Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July3
Wednesday


SERVICE AND
WITNESS

READ:
2 Corinthians 4:1-12
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We do not preach
ourselves, but Christ
Jesus the Lord,
and ourselves your
bondservants for
Jesus' sake.
__2 Corinthians 4:5
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While serving as a maid in London, England, in the early part of the 20th century, Gladys Aylward had other dreams. Her goal was to be a missionary to China. Having been rejected by a Christian missionary organization as "unqualified," Gladys decided to go there on her own. At the age of 28, she used her life savings to purchase a one-way ticket to Yangcheng, a remote village in China. There she established an inn for trade caravans where she shared Bible stories. Gladys served in other villages as well and became known as Ai-weh-deh, Chinese for "virtuous one."

The apostle Paul also spread the gospel to distant regions of the world. He extended himself as a servant to meet the needs of others (2 Cor. 11:16-29). He wrote this about serving: "We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake" (4:5).

Not all of us are called to endure hardship to spread the gospel in distant lands. But each of us is responsible as a servant of God to share Christ with people in our sphere of influence. It's our privilege to help our neighbors, friends, and relatives. Ask God for openings to serve and to talk about Jesus who gave Himself for us. __Dennis Fisher

`````````````````My life is a painting created by God,```````````````````
``````````````````And as such I've nothing to boast;````````````````````
````````````Reflecting the image of Christ to the world``````````````````
````````````````Is what I desire the most. __Sper``````````````````````
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We serve God by sharing His Word with others.

***********************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 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, 9 persecuted, but not
forsaken; 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 this chapter telling the story of Paul's suffering as a follower
of Christ, it also carries an implicit message of hope in the phrase
"but not" (vv.8-9). Though he suffered in a variety of ways, he was
not overwhelmed by his experiences.