Fainting Not from Received Mercy 2 Corinthians 4:1

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord”, and in chapter four and verse one of Second Corinthians, Paul declares, “as we have received mercy, we faint not”, where we read:

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

The verse begins, “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, ...” Paul began with the word, “therefore” which means “in conclusion, then, because and for this cause” “seeing” or “hereunto, thus, and as it is that” “we have this ministry” which means “Paul and his companions hold, own and possess this service and execution of the commands of Jesus”. Paul concluded that he and his companions possessed this particular “service” unto the Lord.

The verse goes on to say, “...as we have received mercy, we faint not;” Paul continued with the words, “as we have received” or “in the same and like manner in which Paul and his companions experienced and obtained” “mercy” which means “compassion”, “we faint not” or “Paul and his companions did not become utterly spiritless, wearied out or exhausted”. Because Paul and his companions had “received mercy” themselves, they were sustained to “tirelessly” share this benefit from Jesus with others.

When we think through these words of Paul, we note how he knew the origin of his “service” to the Lord. It was because of the Lord's “mercy” Paul and his companions were able to share with others the wonderful “compassion” of God. Jesus Christ desires to share His “mercy” or “compassion” with everyone who will believe in, rely upon, cling to and trust in Him. Let all who read these words know and understand, the “mercy” of the Lord is available to all, and when they receive Him, they shall also readily extend God's “mercy” to others.

Next time Paul shares how he and his companions, “have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty” so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.