Gazing at the Face of Jesus by the Spirit (1-10-2013)

January 10, 2013 - 2 Corinthians 4:1-7

4:1		我 們 既 然 蒙 憐 憫 、 受 了 這 職 分 、 就 不 喪 膽 ．
4:2		乃 將 那 些 暗 昧 可 恥 的 事 棄 絕 了 、 不 行 詭 詐 、 不 謬 講 　 神 的 道 理 ． 只 將 真 理 表 明 出 來 、 好 在 　 神 面 前 把 自 己 薦 與 各 人 的 良 心 。
4:3		如 果 我 們 的 福 音 蒙 蔽 、 就 是 蒙 蔽 在 滅 亡 的 人 身 上 。
4:4		此 等 不 信 之 人 、 被 這 世 界 的 　 神 弄 瞎 了 心 眼 、 不 叫 基 督 榮 耀 福 音 的 光 照 著 他 們 ． 基 督 本 是 　 神 的 像 。
4:5		我 們 原 不 是 傳 自 己 、 乃 是 傳 基 督 耶 穌 為 主 、 並 且 自 己 因 耶 穌 作 你 們 的 僕 人 。
4:6		那 吩 咐 光 從 黑 暗 裡 照 出 來 的 　 神 、 已 經 照 在 我 們 心 裡 、 叫 我 們 得 知 　 神 榮 耀 的 光 、 顯 在 耶 穌 基 督 的 面 上 。
4:7		我 們 有 這 寶 貝 放 在 瓦 器 裡 、 要 顯 明 這 莫 大 的 能 力 、 是 出 於 　 神 、 不 是 出 於 我 們 。

 ¹ Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

   ⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Paul determines not to preach himself but to preach Jesus Christ as Lord and also live out a life of being a servant for Jesus' sake. The gospel of Jesus has determined the content of Paul's preaching and also at the same time shaped the form of his life - being a servant of God and a servant of people. Knowing this knowledge is not difficult but living out this truth takes a life's time. This life transformation process is not merely based on human's determination and strength but is also caused by the light of the gospel, the light of the knowledge of God's glory, that has been displayed in the face of Jesus, now shining in our hearts. As we come to Jesus' face day by day, gazing at the glory of the light of his face, our life is being transformed to be like Him as His light is able to dispel  all the darkness of our heart and enlighten our minds to understand Him. This biblical truth is not merely a doctrine but rather a truth that we need to encounter or experience always. 

In Jesus is the true Light that dispels the darkness of my heart, and in Him is the all-surpassing Power that overcomes all the weaknesses in my jar of clay. I need to pray by the Spirit to come to meet with my Jesus everyday, gazing at your glory and tasting your power in all the weaknesses of my life.