---

“WE DO NOT LOSE HEART”

When have you been discouraged? When your favorite team had a loosing record? When your health took a downward turn? When your work was unappreciated? When you lost a job?

The above quotation is from St. Paul (2 Corinthians 4:1). What do you suppose moved him to write such a comment? Was everything going well? Did he have lots of friends? Was everyone responding to his pleas? Was cash flowing into his coffers? None of the above?

Yes, none of the above.

He wrote, “Since it is by God mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.” The ministry to which he refers was with people in ancient Corinth. They were difficult people, in a pagan and unfriendly environment. Every step in getting those people to embrace Jesus and his way was an uphill battle. So what energized the apostle? “It is by God’s grace that we are engaged in this ministry.”

Paul avoided discouragement by looking up, not down, around, or within. Everything in these directions was discouraging. He looked up – and did not lose heart.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EarlyWord is written by Pastor Dick Williams, Akron, OH, Advocate for Jesus of Nazareth. New readers are always welcome. To receive EarlyWord by email each morning send your name and email address after clicking box above/left. Comments are invited.