"We Preach Christ"-The Mandate of 2 Corinthians 4:5-7

The idea of a life verse has always been difficult for me. The idea of picking just one verse to build my life’s values, goals, and ministry around seemed impossible to me. That was until October 12, 2022 when in my daily Bible readings I read 2 Corinthians chapter 4.

“For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus. For God, who said ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;” —2 Corinthians 4:5-7 (LSB)

I have read the book of 2 Corinthians countless times but on that October day the Holy Spirit used this verse to open my eyes in a new way on how I ought to see my ministry and my life. Paul lays out masterfully for us the mandate for any pastor or Christian for that matter. It can all be summed up in the beginning of verse 5 “we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,” in other words, “We preach Christ”. A simple yet weighty duty. As a pastor I couldn’t ask for a more direct order from the Master. My ministry is to preach Christ in the church, in my home, to the flock, to my wife, and to myself. Everything I do needs to be aimed towards that goal. What I find so edifying about this passage is as Paul uses vivid imagery of the Light being shone in the hearts of believers he concludes with a beauitful picture of his humility. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;”. Paul's ministry wasn't about Paul or any of the other apostles for that matter. It was about Christ. That reality is true of my own ministry. This isn’t about me. This isn’t about what I have to say, or what I can bring to the table. It is all about Christ and His glory, or as the reformers put it, Soli Deo Gloria.

That is my heart behind this blog. To fulfill my role as an earthen vessel so that the glory of the Light of Christ can be put on display. That may be book reviews from time to time, or thoughts from my devotional life but I hope that as I share with the internet what has edified my life, it may be edifying for yours as well.