Great heart

2 Corinthians 4.1— 1Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

Paul wrote this with his own personal experience in mind. He had just come from Ephesus, and things were not looking good. His friendships in tatters, the churches he led no longer wanted him and he felt like giving up. The mighty man that we know as Paul was pretty much reduced to a retired life in Tarsus where he could write a few books in his older age. But that’s not the ending the Bible demonstrates.

Paul knew that his calling, his ministry, his new life in Christ was given to him by the mercy of God— and therefore he will not lose heart. He sets his face like Middlesbrough steel and does not lose his focus. He remarks, ‘we are not crushed or overwhelmed by the present evil we face’ [that’s a more literal understanding of the Greek in these verses].

When we know that what we are doing is a commission from God and not some fanciful idea, we do not have the liberty to simply hang up our coat and retire. As God in his mercy has given this call, so faithfully we must continue to the action but also the words of the Bible.

Similar to Paul’s context, his words were not always the politically correct message the people of the first century wanted to hear, and neither will ours. We must continue to speak and act in love and the grace of God, but without compromise.

Stop and breathe

Loving Father, help me to hold true to your word, true to your calling and true to your service. May I demonstrate patience, love and grace to the people around me that they too may experi- ence Christ the way I also have.