2 Corinthians 4:1 – 12

1 “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 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.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 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.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death works in us, but life in you.”

The well known chorus, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,” has been sung sincerely for many a decade and the Holy Spirit of God has quickened and encouraged many who have sung, and still sing it. Verse 3 of the above scripture is our responsibility, as the Spirit leads, and verse 6 is God’s responsibility, reminding us of God’s omnipotence, He commanded the light to shine.

Verse 10 is a strange contradiction to the natural mind, but not in the spiritual, that life comes out of death – not a natural death, “the coffin job,” but death to the self life. The Lord permits what we call “the negative circumstances in our life” for our growth in Him, that the life of Jesus may be manifest in our mortal bodies, to the glory of God. If we do not allow this “death” in our experience, then we will not experience the glorious divine exchange of the manifestation of His life in us…”Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Consider verses 8 – 10, we can be like corks in water, you push them down but as soon as you let them go, they pop right back up, you cannot keep them down! In the midst of perplexity, anxiety and distress, when I keep my eyes on the Lord in humility, God commands the light to shine,” (verse 6)amidst my “darkness.” “The glory of God is found in the face of Jesus Christ,”…. let me keep my eyes on His face and not on my circumstances.

Verses 7 – 10, Every negative circumstance in my life has a potential for the glory of God through the excellency of His life within me. Praise God for the many times He has “commanded” the light to shine out of our darkness, and into our darkness. He has brought us out of failure and distress and delivered us in to His glorious light. The work goes on, He never fails, He is ever faithful – even to the unthankful and the failures. He continues to draw us with His everlasting chords of loving kindness, to deliver us out of our darkness and set our feet upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. The divine exchange is “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning….that we might be trees of righteousness planted by the Lord, that He might be glorified,” Isaiah 61:3.

Many are we who have prayed for salvation for families and friends. Let us encourage ourselves in God, for He is still commanding His light to shine into darkness. His divine purpose will not be thwarted for His kingdom here on earth. He has placed His treasure in earthen vessels, the incorruptible seed of the Living God in every born-again Believer in Jesus Christ, has the divine potential to grow and release the light of the glory of God as we come towards full stature in Him. The beauty and fragrance of Christ cannot be stolen or imitated. As we walk in His glorious light, the darkness flees, it cannot stay for “in Him is no darkness at all.” From the very beginning (Genesis 1:3) God commanded the light to shine in the darkness, and centuries later, He is still commanding and creating by the word of His power…..So, ARISE! …sons and daughters of the Living God and let His light shine forth in you.