OUT OF SIGHT, IN MIND (10 OF 23)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
This content is part of a series.
Title: Out of Sight, In Mind (10 of 23)
Series: Suffer with Purpose.
Author: Keith Krell
Text: 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10
This Tuesday, March 19th, is the first day of spring. Spring is the time when birds chirp, seeds sprout, and flowers bloom. It's a time of sunshine, rain, and freshly cut lawn. After a long, dark winter, we emerge from hibernation to enjoy golf, tennis, and bike rides. But most importantly, spring is the time of March Madness and Spring Training. Let's face it, spring is a breath of fresh air!
Unfortunately, not all of us are bursting into spring. For many of us, the darkness of winter looms on.
We may be going through a decline in health. Or we notice our strength is waning. Our relationships are stagnating. We may have loved ones struggling with mental illness, anxiety, depression, physical disabilities, or disease. In our weaker moments, we can all feel like we're losing heart. Under these conditions, we aren't bouncing into spring, but instead find ourselves stuck in an ongoing season of discouragement.
So, how we can avoid losing heart? The apostle Paul speaks to the issue of discouragement and provides us with great comfort. In 2 Cor 4:16-5:10, he challenges us to take courage in the hope of heaven. Paul identifies three spiritual disciplines that will enable us to defeat discouragement and find the power to persevere. His first discipline is:
1. Adopt an eternal perspective (4:16-18). Paul contrasts a temporal view with an eternal view. He challenges us not to focus on the "here and now" but on the "then and there." Verse 16-18 is what's called a "hinge" passage, transitioning from one section to the next. In this case, 4:7-15 deal with life amid death, and 5:1-10 deal with life after death. But in 4:16-18, Paul deals with both themes. These three verses are some of the most beloved in the entire NT.
Paul begins 4:16 with "Therefore we do not lose heart . . ." Paul and his ministry companions experienced enormous ...
Series: Suffer with Purpose.
Author: Keith Krell
Text: 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10
This Tuesday, March 19th, is the first day of spring. Spring is the time when birds chirp, seeds sprout, and flowers bloom. It's a time of sunshine, rain, and freshly cut lawn. After a long, dark winter, we emerge from hibernation to enjoy golf, tennis, and bike rides. But most importantly, spring is the time of March Madness and Spring Training. Let's face it, spring is a breath of fresh air!
Unfortunately, not all of us are bursting into spring. For many of us, the darkness of winter looms on.
We may be going through a decline in health. Or we notice our strength is waning. Our relationships are stagnating. We may have loved ones struggling with mental illness, anxiety, depression, physical disabilities, or disease. In our weaker moments, we can all feel like we're losing heart. Under these conditions, we aren't bouncing into spring, but instead find ourselves stuck in an ongoing season of discouragement.
So, how we can avoid losing heart? The apostle Paul speaks to the issue of discouragement and provides us with great comfort. In 2 Cor 4:16-5:10, he challenges us to take courage in the hope of heaven. Paul identifies three spiritual disciplines that will enable us to defeat discouragement and find the power to persevere. His first discipline is:
1. Adopt an eternal perspective (4:16-18). Paul contrasts a temporal view with an eternal view. He challenges us not to focus on the "here and now" but on the "then and there." Verse 16-18 is what's called a "hinge" passage, transitioning from one section to the next. In this case, 4:7-15 deal with life amid death, and 5:1-10 deal with life after death. But in 4:16-18, Paul deals with both themes. These three verses are some of the most beloved in the entire NT.
Paul begins 4:16 with "Therefore we do not lose heart . . ." Paul and his ministry companions experienced enormous ...
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