Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy

....  we do not lose heart (2 Corinthians 4:1). So what is this ministry,  and what is it about it that causes us not to loose heart?  As to the ministry, it's the ministry of the Spirit, it's the ministry of righteousness, it's the ministry of reconciliation, and we are its ambassadors  (3:7, 9; 5:18). Paul had been talking about the glory of it. He tells that the ministry of the old covenant was glorious. It “came into being with glory,   so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance” (3:7). In that same verse, he calls it the ministry of death, likely because it proved a ministration of death to those who reject the gospel. On the other hand the gospel is the ministry of life and without question it is much more glorious. Not the least of this, is that we who have received His mercy and who behold the glory of the Lord, as in a mirror,  are being transformed into His image from glory to glory (3:18). 


There was much in Paul life that might have caused him to loose heart (see his reluctant “boasting” 11:23-26).  It was because he had received mercy, and that the ministry of life is so amazingly glorious, that neither he nor we should loose heart. Paul includes includes us in the “we” in this morning's verse (see also “we all” in 3:18)!  I find that if I am not careful, I can skip over all this talk of glory, without letting it sink in. The meanings of the word “gory” include splendour, brightness;  magnificence, excellence, preeminence, majesty, dignity and grace.  The inner three saw Jesus' visible glory on the mount of  transfiguration ( 2 Pet. 1:17), but also the Heaven's declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). It's not just appearance, Jesus revealed His glory in turning water into wine, and raising Lazarus from the dead (John 2:11;11:4, 40). The glory of  God includes the magnificence of His (and of course Jesus') character. To name a few of  His attributes, He is faithful, holy, righteous, infinitely good, merciful,  compassionate, just. He is the very essence of love, and of what is good, and right,  and pure,  and lovely.

Is it any wonder the Scripture tells us that all have fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23).  But what is also glorious, is that we are being transformed into His image (His glory) from glory to glory, as we behold His face (3:18 again). But what does it mean to behold His face? Well, first and foremost we behold Him through the Word where we see His character, His love and His mercy etc. We behold His glory as we sit in His presence in prayer and worship. We behold His glory when we spend time taking in,  looking in appreciation,  at the beauty of  creation. 

Father, when we get a gimps of Your glory, it changes us, and with Paul, it gives us the grace to endure. With him we also progress to the place where we  too  consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). In this way we too will not loose heart. I'm not quite there yet Lord, it is a journey, but with You all things are possible, so continue to lead us there in Jesus Name Amen