OUT OF THE DARKNESS (8 OF 23)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
This content is part of a series.
Title: Out of the Darkness (8 of 23)
Series: Suffer with Purpose
Author: Keith Krell
Text: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
This past Friday, I had my annual eye exam. I never look forward to eye exams. They're not as bad as going to the dentist, but I still don't like them. Why? Because as I age, my eyes never get better. They only get worse. Now, that's not unexpected. But what was unexpected was what my eye doctor told me on Friday. She said my right eye is near-sighted and my left eye is far-sighted. You'd think this would be good, but it's not. My two eyes work separately but unfortunately not in harmony. I'm like a mismatched pair of binoculars.
In life and ministry, often our perspective is solely nearsighted. We focus so much on the present that we fail to consider the future. When we eye the present, it's so easy to be discouraged. Let's face it: Life and ministry are hard. Whether you're trying to be a faithful witness at work or school, caring for people in a non-profit, living for Jesus in your job, discipling your children, serving in student ministry, orshepherding a community group, there's always the temptation to be discouraged.
There are many reasons for discouragement. At the top of the list is not seeing fruit or any positive response. It's easy to feel ineffective. But we also end up being hurt or betrayed by other people, especially those we're trying to serve. And then you add personal problems, whether they be health family, or financial challenges. So, how can we find encouragement in ministry? By harmonizing our biblical nearsightedness with farsightedness. The apostle Paul provides three ministry necessities in 2 Cor 4:1-6 on how to do just that.
1. Maintain ministry integrity (4:1-2). To experience encouragement in ministry, we must refuse to quit and choose to be truthful. In 4:1, Paul writes, "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart." The phrase "Therefore, since we have this ministry" ...
Series: Suffer with Purpose
Author: Keith Krell
Text: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
This past Friday, I had my annual eye exam. I never look forward to eye exams. They're not as bad as going to the dentist, but I still don't like them. Why? Because as I age, my eyes never get better. They only get worse. Now, that's not unexpected. But what was unexpected was what my eye doctor told me on Friday. She said my right eye is near-sighted and my left eye is far-sighted. You'd think this would be good, but it's not. My two eyes work separately but unfortunately not in harmony. I'm like a mismatched pair of binoculars.
In life and ministry, often our perspective is solely nearsighted. We focus so much on the present that we fail to consider the future. When we eye the present, it's so easy to be discouraged. Let's face it: Life and ministry are hard. Whether you're trying to be a faithful witness at work or school, caring for people in a non-profit, living for Jesus in your job, discipling your children, serving in student ministry, orshepherding a community group, there's always the temptation to be discouraged.
There are many reasons for discouragement. At the top of the list is not seeing fruit or any positive response. It's easy to feel ineffective. But we also end up being hurt or betrayed by other people, especially those we're trying to serve. And then you add personal problems, whether they be health family, or financial challenges. So, how can we find encouragement in ministry? By harmonizing our biblical nearsightedness with farsightedness. The apostle Paul provides three ministry necessities in 2 Cor 4:1-6 on how to do just that.
1. Maintain ministry integrity (4:1-2). To experience encouragement in ministry, we must refuse to quit and choose to be truthful. In 4:1, Paul writes, "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart." The phrase "Therefore, since we have this ministry" ...
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