Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

February 22
Sunday


CHOOSING THE
HARD THING

READ:
2 Corinthiasn 4:5-18
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We are hard-pressed
on every side, yet not
crushed; we are
perplexed, but not
in despair.
__2 Corinthians 4:8
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On September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice University in Houston, Texas, about the difficult challenges facing the nation. He also shared his passion for the United states to place a man on the moon.

In balancing the needs of his people with the desire to conquer space, Kennedy said, "We choose to go to the moon in this decade. We choose to go to the moon and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard." The nation responded. Seven years later, Neil Armstrong took a "giant leap for mankind" in July of 1969, by walking on the moon.

Today's world is filled with energy-saving devices that make life easier, but there is something to be said for embracing life's challenges. The apostle Paul found serving Christ hard, but he didn't see it as a cause for discouragement . He continued to focus on Christ, and wrote, "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair" (2 Cor. 4:8). Paul knew that "He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you" (v.14). The goal was worth the pain.

By the grace of God, may we commit to serving Jesus--not just when it's easy, but when it's hard. __Bill Crowder
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```````````````````````FOR FURTHER STUDY````````````````````
```````````Learn more about dealing with difficulties in life.``````````
```````````Read Joseph: Overcoming Life's Challenges on```````````
`````````````the Web at www.discoveryseries.org/q0715````````````
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Jesus gave His all to save us--
are we giving our all to serve Him?

***************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 4:5-18*******

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; 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.

13 And since we have the
same spirit of faith,
according to what is written,
"I believed and therefore I
spoke," we also believe and
therefore speak, 14 knowing
that He who raised up the
Lord Jesus will also raise us
up with Jesus, and will
present us with you. 15 For
all things are for your sakes,
that grace, having spread
through the many, may
cause thanksgiving to
abound to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose
heart. Even though our
outward man is perishing,
yet the inward man is being
renewed day by day. 17 For
our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, is
working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal
weight of glory, 18 while we
do not look at the things
which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen.
For the things which are seen
are temporary, but the
things which are not seen
are eternal.