May 18 | 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

---

DAILY READING

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

---

REFLECTION

Don't Lose Heart!

By Elaine Pierce

Do Not Lose Heart. Twice in this chapter, Paul reminds the Corinthian church not to lose heart. Why do you suppose he does that? He is hard pressed on every side...perplexed...persecuted...struck down...his life is not exactly one of rest and relaxation. But he writes with absolute certainty that these earthly troubles are not the final outcome. Verse 18 sums up Paul's perspective:

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

I have never faced persecution for my faith, but I have certainty experienced doubt and fear, and I have been impatient with God. I want him to answer my prayers NOW, not later. I don't want to wait on his good timing. My timing seems right! It is often only when I look back on my life that I see God's hand at work. My goal - and maybe it is yours, too - is that I will deepen my faith and I will not lose heart.

Paul doesn't just encourage his readers not to lose heart. He tells them that is how he is living. And, really, it is the only way to live the Christian life. Day by day, despite the ups and downs of our sinful life, we don't lose heart because we know who we believe, and we know that he is able to keep that which we've committed unto him against that day. This old hymn will encourage you as you start your day. It is a paraphrase of 2 Timothy 2:12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsFoFVRRYPk

PRAYER

Lord, there are times that I lost heart. I stray from your presence, and I follow my own wants and desires. Help me to look to you, the author and perfecter of my faith ,and to follow you day by day. Amen.

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELAINE PIERCE

It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's Word, and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study, and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have four grown children and nine grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, for the great things he is doing!

---

May 17, 2025 | 2 Corinthians 3:18-4:6

---

DAILY READING

2 Corinthians 3:18-4:6

---

REFLECTION

Shining

By Todd Marti

Today’s reading tells us that God’s goodness can shine through individual believers, being delivered by us into the world around us.  2 Corinthians 3:18 speaks of us "reflect[ing] the glory of the Lord."  2 Corinthians 4:2 describes us “setting forth the truth plainly.”  2 Corinthians 4:6 speaks of God’s light shining from our hearts. Those images are consistent with other scriptures instructing us to deliver God’s light. Matthew 5:16; Luke 8:16; John 3:21. Their consistent message is unmistakable: God expects us to deliver His light into an otherwise dark world. As one blogger wrote (before digital watches),  “Christians should be like the radium on a watch. We should absorb God’s light and make it available to others so they can organize their lives by it in a dark world.”

So how do we do that? Today’s reading gives at least three insights.

One is to ask for God’s help. Remember that we have that light because of God’s mercy. 2 Corinthians 4:1.   He wants that light to get out, and to get out through us, so he will give us the opportunities and means to do so.  We should therefore ask for His help in doing so; the odds are good that He will answer that kind of prayer. See John 14:13;  John 15:7-8; 1 John 5:14-15.  

Another is that we primarily do that through the way we live.  That is a powerful way of “setting forth the truth plainly.”  2 Corinthians 4:2.  We don’t have to hit people over the head with the gospel if we live it out on a consistent basis. Its beauty will shine through on its own. Although there are times when God calls us to explicitly declare the gospel, most of the time we spread it by living it out. The instruction to “preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words" comes to mind.

A third is to not be discouraged when others ignore or reject God’s light. 2 Corinthians 4:1  and 3-4, and other scriptures acknowledge the reality that not all will embrace God’s gracious overtures. Further, the unavoidable truth is that we are not always great at reflecting God’s goodness, but we'll get better if we keep trying.  God nonetheless expects us to try, despite those facts.

PRAYER

Gracious Lord, help us to deliver your light into the world. Help us to live so that your love shines through our ordinary lives and to not be discouraged by either the darkness around us or our own missteps—help us to keep at it. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the light of this world.

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TODD MARTI

I have been connected to UALC since 2000 in various small groups and as a co-manager of the UALC Community Garden. I’m married to Kelly Marti, and the proud father of Sarah Marti. I am happy to be writing these devotions.

---

May 16 | Revelations 2:1-11

---

DAILY READING

Revelations 2:1-11

---

REFLECTION

The Forest for the Trees 

by Ken Dillman

As Christians, the old saying, “you can’t see the forest for the trees” might afflict us and we don’t even realize it.

Not being able to “see the forest for the trees” happens when we’re so focused on one or more smaller issues in our lives, that we fail to see the bigger picture of what God is doing or wants to do in our lives; our ability to self-reflect is lessened, as such, one of our biggest temptations when facing hardship, trials, and suffering is to stop focusing on Jesus and to focus on our problem.

The loss of a job, an illness, a struggling grandchild, family conflict, too many bills and not enough money each month, and other hardships tug at our affection for Christ and others.

A pastor friend of mine once recounted an experience to me in which one of his parishioner’s lost their faith in Christ because the “car of his dreams” was totaled by another driver.

That’s losing focus.

That’s not being able to see the forest that’s around me because of the tree in front of me.

In today’s text, the apostle John receives a vision from God for the seven churches in Asia, including the churches of Ephesus and Smyrna; both churches were enduring suffering, persecution, and even the prospects of death. The church at Ephesus hadn’t grown weary in their struggles, BUT in the battle, they seemed to have lost their love for Jesus, and maybe also for one another.

Suffering can cause us to turn our focus inward instead of outward.

The world and those around us don’t stop suffering when we start suffering; people still need our prayers, love, and ministry to them, even while we’re suffering.

There can be great challenges for the Christian to live within the resurrection of Christ, knowing that we are destined for suffering, perhaps some of the same suffering Jesus experienced; “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” (Phil. 1:29)

It’s wonderful to know we are promised the resurrection, but it may not seem so wonderful to us that we’re promised suffering.

In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he wrote, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,” that, “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God…And walk in love.” (Eph. 1-5)

From the beginning, the apostle Paul’s desire was that the Ephesians’ love for Christ would be preeminent as they lived their lives in the resurrected Christ, while embracing everything he had planned for them.

In our struggle with suffering, we might be totally committed to not doing the wrong things in our lives, but we may miss doing the right thing…loving God and loving others; gradually, like the Ephesians our first love might diminish because “we can’t see the forest for the trees.”

This is all the more reason to have close friendships and relationships with other believers, people who can speak appropriately and honestly into our lives in love.

PRAYER

Father, when life is difficult and challenges are great, help us to keep our focus on loving you with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Help us to not be so focused on avoiding the wrong thing that we neglect the best thing…Jesus. Amen.

---

My wife, Karen and I have been attending UALC for 6-7 years and enjoy God's presence in our gatherings. We live in Hilliard; our three adult children live in Central Ohio. I am a retired Chaplain and Pastor, and enjoy writing, walking, jogging, and listening to live music. I appreciate the opportunity to write for the church’s devotionals.