousness.
5 We don’t preach ourselves, but rather the lordship of Jesus Christ, for we are your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, Who said, “Let brilliant light shine out of darkness,” is the One Who has cascaded His Light into us—the brilliant dawning Light of the glorious knowledge of God as we gaze into the face of Jesus Christ.
7 We are like common clay jars that carry this Glorious Treasure within, so that the extraordinary overflow of power will be seen as God’s, not ours.
It is all about Jesus Christ, the power deposited in us by Our Heavenly Father, and being directed by The Holy Spirit. The adversary’s minions recognize who has taken the Highway of Holiness thus they are attempting to knock us of that path. Paul recognized the challenges we face:
8 Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option.
9 We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out.
10 We continually share in the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the resurrection life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity.
11 We consider living to mean that we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that the life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity.
12 So, then, death is at work in us but it releases life in you.
The main objective of starting a race is to cross the finish line. I was one of twelve men asked to participate in a Bible Law project in 1998 which included publishing the project on the Internet. One by one they dropped out with various excuses. My partner and I were the only ones left to complete the project which was published at the end of 1999. Was it convenient? No. Was it overwhelming at times? Yes. FATHER knows those who are promise keepers when HE gives out tasks and projects to accomplish. Am I special? No, but I am tenacious. Paul was too.
13 We have the same Spirit of faith that is described in the Scriptures when it says, “First I believed, then I spoke in faith.” So we also first believe then speak in faith. 14 We do this because we are convinced that HE WHO raised Jesus will raise us up with Him, and together we will all be brought into HIS Presence.
15 Yes, all things work for your enrichment so that more of God’s marvelous grace will spread to more and more people, resulting in an even greater increase of praise to God, bringing HIM even more glory!
You and I must change, moving toward greater maturity in Christ each day so that we will fulfill verse 15.
16 So no wonder we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day.
17 We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison,
18 because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is Eternal.
As I grow older, the above hits close to home. However, I focus on the Eternal and I suggest you do too, no matter what stage in life you are currently in. It is all about the Eternal which is permanent rather than the temporary and Love must be our motivation.