Keep pursuing when it gets hard

2 Corinthians 4:1-6   Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 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.(ESV)

This has been a week that brought a new challenge; getting sick and trying to prepare a sermon when the pains in my head made it hard to think. I have truly had a rough time with it. I could go down a long road with what I am feeling, but this is not supposed to be about me. But these devo’s are supposed to show you that I am no different from you, struggle the same as you, and try to encourage in all of it to show Christ to you. Sermon’s are many times supposed to show these deep revelations of God, everyone wants the wow in the sermon; “What did God show the pastor in all his time studying this week?” Couldn’t the wow in the sermon be God showing you the same thing that He showed the pastor that week? Shouldn’t Sunday be a reflection of your time spent with Him? When you sit and hear that God laid the same thing on both your hearts, that will truly be an incredible Sunday morning with God you will never forget.

Paul was struggling in this message to Corinth. Paul goes on to list his persecutions in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; read that list for a humble reality check any time you are feeling sorry for yourself. Paul suffered greatly for Christ, but he also kept his eyes on Christ. He knew he was only to preach the simplicity of the Gospel. He knew in all his education he could sway any crowd down any road, but he wanted no glory, nor any of his words to take away from the message of the Cross. 2 Corinthians 4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed– 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. Spend time this week seeking God in his Word and prayer. Spend time this week leading up to Sunday and see what God shows both of you. If you have had a rough week, maybe the encouragement you need will be greater than you imagined when you have sought God through all of it.