Connect 2 Corinthians 4:1 with Galatians 6:9 on not growing weary. The Mercy that Began Our Ministry • 2 Corinthians 4:1: “Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” • Paul reminds us that every calling is rooted in God’s mercy, not our merit. • When fatigue whispers, return to that first mercy; it steadies our resolve and keeps service from becoming a grind. The Tug toward Discouragement • Trials are real: “We are hard pressed on every side… struck down, yet not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). • Satan aims to dim the light of the gospel by draining the servants who carry it. • Losing heart begins when circumstances eclipse the mercy that launched us. Linking Hands with Galatians 6:9 • Galatians 6:9: “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” • Same phrase, same charge—“do not lose heart” = “do not grow weary.” • 2 Corinthians 4:1 supplies the motive (God’s mercy); Galatians 6:9 supplies the incentive (certain harvest). • Together they form a two-fold antidote: look back to mercy received, look ahead to harvest promised. Additional Scripture Fuel • Isaiah 40:31—waiting on the LORD renews strength; the weary mount up. • Hebrews 12:3—consider Christ’s endurance “so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” • 1 Corinthians 15:58—labor is “not in vain,” anchoring perseverance. • 2 Corinthians 4:16-17—outward decay, inward renewal, “an eternal weight of glory.” • Psalm 73:26—God Himself is the strength that outlasts failing flesh. Practical Pathways to Endurance • Rehearse the mercy: regularly thank God for entrusting you with ministry. • Refocus on the gospel: remember Who and what you carry (2 Corinthians 4:7). • Rely on the Spirit: His life manifests in our weakness (2 Corinthians 4:10-11). • Anticipate the harvest: visualize faces, lives, and eternal glory that will result. • Encourage one another: shared burdens halve weariness and double joy. Seeing the Work through Eternal Lenses • Present afflictions are “light” compared with coming glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). • The unseen reality keeps us from quitting in the seen reality (4:18). • Ministry grounded in mercy and aimed at eternity cannot be derailed by temporary exhaustion. A Resolute Conclusion We began by mercy; we continue by mercy. We sow in faith; we reap in certainty. Therefore—whether in the pulpit, the nursery, the workplace, or the kitchen—“we do not lose heart.” |
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