Text: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18
Thoughts to ponder this week …

• What are you living for today?
• What would those who know you best say is the most important thing to you?
• What does it look live to live for eternity?
  • Paul understood his role as God’s servant bringing the Gospel to Corinth (2 Cor 4:15)
  • Paul also understood that although he was pressed about on all sides it was God who renewed his strength (2 Cor 4:16)
  • What does it look like to us?
    • It is easy for us to focus on the “here and now” – seeing our troubles, strife, power, prestige and possessions which are temporary instead of that which is eternal. That we would not give up that which is perfect for those blessing which are but a shadow of the ultimate blessing to come. ( Matthew 13:44-45 )
    • Instead we should not focus on what we “give up” for the sake of following God but rather to count it all as loss when viewed in light of the ultimate prize – knowing God and spending eternity with Him ( Phil 3:8-11 ).
    • Trust that we will be upheld and sustained by God through these current, temporary difficulties ( Isaiah 40:28-31 ).
    • Know that it is not in our strength that we stand but in God’s. That is not dependent upon our actions but only on the grace of God and that His grace is sufficient to bring about His purposes. ( 2 Cor 12:9 )
    • That all of the events in our lives, to include our trials, are used by God as part of his plan to redeem us for Himself ( 1 Peter 1:6-9 ).

Please join us next week for Worship, Sunday at 10:00 AM!