Tuesday 29 October, 2013

7 Treasure is kept in clay jars. In the same way, we have the treasure of the good news in these earthly bodies of ours. That shows that the mighty power of the good news comes from God. It doesn’t come from us. 8 We are pushed hard from all sides. But we are not beaten down. We are bewildered. But that doesn’t make us lose hope. 9 Others make us suffer. But God does not desert us. We are knocked down. But we are not knocked out. 10 We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies. In that way, the life of Jesus can be shown in our bodies. 11 We who are alive are always in danger of death because we are serving Jesus. So his life can be shown in our earthly bodies. 12 Death is at work in us. But life is at work in you. 13 It is written, “I believed, and so I have spoken.” (Psalm 116:10) With that same spirit of faith we also believe. And we also speak. 14 We know that God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. And he will also raise us up with Jesus. He will bring us with you to God in heaven. 15 All of that is for your benefit. God’s grace is reaching more and more people. So they will become more and more thankful. They will give glory to God.

Paul tells it like it is – no papering over the truth here!

He tells of the difficulties, he recognises his frailty.

Yet he is not despairing because he knows that faith is the key and so even in his frank acknowledgment of his situation he realises that he has the same spirit of faith that believes and therefore speaks!

Faith speaks – it doesn’t just believe.  If we truly believe we will speak and there will not only be a note of confidence – but of substance.  There will be‘gravity’ to our words!

Am I in faith – then I will be speaking it is a tell tale sign of my faith.  What am I speaking about!!

Father help me to boldly proclaim my convictions about you and from you to all around me.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta