2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (NRSV)
Read 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 on biblegateway.com
Verse 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. Verse 4In 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. Verse 5For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. Verse 6For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Devotion
Paul is accused of not being an effective preacher so that everyone would come to know Christ and commits themselves to Him. Somehow, Paul says, they have been blinded. Something has prevented them from believing.
Unbelief is a reality. Paul says it can come from Satan. It can also come from materialism, lack of understanding, or fear. It may be that the fault is in the presentation of the gospel.
Paul refutes this accusation by an affirmation of the gospel: Jesus Christ is Lord! Paul goes a step further, “we are your slaves for Jesus’ sake.” If in knowing Christ we become slaves of each other, it will be a different world and a different church.
What has the church done to make people “afraid” of it? We have the light of the glory of God. Let us live it!
Prayer
Jesus, be the light in my world today. Amen!