Twin City church of Christ Blog
“June 6, 2024 - Let There Be Light”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsLet There Be Light
Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
Paul declares that the glory of the gospel message buoys him through the difficulties he faces as he preaches it. “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart”(2 Cor 4:1). He will say much more later about the hardships he has endured (2 Cor 4:8-12, 16-18; 7:5; 11:23-30), but here he stresses that his work is too important to be derailed. Yet he anticipates that some will take his statements about the “veil” on the hearts of unbelieving Jews (2 Cor 3:15) as if he is obscuring some part of the gospel. “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. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing”(2 Cor 4:2-3). The gospel is far too important for Paul to tweak or hide parts of it.
The veil—the stubborn determination some (even Jews) have not to believe in Jesus—does not come from Paul. “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”(2 Cor 4:4). Their blinding is Satan’s work; as they refuse to turn to the Lord (2 Cor 3:16), they continue to be hardened. But Christians are different: we see both the truth and glory of Jesus. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”(2 Cor 4:6). Just as God once declared “Let there be light,” so now he has opened our eyes to see the full-force glory of Jesus. The veil is removed and God’s plan and greatness are clear.
Bible authors frequently use light as a metaphor for truth, righteousness, goodness, and knowledge. Before we knew Jesus, we could glimpse these things occasionally, but never with their full force. Now God has declared “let there be light” in our hearts, allowing us to understand and experience his awesomeness.
-----------
One Thing to Think About: Why is it so important to preach the gospel honestly and sincerely?
One Thing to Pray For: God’s light to shine in my heart
