Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 3
Friday


FILTERED LIGHT

READ:
2 Corinthians 4:112
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
It is the God who
commanded light to
shine out of darkness,
who has shone in our
hearts.
__2 Corinthains 4:6
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

The painting A Trail of Light by Colorado Springs artist Bob Simpich shows a grove of aspen tress with golden leaves lit by the autumn sun. The topmost leaves are brilliantly illuminated while the ground beneath the trees is a mixture of sunlight and shadows. The painter said of this contrast, "I can't resist the light filtered through to the forest floor. It weaves a special magic."

The apostle Paul wrote to the followers of Jesus in Corinth, "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" (2 Cor. 4:6). Paul goes on to describe the reality of life in which "we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;....perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (vv.8-9).

There are times when it seems that the light of God's face is dimmed because of our difficulty, sorrow, or loss. Yet, even in these dark shadows, we can see evidence of His presence with us.

If we walk in filtered light today, may we discover anew that God's light__Jesus__is always shining in our hearts.
__David McCasland

``````````````````````Lord, shine the light of Your face on us that we may````````````````````
``````````````````````find our way to Your salvation. Shine Your light into`````````````````
``````````````````````the darkness that envelops our world that we may```````````````````
```````````````````````see who You are and show others the way to You.````````````````````
______________________________________________________________________________________________
In dark circumstance,
God's light is still shining in our hearts.

*******************************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 4:1-12******************************

1 Therefore, since we have
this ministry, as we have
received mercy, we do not
lose heart. 2 But we have
renounced the hidden things
of shame, not walking in
craftiness nor handling the
word of God deceitfully, but
by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to
every man's conscience in
the sight of God. 3 But even
if our gospel is veiled, it is
veiled to those who are
perishing. 4 Whose minds the
god of this age has blinded,
who do not believe, lest the
light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine
on them. 5 For we do not
preach ourselves, but Christ
Jesus the Lord, and ourselves
your bondservants for Jesus'
sake. 6 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.

7 But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels, that the
excellence of the power may
be of God and not of us.

8 We are hard-pressed on
every side, yet not crushed;
we are perplexed, but not in
despair; struck down, but
not destroyed__ 10 always
carrying about in the body
the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life of Jesus also may
be manifested in our body.

11 For we who live are always
delivered to death for Jesus'
sake, that the life of Jesus
also may be manifested in
our mortal flesh. 12 So then
death is working in us, but
life in you.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Despite the high price Paul paid to remain faithful to God (2 Cor.
11:23-28), he remained resilient and did not lose heart (4:1,14). He
had been sustained by God's sovereign power and sufficient grace
(vv.7-9) and Christ's resurrected life (vv.10-12).