And we start talking...
SIM2 PnF Reflections Day 4 [2 Corinthians 4:13-18]
Posted on Friday, October 23, 2009
Li Yi:
Paul is trying to sat that the presence of God will be with us and this is what keeps me going in my walk with God. Towards the end of the passage, I was reminded of how often we're preoccupied by things of the world which suck away our physical and mental strength. Not only that, we may wonder why are we working so hard at those worldly things. I think that what is important is not to lose ourselves to the world but constantly seek God and allow Him to work in us. It is the work done in us that is going to last us till eternity and the achievement of the world. V18 is applicable to what I'm facing right now - studying. I always think of how I want to score well for exams but at the end of the day, my results are just papers of qulifications that will help me get a job. It doesn't help me to earn a place in heaven. Instead of focusing on doing well alone, faith is what I should ask for each day. It should be my faith in God that allows me to trust in Him that He's going to bring me through my exam season.
Prayer: To fix my eyes unto God and pray for more faith as I study!!
Han Yun:
2 Corinthians 4, the passage of "Treasures in Jars of Clay" has always been one of my favourite passages in the bible! In tough times, this passage always encourages me, and reminds me of God's promises and the power that He has already given to us. Jars of clay are plain containers, they dont stand out. In those days i guess rich people would keep their treasures in magnificent trunks. So why would Paul use this description? Even in v13-18, Paul highlights the different contrasts between what is seen and what is unseen. In other words, what is transient and what is permanent, appearance versus truth, what happens to us (our circumstances or the person that we portray) versus what is within living in us. Evidently it is the latter that is more important.
Paul, I feel, goes through the worst trials and tribulations ever! And I really look up to him, how he is never losing heart, keeping his faith in God. How much my troubles and circumstances pales in comparison to what he went through!! I pray to be someone who, the busier I am the more time I spend in His word to refresh myself. The more troubled or disillusioned I am, the more I seek God to realign my perspective and direction to Him. People in nature, likes to be secured of a good future, study hard, plan well to ensure a better life. But our future is not of this world, our future is eternity in heaven!!! Let's not be pretty boxes that store rotting 'treasures', BUT be humble jars of clay that stores these great treasures that God entrusts into our hands!
Jesline:
V13, our faith in God should not be kept iside us alone, when we believe in God for something, we must speak out our faith. Eg: God I believe you can work in me! God you can give me strength! God in You I have salvation! We must learn to proclaim our faith. Also given that all is seen is temporary. V18, we should not work on outward things but rather we should labour in things of the unseen. like our inner man, our character in God. This is what will last forever.
Prayer: God I pray for me to know what are the outward things so that with my limitations I will invest what I have in the eternal things. Also pray for myself to proclaim My faithin God more.
Li Yin:
I think the reason Paul was able to consider his troubles as light and momentary (when in face they weren't - he went through persecutions, beatings, insults, hardships, etc.) was cos he saw them in the light of eternity. In v16, not losing heart=perseverance. God reminded me of Hebrews 11:27 and 12:1-3. About Moses, in Hebrews 11:27-... he persevered because he saw him who is invisble. And 12:3 - Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Fixing our eyes on Jesus becomes our focus and the troubles become the background. In all our circumstances, we need to realise that God is greater than whatever comes our way, and run this race WITH Him and FOR Him.
Elaine:
It enourages me that we should have faith and practice faith. We alltend tothink what you see is what you get. Instead we should all look towards spiritual reward which is the everlasting instead of temporary gifts that fulfil our temporary needs. When we trust that God is the evrlasting while all else fade, the more we should spread about His goodness to the people around us.
Prayer: To trust and notthe next moment forget that God is for us.
Shu Ning:
Don't lose heart. Though we may be growing older, yet imwardly we are refreshed by God's love everyday. Whatever we may be facing now will pale in comparison when we receive the glory for mGod. Therefore, we should focus on God and not what we can see because faith is believing what we can't see. Put your faith in God that He will bring you through these trials to achieve something that far surpasses wah we are going through now. Don't give up. Go and do what God commands you to do.
Sharon:
All of us should hold on to this hope in eternity as we live out our lives. It convicts in me if I believe in somethingtherefore I should proclaim! Why keep? In v15 and 18, shows a different perspective of viewing problems and limitations seeing them as benefits
1. They help us remember Christ's suffering for us.
2. Keep us from being prideful (Thinking we are able to live a life on our own)
3. For God to demostrate His greatness through the troubles and proving our faith to others! (that's why we should always have tons of testimonies to share!)
With all these positive outlook, it's easier for us to embrace problems and limitations seeing them as opportunities God gives for us to testify about Him! Look towards eternity! Outwardly waht we are doing is just a 'chasing after wind...it's meaningless!' (book of Ecc)But inwardly we should seek to be refreshed daily!
Michelle:
Sometimes when come to sharing about God, I'm not confident. Therefore there is really a need for me to really have that faith, that trust in God, believe that I can do it with God's power. Just like Paul, despite all the trials and hardships he went through, he did not stop proclaiming God's love. Also know taht what we are going through in this world is to mould our characters, strengthen our faith in God, also to focus on God whenever we face problems, for God is eternal and worthy of our all.
