Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 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. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, ‘Let light 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. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4:1-12, NRSV)
Who do you proclaim with your life?
Who is displayed for the world to see with your actions?
Paul tells the Corinthians that they are proclaim Jesus crucified and are on a mission for God, so they are not going to lose heart because Jesus is walking with them. Is this the same for you?
We can easily fall into a self proclaiming position where we are eager to talk about all we have done and all we have accomplished. We will not be beacons of the love that has brought us to this place…
But you see as Paul tells the Corinthians if we are actually proclaiming Christ crucified, then we will be afflicted but not crushed, we will be perplexed but we will not despair, we will be persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed. We will not always seem to be getting ahead, but Jesus will always be with us, and we will not fail. If we are proclaiming Christ in all we do and say!
So who does your life proclaim?
aSacredRebel 