Being The Light Of Christ Through Affliction

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KJB Daily DevotionFollowing Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, December 05, 2016
Chapters: II Corinthians 1-4
Message: Being The Light Of Christ Through Affliction

Hello My Friend,

light-of-christThe Book of II Corinthians was written Paul and to believers at Corinth, the timeline for this letter took place approximately 60AD. The purpose of the book was to reestablish his authority as an apostle, and to show gratitude and thanks for their faithfulness in Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that human weakness provides an opportunity for the power of God to be revealed through us. “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.” – 2 Corinthians 13:4.

Affliction, a state of pain, distress, or grief. Saved or not, we all deal with affliction, the difference between those who know Christ as their Saviour and those who do not, we have Christ to help us, and who better to have by your side. Consolation, Comfort; alleviation of misery, or distress of mind. With some affliction the only hope of getting through it is Christ. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was of discipline, this one, written a year later, was of encouragement after he heard they were being afflicted. He himself was going through some affliction, when he heard how the church had turned things around and were following godly principles it enlightened him, he explains the reason behind the affliction.

And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” – II Corinthians 1:6-9,21-22.

insomuch that we despaired even of life:” Life can drag us down, sometimes to the point that it is hard to even get out of bed. Affliction is never meant to punish or push us away from God, but do the opposite, to comfort and draw us closer to Him. I do not like to be afflicted no more than you do, but quite frankly we are the ones who make it more difficult because we fight it instead of give it over to God. Affliction is a good reminder of what Christ did for us and that we belong to Him (or ought to be if we are not saved).

Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” – II Corinthians 2:8-11,14-17.

in them that are saved, and in them that perish:” A believer’s triumphs are all in Christ, those who are chosen by God to be saved through their faith in Him give off a sweet savor, just like the sacrifices on the altar did when God was pleased that they chose Him over their sin. All mankind, through sin, gives off a savor of death to God, one that will ultimately result in a second death unless they have applied the blood of Christ upon them. Many will reject Christ to their ruin, but a few will receive Him, giving them new life, a life they never knew, one that is eternal. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:22-23.

Everything that we go through in life is placed before us, not only to get us to be dependent on God, but get us to realize that it all comes from Him. We are going to face affliction whether we choose Christ or not, at least with Him we have the assurance that someone is on our side, even if it is something we did that caused the affliction. There is no better feeling than to see God working in your life through affliction, we have to be careful when things start turning around for us because the flesh starts to get boastful. Paul addresses this issue.

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” – II Corinthians 3:1-6.

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;” We are walking talking Bibles to those who know we are saved, even if they do not know Christ themselves, that means our number one priority in life is to show Christ through us. Tell a person who has no interest in God that you will pray for them and see the response you get. Find a person who is going through a great deal difficulties and who they turn to after they have exhausted all their options. People need God and if we are not showing Christ through us than we both lose out.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” – II Corinthians 4:3-10.

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,” Religion has no idea what they are talking about regarding Christ, that is unless it is pure. I was driving home from church with my mom and we were discussing the thought of many of our family that might not saved because we grew up Catholic, it reminded me of why I was so passionate about making sure people knew the Gospel online, we were taught lies from the Catholic church and because of their lies we have family in hell, and it is heartbreaking. We who are saved are the only hope of a life with Christ, no matter what affliction we face we need to make sure His Light shines through us. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – II Corinthians 4:6.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” – II Corinthians 2:14.

Today’s Prayer: God, When affliction comes my way, I admit that I can lose sight of You, all I want to do it hide in a corner somewhere and not talk to anyone, but when I come to my senses You are always there, ready to pick me up and show me how to handle things. You are so merciful to me that it tears me to think that I suffered when all I had to do was come to You. Lord, there is no one like You, so loving, so trusting, so fearing, just as a Father should be, You may not remove the affliction right away, but Your grace is sufficient enough to help me through it and I thank You for that. Walk with me, guide me, and abide in me, give me that consolation that I know only comes as I remain in Your presence. I love You Lord and ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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