Keeping Christ Central

Keeping Christ Central is the theme of 2 Corinthians 4.  As ministers of Christ, we need to maintain our focus, conversation and ministry with Jesus being center stage.  To do so, this takes 1. Renouncing the world and its system of thinking with the me-first mentality.  Paul says they have "2renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice^b cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God."  In other words, Paul did not use God's word for his own motives or interests, but he served God out of a pure heart speaking the truth in love.  We need to make sure our hearts are right when we do God's work so we are not doing it as a means to an end but simply because we are motivated by God's love.

Paul made a statement that the world is already blinded by their own gods and that they need the light of the gospel of Christ to shine to them to give them knowledge of the glory of God.  In order for the lost to see, they must have a revelation of Jesus.  "6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Many people talk theology, politics, programs, church activities and religious duties, but talking about Jesus is what makes a difference in peoples' lives.  Watch what you say when you minister to people.  I found that I was trying to attract people to Christ by talking about myself or church: ie  "I'm in the choir, I go to prayer meeting, what church do you attend?"  While all well and good, this is not what have power to take the blinders off.  Jesus needs to be central in our life and witness.  We need to talk  about His blood, His love, His grace, His forgiveness, His power to heal; that is what changes lives.

To keep Christ central in our lives, we also need to rely on His power, not our own ability.  "7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;"  Everywhere Paul went, he was plagued by problems because of his obedience.  He had to understand that it was not him but Christ in him that would sustain him and help him through.  He was just like a clay pot, but it was what was inside of him that had power to upset the kingdom of darkness and change the atmosphere.

We also need to remember the suffering of Jesus and His resurrection.  This will give us the power to endure anything because we are constantly aware of Christ's great love and sacrifice for us--we will also want to return that love to Him and others.  Paul said he was
"10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."

Fourthly we need to stay we should daily renew our mind and heart in God's word. Paul says 16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self^d is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  Paul's physical body was subject to beating, fatigue, hunger and decay but inside he was growing stronger and stronger until he was unstoppable for the kingdom of God.  He had learned not to let what was going on around him affect his spirit man.  As we go about our day, sometimes we need to change our mindset so it does not adapt to the voices, attitudes, and surrounding way of thinking and doing.  By staying in prayer and in the word, we can adjust ourselves to we live by our new Christ-like nature, not the fleshly worldly nature.  Ephesians 4 says "22to put off your old self,^f which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Finally, let us regard our future reward.  When our eyes are on the prize of eternity with Jesus, we do not live for instant happiness, results, or recognition.  Paul said:
 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison."  What will sustain us over time is not the fickle applause of men but the forever applause of heaven.  We should strive to live a life that make's God smile.  His favor is for a lifetime!

By renouncing the world's way of working, relying on Christ's ability, remembering Christ's suffering, renewing our minds in God's words for us and regarding our future heavenly reward, we can have a Christ central life and ministry to others.