Slices
Prepare
Who or what is discouraging you at the moment? Reflect about how that is affecting you. What might Jesus say to you in response?
Bible passage
Present weakness and resurrection life
4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Explore
Paul’s opponents were seeking to undermine him. They questioned whether he was really an apostle, not least because he didn’t meet the criteria Peter had set in Acts 1:21,22.
Paul refuses to be intimidated (vs 1,16), declaring how he was called to be an agent of God’s mercy (vs 1,2) when a dazzling light confronted him on the Damascus Road. Paul saw Jesus and became a witness to the resurrection; his apostleship was clear (1 Corinthians 15:8). What’s your story of God calling you? A dramatic event like Paul’s or a more gradual, growing awareness? How did it transform your life?
Yet this treasured encounter needed to be held humbly if Paul was to exalt Jesus rather than himself (v 7). Though others thought his sufferings showed God wasn’t with him, from Paul’s perspective they show a Christ-shaped ministry (vs 8–12). Though battered outwardly as no more than a clay jar, inwardly he was being renewed. That gives Paul courage to look beyond what was passing away to what is eternal. Where does your courage come from?
Respond
Paul refuses to lose heart (vs 1,16). Where do you need to stand your ground? Ask the Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, to empower you (see Romans 8:11).
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ezra 9,10; Luke 5
Pray for Scripture Union
Each year we safely recruit over 1,000 volunteers by taking references, obtaining police clearances and checking application forms. Pray that all will go smoothly as the Missions and Events team process the final volunteer applications for the summer.
Because a strong start begins with smart preparation
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