Daily Encouragement Day 285: 2 Corinthians 4

Paul begins this epistle with thanksgiving for God’s comfort in his hardships (1:1-11) and then explains that his delay in visiting the Corinthians was not due to wavering, but to give them sufficient time to repent (1:12-2:4).  He asks them to restore the repentant offender (2:5-13) and goes on to defend the conduct, content, and motivation of his ministry among them (2:14-6:10).  After an exhortation to be separate from defilement (6:11-7:1), Paul describes the encouragement he received from Titus’ report (7:2-16).

In spite of the many adversities he has encountered, Paul does not lose heart, because he has developed an eternal perspective on temporal affliction.  As he wrote in Romans 8:18, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

READING of 2 CORINTHIANS 4

Prayer:

Lord, thank You that momentary, light affliction is producing for me an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.  May I set my heart on the things which are not seen.

Meditation passage for today: verses 6-7, 16-18