Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 10
Monday


THE HEART OF
THE GOSPEL

READ:
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
____________________________________________

We all, with unveiled
face, beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the
Lord, are being
transformed.
__2 Corinthians 3:18
____________________________________________

When E. Stanley Jones, well-known missionary to India, had the opportunity to meet with Mahatma Gandhi, he asked a searching question of India's revered leader: "How can Christianity make a stronger impact on your country?" Gandhi very thoughtfully replied that three things would be required.

First, Christians must begin to live more like Jesus. Second, the Christian faith should be presented without any adulteration. Third, Christians should emphasize love, which is at the heart of the gospel.

These insightful suggestions are the key to effective evangelism around the world. As messengers of God's love, we are to be human mirrors who reflect without distortion a growing likeness to our Lord; we are not to walk in "craftiness" (2 Cor. 4:2). If our lives reflect an image that is spiritually blurred, the truth of saving grace may not be clearly communicated (vv.3-5). We are also to share the biblical essentials of our faith clearly. We must not handle the Word of God "deceitfully" (v.2). and our lives are to be marked by love for God and others (1 John 5:1-2).

Let's be sure that we reflect a clear image of Jesus' likeness, the truth of God, and love. __Vernon Grounds
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```````````````Called to be salt and light in this world,``````````````
``````````````````Called to preserve and to shine,````````````````
``````````````````Called to reflect the glory of God--``````````````
````````````````Oh, what a calling is mine! __fitzhugh`````````````
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The primary reason for living in this world
is to reflect the likeness of Christ.

*********Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 4:1-6**************

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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Corinth was "a Grecian city, on the isthmus which joins the
Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. It is about 48 miles west
of Athens. The ancient city was destroyed by the Romans (146 BC),
and [the city] mentioned in the New Testament was quite a new
[one], having been rebuilt about a century afterwards and peopled
by a colony of freedmen from Rome....it was noted for its
wealth and for the luxurious and immoral and vicious habits of the
people. It had a large mixed population of Romans Greeks, and
Jews." __Bill Crowder
__Adapted from Easton's Bible Dictionary