Update

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 Once upon a time , someone asked me if I would be happy working a job that was not at the university. Since my position at the university closed in 2020, I found myself doing exactly that— working in jobs not at the university. It has been a very difficult transition.  Recently, things shifted quickly and in unexpected ways. The short version is that I am leaving the hotel which I am currently working, having taken a position at another.  The longer version of the story is that I stopped by to see my good friend and former GM at his new hotel. While I was visiting with him, one of the owners came out and introduced himself and we got to talking. After a few minutes, he said he wanted me to meet his brother. Our conversation turned into a job interview and 48 hours later I accepted a new position as front desk, manager and assistant operations manager. After some negotiating, we reached an agreement and I start my new position on April 9. It’s a much nicer hotel and these...

Courageous Spirituality (part 4): “Array God’s Power”

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“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." (2 Cor 4:5-7, ESV)

The power of God is meant for display. Paul pictures our body as a jar of clay into which God has placed the treasure of the gospel. How does this happen? Why does this happen? Paul tells us in verse 6: the reason they preached Christ Jesus as Lord and not themselves was because they saw the glory of God in the face of Christ. Once God reveals the darkness of sin by bringing in the light, who can keep that to themselves?

Part of the beauty of God’s glory is that He is consistent. The same God who shines this light is the same God who created light (Gen 1), the Father of Lights (James 1) who sent His Son to be the Light of the world (Jn 8:12). In other words, our task is not to store the light of His glory, but let His glory be seen through us. We are merely containers. Lanterns, if you will.

He shines through us “so everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.” (2 Cor 4:7b).

This means we can:
  1. Be secure: Receive your ministry the way you receive mercy because the way you receive mercy affects the way you give ministry. 
  2. Be sincere (open and honorable): There is no need for secrecy. 
  3. Be straight. No need to distort the Word of God (2 Cor 4:2b).
  4. Be singular. Preach Christ Jesus as Lord (2 Cor 4:5).

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