For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
2 Cor. 4-5
Nobody wants trouble, hardship, suffering, and persecution in their life. Sadly, though, there is no escaping such things. A lot of people think that being a Christian is supposed to spare us from these difficulties. Ideally, living for God gives us wisdom, and that wisdom keeps us from much of the strife we tend to cause for ourselves. Yet we still suffer the hardships of living in a broken world. Also, in some ways we increase our hardship because when we commit ourselves to Jesus, we move our names to the top of the Enemy’s ‘hit list’. Evil always seeks to silence truth and block God’s light. So the more we shine His light, the more we can expect to suffer for it.
Wasn’t that a great marketing pitch for living the Christian life? Right…not so much. But Paul tells us why this suffering is a good thing as well as how to endure it. First of all, in the same way that Christ’s suffering brought about the full glory of God, so our suffering glorifies God. Paul said, “Now we have this treasure in cay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.” (2 Cor. 4:7). I love that imagery! Our plainness and vulnerability leave no question that our light comes from within us, not from ourselves. And I think the more we suffer for God, the greater His light shines in us and the more His extraordinary power works in and through us. How much better to live for the glory of God than for our own insignificant selves!
Besides God’s glory and power increasing in us during our earthly lives, our suffering has another benefit. Paul says that today’s earthly suffering produces eternity’s incomparable glory. Whether we are missing out on earthly rewards or enduring earthly suffering, both are storing up for us treasures in heaven. The things we sacrifice and endure for God’s glory don’t go unnoticed by Him. So how do we endure these things with grace, allowing God’s light to shine? “We do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18). That is faith. We look past the very tangible, earthly things right in front of us to the sure, eternal hope that we have in Christ Jesus.
2 Cor. 6
God’s kingdom is an “upside-down kingdom”. This is because it runs contrary to human nature. The way we see things is not the way they are with God. So, then, if we are truly a part of this “upside-down kingdom”, shouldn’t we also appear different than we actually are? Paul certainly indicated this to be the case. In describing himself and his fellow minsters of God he said, “regarded as deceivers, yet true; as unknown, yet recognized; as dying, yet see – we live; as being disciplined, yet not killed; as grieving, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet enriching many, as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” (2 Cor. 6:8b-10).
It makes me wonder, how do I look to those who are of the seed of Satan? Is my life a threat to evil because of God’s shining presence in it? Do I have a spiritual target on my back? If my life looks and feels too easy, perhaps I am more concerned with outward appearance than I am with the condition of my heart (see 2 Cor. 5:12). On the flip side, I need to remember that when things look their worst, my life in Christ is not as it appears. I am rich, even if poor, known and loved even if alone, joyful, even if grieved, have everything, even when empty-handed, am forgiven, even if accused, and even if I die – I live.