Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Grace for Living Devotional Tuesday September 5, 2023 TOPIC: IF THE GOSPEL BE HID

BIBLE READING:

2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-7

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  

KEY VERSE:

“And even if our gospel is veiled it is veiled to those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 4:3  

MEDITATION:

Ordinarily, when something is hid, it is that we don’t want people to see it. So when Apostle Paul writes, “if the gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost,” what exactly does he mean?  

Jesus taught at the Sermon on the Mount that believers are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). He challenged His disciples then, and now, to shine the light we carry so that people around us can see. What this then means is that if we don’t shine our lights, the gospel is hid from those who are perishing in sin. 

Believers cause the gospel to be hid when our lifestyle does not announce to those around us well enough for them to see so they can make a choice of accepting our gospel. Many times, believers, do a lot of ‘shouting of the gospel.’ It is instructive to note that shouting does not mean shining. One can see and hear a lot of shouting in our churches, on television and radio, yet it appears iniquity is multiplying all around us – lying, sexual immorality, corruption, stealing, hatred, bitterness, truce breaking and many more. The reason is simple – ‘shouting does not equal to shining.’ We are called to shine, not to shout.  

Once our preaching does not give out light that people can see so they can be convicted and repent, the gospel is ‘hidden.’   

Are you shining the light for people to see, or by your lifestyle and character obscuring the gospel?  

PRAYER:

Oh Lord, may my life not cause the gospel to be hidden from people.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

PSALMS 107-109, 1 CORINTHIANS 10