“Light shall shine out of darkness”

2 Corinthians 4:1-12 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, ² but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, ⁴ in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; ⁸ we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So death works in us, but life in you.

In Luke 9:23-26 Jesus says: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”    In today’s text Paul says:  we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.   Some people mistakenly believe that the difficulties they face in life, the trials and tribulations, even sickness and infirmity, are the cross they bear for the sake of Christ. The cross we take up daily is not a cross of suffering. 1 Peter 3:18 says:   For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.    Hebrews 10:10 says:  By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.   Romans 6:9-11 says:  Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.   Jesus bore the pain and suffering of the cross, once for all. In John 19:30, when He was on the cross, Jesus said:  “It is finished!”   Jesus paid the price for our sins, once for all.   Isaiah 53:5 says:  He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.   Our cross is not to suffer. It is not to pay a price for sin, nor is it to remain under the curse of sin and death, that was finished in the cross of Christ. Our cross, rather it is to live for Christ, putting to death our selfish desires. That is the daily cross we take up.

Paul says:  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves… so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  We are to live as Jesus did before the world. Paul continues:  we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God…  For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.   We are to live as light to reveal the glory of God, renouncing the things hidden in shame. Unfortunately, this too is often understood. Many continue to speak only of the evil and darkness in the world. The more we speak of darkness, even speaking against darkness, the more it becomes highlighted. When there is no light, there is at best, only degrees of darkness. Ephesians 5:6-13 says:  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. herefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.    We are to renounce shameful things in our own lives, not to announce them in the lives of others. We are not to participate in, condone or embrace the unfruitful deeds of darkness. But as it says, it is shameful even to talk about the things which are done in secret. Rather than railing against the darkness, and so giving it more attention, more focus and more power to affect and permeate the world; we should expose the darkness, not by speaking of it, but rather by shining light on it. In Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus says:  “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”    We have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves… so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit thank You for the finished work of the cross, that I no longer need to suffer, to pay the price or bear the consequences of sin. I choose to take up my cross, not to suffer and die, but rather that You would live in and through me. Help me daily to renounce any darkness in me, and to reveal and to shine Your light in and on the darkness of the world.  Amen.