Prayer: Continue to fix my eyes on God and not br afraid of going trials in my life.
Paul is trying to sat that the presence of God will be with us and this is what keeps me going in my walk with God. Towards the end of the passage, I was reminded of how often we're preoccupied by things of the world which suck away our physical and mental strength. Not only that, we may wonder why are we working so hard at those worldly things. I think that what is important is not to lose ourselves to the world but constantly seek God and allow Him to work in us. It is the work done in us that is going to last us till eternity and the achievement of the world. V18 is applicable to what I'm facing right now - studying. I always think of how I want to score well for exams but at the end of the day, my results are just papers of qulifications that will help me get a job. It doesn't help me to earn a place in heaven. Instead of focusing on doing well alone, faith is what I should ask for each day. It should be my faith in God that allows me to trust in Him that He's going to bring me through my exam season.
Prayer: To fix my eyes unto God and pray for more faith as I study!!
Han Yun:
2 Corinthians 4, the passage of "Treasures in Jars of Clay" has always been one of my favourite passages in the bible! In tough times, this passage always encourages me, and reminds me of God's promises and the power that He has already given to us. Jars of clay are plain containers, they dont stand out. In those days i guess rich people would keep their treasures in magnificent trunks. So why would Paul use this description? Even in v13-18, Paul highlights the different contrasts between what is seen and what is unseen. In other words, what is transient and what is permanent, appearance versus truth, what happens to us (our circumstances or the person that we portray) versus what is within living in us. Evidently it is the latter that is more important.
Paul, I feel, goes through the worst trials and tribulations ever! And I really look up to him, how he is never losing heart, keeping his faith in God. How much my troubles and circumstances pales in comparison to what he went through!! I pray to be someone who, the busier I am the more time I spend in His word to refresh myself. The more troubled or disillusioned I am, the more I seek God to realign my perspective and direction to Him. People in nature, likes to be secured of a good future, study hard, plan well to ensure a better life. But our future is not of this world, our future is eternity in heaven!!! Let's not be pretty boxes that store rotting 'treasures', BUT be humble jars of clay that stores these great treasures that God entrusts into our hands!
Jesline:
V13, our faith in God should not be kept iside us alone, when we believe in God for something, we must speak out our faith. Eg: God I believe you can work in me! God you can give me strength! God in You I have salvation! We must learn to proclaim our faith. Also given that all is seen is temporary. V18, we should not work on outward things but rather we should labour in things of the unseen. like our inner man, our character in God. This is what will last forever.
Prayer: God I pray for me to know what are the outward things so that with my limitations I will invest what I have in the eternal things. Also pray for myself to proclaim My faithin God more.
Li Yin:
I think the reason Paul was able to consider his troubles as light and momentary (when in face they weren't - he went through persecutions, beatings, insults, hardships, etc.) was cos he saw them in the light of eternity. In v16, not losing heart=perseverance. God reminded me of Hebrews 11:27 and 12:1-3. About Moses, in Hebrews 11:27-... he persevered because he saw him who is invisble. And 12:3 - Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Fixing our eyes on Jesus becomes our focus and the troubles become the background. In all our circumstances, we need to realise that God is greater than whatever comes our way, and run this race WITH Him and FOR Him.
Elaine:
It enourages me that we should have faith and practice faith. We alltend tothink what you see is what you get. Instead we should all look towards spiritual reward which is the everlasting instead of temporary gifts that fulfil our temporary needs. When we trust that God is the evrlasting while all else fade, the more we should spread about His goodness to the people around us.
Prayer: To trust and notthe next moment forget that God is for us.
Shu Ning:
Don't lose heart. Though we may be growing older, yet imwardly we are refreshed by God's love everyday. Whatever we may be facing now will pale in comparison when we receive the glory for mGod. Therefore, we should focus on God and not what we can see because faith is believing what we can't see. Put your faith in God that He will bring you through these trials to achieve something that far surpasses wah we are going through now. Don't give up. Go and do what God commands you to do.
Sharon:
All of us should hold on to this hope in eternity as we live out our lives. It convicts in me if I believe in somethingtherefore I should proclaim! Why keep? In v15 and 18, shows a different perspective of viewing problems and limitations seeing them as benefits
1. They help us remember Christ's suffering for us.
2. Keep us from being prideful (Thinking we are able to live a life on our own)
3. For God to demostrate His greatness through the troubles and proving our faith to others! (that's why we should always have tons of testimonies to share!)
With all these positive outlook, it's easier for us to embrace problems and limitations seeing them as opportunities God gives for us to testify about Him! Look towards eternity! Outwardly waht we are doing is just a 'chasing after wind...it's meaningless!' (book of Ecc)But inwardly we should seek to be refreshed daily!
Michelle:
Sometimes when come to sharing about God, I'm not confident. Therefore there is really a need for me to really have that faith, that trust in God, believe that I can do it with God's power. Just like Paul, despite all the trials and hardships he went through, he did not stop proclaiming God's love. Also know taht what we are going through in this world is to mould our characters, strengthen our faith in God, also to focus on God whenever we face problems, for God is eternal and worthy of our all.
Prayer: Continue to fix my eyes on God and not br afraid of going trials in my life.
Labels: Our Reflections
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