Take a moment to read 2 Corinthians 4:1-7 before reading the devotional below.
Any time a new section of the Bible starts with “therefore,” it’s a good idea to back up and figure out what the author is referencing. In this case, Paul has just finished talking about the new way that God made himself available to us through the Holy Spirit after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
This new opportunity to encounter God gives us new hope. There’s no need to trick anybody into becoming a follower of Jesus — the truth is amazing enough! What Paul was preaching was not about him, and anyone truly preaching the Gospel won’t make it about themselves. The power of God is a treasure, and we are mere vessels.
Here’s your freedom for today:
You are a bright light.
When you have the Holy Spirit, you are like a jar that holds a candle and shoots light out in all directions. You are fragile, not suited to display all of God’s glory by yourself. But you can shine the piece he puts in you — a little tealight that can add to other tealights to make a much larger light. Some might not understand the good news of Jesus, and some might try to snuff out your light. In this passage, Satan is called “the god of this world.” He is working to maintain control and keep the darkness dark. If you think of yourself as a fragile vessel, what does that mean for how you engage with the Holy Spirit?