I love this translation from Sunday’s message. As I was reading different versions and thinking about the last few days, I found so much goodness leaping from these words. Read it out loud to yourself…if you have to whisper because everyone is sleeping, do it…but make sure you hear yourself.
“We’re not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, “I believed it, so I said it,” we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:15-18
I love how verse 16 starts—“so we’re not giving up”. It may look like things are falling apart on us right now. Businesses and restaurants are closed.
Retail stores have shut their doors.
Schools are no longer in session.
The ball-fields and stadiums will be empty this weekend.
But…not a day goes by without His grace…His unfolding grace…it keeps rolling out, friends. My favorite part is where it says that these hard times are like small potatoes compared to the coming good times.
Small potatoes! Insignificant. Unimportant.
This is a promise to the believer of an eternal life, but when thinking about today, all this chaos is temporary. Don’t focus on what is going on in the world, but focus on how God can use you to make it better.
Don’t focus on what you can see…but focus on those intangible things that mean so much more.
Love.
Grace.
Forgiveness.
Mercy.
Laughter.
Kindness.
Maybe God is giving His people an opportunity to slow down a bit through all of this and be reminded of what is truly important. I have heard so many people (including myself) say, “I’m so busy!” He is giving us a chance to prioritize our lives and realize all the extra stuff that we have put in place of spending time with Him is of little importance. Insignificant. Small potatoes.
There is a lavish celebration that is prepared for the believer. All the mess in this world is small potatoes…and this too shall pass, but…
Let us not forget the goodness of the Father.
