2 Corinthians 4:8-10; Perseverance, Honour, Success

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 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 might be made manifest in our body.

If the Apostle Paul and his team would have given up when they were troubled on every side, give up when they were perplexed and throw in the towel when persecuted and cast down, there would not be a thriving in Corinth at the time of his writing. He understood his mission. It was to fulfil His Lord’s Great Commission entrusted to him with assurance of success.

He had to persevere when the going gets tough. He had to plough on, press on, continue to preach and pray and venture as the Lord commanded. He has an example par excellence, Jesus Himself, who was faithful to the command of His Father in heaven,  even unto death, the death of the cross. After Jesus died, He rose victorious from the dead. Jesus was exalted, ascended to the right hand of the Father on high. He was able to say, I believe, he wrote the epistle to the Hebrews 12:1-2, “1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Dear brethren, has God called you to serve Him in some way and you are encountering resistance and even suffering setbacks? Do not give up. The Lord is with you. He will see you through to the completion of your work for Him. Press on! There is a crown of honour for God’s faithful servant who will not give up. Perseverance, honour, success! Amen.