God Shining in our Hearts...

To My Beloved Daughters in Him

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.--2nd Corinthians 4:6

THE GLORY OF OUR GOD SHONE IN JESUS CHRIST!  And you and I as believers, have this treasure (Jesus Christ) in our earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  

We are His children, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We have been given the Spirit of adoption by whom we can cry out Abba, Father!  The term "Abba" is an informal Aramaic term that conveys a sense of intimacy.   Like the English term "Papa" or "Daddy" it connotes tenderness, dependence and a relationship free from  anxiety or fear.  So we may be and are:

"hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—  always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So then death is working in us, but life in you.--2nd Corinthians 4:8-12

I love that last line..."So then death is working in us, but life in you."  As we pour out our life for Jesus...as we who believe lose our own lives for His sake, we work life...eternal life with Jesus in the hearts of others!   And His grace, then, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.  

Therefore (emphasis mine) we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.--2nd Corinthians 4:16-18

May we experience the greatness of God in our lives as we devote ourselves wholly to Him.  Praying the following prayer from Ephesians for each one of us today...


"that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."--Ephesians 3:16-21


Ending with the song the Lord has had on my heart all week entitled Lord I Need You by Chris Tomlin.  

Verse 1:
Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart

Chorus:
Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Verse 2:
Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Yes where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Bridge:
So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay