"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ -- who is the image of God -- should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord ..." (II Corinthians 4:3-5)
If the good news gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ be hid or veiled, or quietened by those who do not want to hear His message of salvation wherein the Word was made flesh, who will rescue the perishing? How will they know that at one time, we also had the sentence of death in ourselves but the Lord -- in whom we trust with all our heart, soul, mind and strength has delivered us? Who will tell them that the same He who has delivered us from so great a death is also inviting them to come and dine at His wedding feast as well? Or that He which stablished us in Christ, and hath anointed us -- God -- who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts has a unique, one of a kind purpose for our life?
Apostle Paul instructs that "the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. for the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified -- unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness -- but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God, because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." (I Corinthians 1:18-31)
It is for this reason that we glory in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption; that according as it is written, "he that glories, let him glory in the Lord!" (I Corinthians 1:31)
Jeremiah takes this thought one step further, writing:
Thus saith the Lord, "Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might; let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: but let him that glories glory in this -- that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these [things] I delight," saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
Indeed, "we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ ..." (Savour meaning the fragrance of). Our love for Him, our praise and worship for Jesus -- King of kings and Lord of lords resonating upward from our very being. Preaching not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord to one and all!
Yes, as Paul indicates, "Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place." Why? Because "we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and [among] them that perish. To the one [we are] the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many which corrupt the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God -- in the sight of God, we speak in Christ." (II Corinthians 2:15-17)
We speak and share and highlight Jesus the Christ who paid the ultimate price for our salvation. It is He -- Jesus -- who is calling each and every one of us to step into the purpose that He has given specifically to us, all the while remembering too, that we have so very much to be thankful for. During a time when so many don't even want to hear the words spoken by Jesus, or similarly, that Jesus is the ONLY Way, the Truth and the Life, we have a hope within that surpasses all human understanding.
And by the grace of God we are what we are, knowing that when His grace -- the grace and kindness and love of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ was bestowed upon us, it was not in vain. His grace not without purpose. (Titus 3:4-7)
"Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech. And NOT as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished, but their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (II Corinthians 3:10-18)
And when our hearts turn, we recognize that it was Jesus the Christ who paid the price for you and I and likewise He is today calling each and every one of us to step into the purpose that He has given specifically to us ... all the while remembering that we have so very much to be thankful for. During a time when so many don't even want to hear the words spoken by Jesus, or that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, we have a hope that surpasses all human understanding.
His Name is Jesus ... from whence comes our salvation!
Stand in the offering plate.
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