When God delivered Israel out of Egypt, He didnt send an army. We would have sent an army or an orator. But God sent a man who had been in the desert for 40 years, and had an impediment in his speech. It is weakness that God wants! Nothing is too small when God handles it. (D.L. Moody)
But this precious treasure, this light and power that now shine within us, is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we dont give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.
2 Corinthians 4:7-9 NLT
I was looking at my hands the other day. Having spent many years as an equipment operator and tree trimmer, I received many cuts and scrapes. These cuts and scrapes have left scars over the years. Some are barely visible and some are very visible, but most can be seen if you look. I had my appendix taken out when I was 15, that scar is still there. I had an automobile crash in 1979 that left a scar on my forehead, it too can still be seen. I got cut a couple of times by chain saws and the scars are still there. I burned my leg on a heat lamp climbing down in my well house about a year ago. There is still evidence of that. Three weeks ago I climbed on my buddies motorcycle with shorts on and found out how hot the exhaust was. Next year at this time I will be able to remember the occasion by looking at my leg. This morning as I came across the apostle Pauls words about our bodies being perishable containers, and I look at my hands, I realize that our human bodies are not perfect. We show evidence of mistakes and flaws that we have experienced over the years. These flaws or cracks in our bodies, if we allow, will take on a beauty of their own by letting Gods light shine from our heart, through the flaw, to the heart of someone who has just been scared the same way. Not all of our scars are external. Many of us have scars on the inside caused by emotional pain and abuse of one sort or another. These scars can shine the love of God the brightest if we apply during the healing process the salve and balm of forgiveness. We all live in these perishable containers with cracks, scratches, even pieces missing, but my, my, how Gods love light shines and reflects through our healed flaws. God will do for us what we can not do for ourselves ..JRE
Donald Barnhouse wrote a book called The Invisible War. In it he pictured spiritual armies of good and evil conducting their warfare on the battleground of history. This warfare is being conducted yet today, with Satan struggling to blind mans eyes to the Gospel, as God cries out, through the proclamation of Jesus, Let there be light!
LAWRENCE O. RICHARDS
But this precious treasure, this light and power that now shine within us, is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we dont give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.
2 Corinthians 4:7-9 NLT
I was looking at my hands the other day. Having spent many years as an equipment operator and tree trimmer, I received many cuts and scrapes. These cuts and scrapes have left scars over the years. Some are barely visible and some are very visible, but most can be seen if you look. I had my appendix taken out when I was 15, that scar is still there. I had an automobile crash in 1979 that left a scar on my forehead, it too can still be seen. I got cut a couple of times by chain saws and the scars are still there. I burned my leg on a heat lamp climbing down in my well house about a year ago. There is still evidence of that. Three weeks ago I climbed on my buddies motorcycle with shorts on and found out how hot the exhaust was. Next year at this time I will be able to remember the occasion by looking at my leg. This morning as I came across the apostle Pauls words about our bodies being perishable containers, and I look at my hands, I realize that our human bodies are not perfect. We show evidence of mistakes and flaws that we have experienced over the years. These flaws or cracks in our bodies, if we allow, will take on a beauty of their own by letting Gods light shine from our heart, through the flaw, to the heart of someone who has just been scared the same way. Not all of our scars are external. Many of us have scars on the inside caused by emotional pain and abuse of one sort or another. These scars can shine the love of God the brightest if we apply during the healing process the salve and balm of forgiveness. We all live in these perishable containers with cracks, scratches, even pieces missing, but my, my, how Gods love light shines and reflects through our healed flaws. God will do for us what we can not do for ourselves ..JRE
Donald Barnhouse wrote a book called The Invisible War. In it he pictured spiritual armies of good and evil conducting their warfare on the battleground of history. This warfare is being conducted yet today, with Satan struggling to blind mans eyes to the Gospel, as God cries out, through the proclamation of Jesus, Let there be light!
LAWRENCE O. RICHARDS
