This Little Light of Mine

2 Corinthians 4:1–6 CSB

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. 2 Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth. 3 But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case, the god of this age 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. 5 For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. 6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

Paul begins with a “therefore” - we need to think back to chapter 3 - it is there we find that we have a ministry found in the new covenant.

We could call this new covenant ministry the ministry of the gospel of Jesus.

This gospel have given us hope, given us freedom from sin, given us righteousness, it has given us reconciliation and a relationship with God.

Because of what Jesus has done and in His great mercy…

We are to never give up.

We are to be open, honest and accurate in living out the gospel.

No underhanded tactics or methods in our ministry

No deception - deplorable action, speech or tricks

No distorting the word of God - openly present truth

If the gospel doesn’t move you, you better check yourself.

Our response to the gospel is not a matter of intellectual insight

Our spiritual condition is the problem

In other words - there is no problem with the Word of God and the gospel, the issue is the receiver, you

The lost are blind to the light of the gospel.

We need to let our light shine.

We reflect the light of the gospel

As the Holy Spirit works the blind being to see but only if we are shining the light of Jesus and not ourselves