Go Forth . . . Bear Witness

Meditations on Second Corinthians

April 21, 2023

Go Forth . . . Bear Witness

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up.

2 Corinthians 4:1

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

In reading today’s passage, I thought of two other passages of scripture – one from Jesus, and one from Paul – that are fulfilled in this passage.

The one from Jesus is in John 10: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.” (v.10a) (see also John 8:42-44 where Jesus. referring to the devil, says, “. . .  for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Paul says Satan “has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.” (v.4)

The one from Paul is in Philippians 2:4, “Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.” In verse 5 of today’s reading Paul shows he is following his own teaching: “We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.” Paul understood his role as an apostle was to preach Jesus as Lord, and to serve the church in humility. He was always seeking to serve the interest of others.

My Takeaway: These two passages remind me of a portion of a benediction I often used in church services. I think it is good advice for daily living as a follower of Christ:

Go forth to serve God and your neighbors in all that you do. Bear witness to the love of God in this world so that those to whom God is a stranger will find in you generous friends.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.