2 Cor 4:7-11 “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.”

The grace of faith is an effectual remedy against fainting in times of trouble. The apostles knew that Christ was raised, and that His resurrection was an earnest and assurance of theirs. The hope of this resurrection will encourage in a suffering day, and set us above the fear of death. I noticed that their sufferings were all for the advantage of the church, and to God’s glory. The sufferings of Christ’s ministers, as well as their preaching and conversation, were for the good of the church and the glory of God, not for self. The prospect of eternal life and joy was their support and comfort. How do we make sense to pronounce heavy, long, grievous and tedious faith to be light and short and for a moment? The weight of all temporal afflictions was lightness itself, while the glory to come was a substance, weighty and lasting beyond description. If the apostle could call his heavy and long-continued trials light but for a moment, what can our trifling difficulties be? Faith enables to make this right judgment of things. There are unseen things, as well as things that are seen. There is this vast difference between the unseen things that are eternal and the seen things that are temporal, or temporary only.

Lord, thank You for the treasure You have fill us with, in this fragile clay jar. Let us then take our eyes off from the things which are seen; let us cease to seek for worldly advantages or to fear present distresses. Let us give diligence to make our future with assurance of hope, peace and joy. Amen.