"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO FEEL LIKE GIVING UP"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO FEEL LIKE GIVING UP"

2nd Cor 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, and a prayer:

1. Paul ( along with Timothy his fellow worker ) is addressing the subject of giving up. That's what he means towards the end of the verse when he says, "we do not lose heart" So, let's look at what he had to say, as to what kept him aflot as it were. 

2. He starts ( see the first part of the verse ) with what God has done, and was doing in his life. ( by the way, I've found, and I'll bet you have also, that so often when are so discouraged, and do feel like giving up, we realize how helpful it is to get our minds and hearts back on the Lord, and who He is, and what He has done, and what He is doing, and what He will do in the future. That is, as compared to staring right into the face of whatever the situation is, that has us in the place of discouragement. 

3. So, what does he actually say? Well, the Word therefore is a word that can be translated "since", or "because of", it's put in the scriptures to help us apply whatever had been said, to take the truth of God's Word to heart, and to put it into action. So, if we go back just one verse, to 3:18 "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." Now, here in 3:18, Paul had been talking about the fact, that God has brought you into an eternal relationship with Him, He has given you eternal life, and you know Him, and you have access to Him, and in that access to Him, He is changing you, as you behold Him.
Here's how that verse reads in the NLT, this might help in understanding the meaning. 

3:18 " And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more."

4. Please notice that Paul mentions the Spirit of the Lord working within us, and we becoming more and more like Him. That's speaks of the work God does in the life of the believer between their being saved, and their going to heaven. Or at least it speaks of the goal, the desire, the will, and the intention of God for His people, simply put, it means that God has brought us into His family, adopted, justified us, set us apart for His exclusive use, and is starting to work out His plan in our lives. The result of God working in our lives, is that we become reflectors of Him.

5. So, back to the original verse, and how it can be an encouragement to you, who may feel like giving up. Here's a little breakdown into three important truths that will help you.

(1) You also have received this ministry. God has not just done this for Paul, but for everyone of His children. He has given us a ministry, and that ministry is to know Him, and to reflect Him to others. It's so easy to lose sight of the main thing in our lives, when troubles come, and they seem to swamp us over and down. But, God loves You, and He has called You, to know Him, and to walk with Him, and to let Your life be used by Him to reflect that love and grace to others. So, don't give up, because, God has something for You do to. To put it as simply as I can, it's to use your life as You allow Him to change You. And, He will if You will let Him.

(2) You have received mercy. That's the second thing Paul says in 4:1 "as we have received mercy" That's what every person who has come to faith in Christ has received. God has been merciful to You, He has not judged You for your sins, but, rather, He has chosen to not give you what you deserve, which would be judgement, but rather, He gave that judgement, or He placed that judgement for sins upon His own Son, Jesus Christ. Remember, Christ died for Your sins, and God has extended mercy to You, not giving You what You deserve. 

(3) "We do not lose heart". That's the very last thing that Paul says in 4:1. Or we never give up. We don't faint spiritually and implode. Now, let's just re-examine this a little. How could he say, "we do not lose heart?" We do not give up? It's because of what he had said earlier, in his describing what God had done for him, i.e saving him, drawing him into a relationship with God, changing him as he walks with God, and then using him to show others about God, he had a sense of purpose when he said, "We have received this ministry" That's speaking of service to others, and service to God. He went on to talk about God having been merciful to him. Now I believe with all my heart, that if you take a few minutes to sit quietly with the Lord and prayerfully reflect on these truths from His Word, and believe what God who cannot lie has said, that You will will find Yourself being lifted up, and encouraged. 

A prayer:

Father, I thank You that Your Word is the truth. And, that You have given us faith to believe Your Word. And, that You reward those who believe in You, and diligently seek You. Thank You for being faithful, and always coming to our aid in our times of distress and discouragement. We pray, those of us reading this, for any of the folks we know, who are discouraged, that we might reach out to them and encourage them, and we pray for the discouraged person reading this, that these truths from Your Word might have an encouraging ministry to them. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia