9-28-20 THOUGHTS

2Cor 4:5-9    For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
                                      [yesterday... today...tomorrow...]
7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power                 belongs to God and not to us.
8 We are afflicted in every way,                   but not crushed;
perplexed,                                                     but not driven to despair;
9  persecuted,                                                but not forsaken;
struck down,                                                  but not destroyed;
It seems to be a tough life that we live through!  Can we identify at least some?
Heb 12:1-4  Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3  For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4  You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

In the above verses, there is talk of significant CONFLICT...
YET THERE IS ULTIMATE VICTORY AT THE HEART OF IT ALL!
“LIGHT HAS SHONE IN OUR HEARTS”...  WE HAVE JESUS!
POWER IS OF GOD and NOT US!
We are “Not crushed, not driven to despair, not forsaken, and not destroyed!”
We are to   “lay aside, run, fix and consider...”  
We must never   “grow weary and lose heart...”
In this light, Heb 12:4 says, THINGS MIGHT GET WORSE!

My Prayer:
Oh God of all and forever, thank you for sustaining us in this world.  May we be able to always separate the physical from the spiritual, the short-term from the long.  May the light of Jesus empower us to live as your children in a difficult world.  Remind us that it is by your power and not ours that we live, and that the victory has already been accomplished.  
In Jesus name               Amen