Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

2 Corinthians 6:9-10

Known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Paul went on to mention that God's co-workers need to face the views of men as well as from God. In his ministry, Paul faced multiple threats of death, and from a human's perspective, he could die anytime. However, Paul did not care about his physical life, but his eternal life. As such, he says in Philippians 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." From God's perspective, Paul will always live in His presence.

Then Paul added, "dying, and yet we live on." Many believers in mainland China have been imprisoned for the sake of Christ. From a human perspective, these men are being punished, but no one can take away the eternal life they have in Christ. Thereafter, Paul said, "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." As God's co-workers, although there may be sorrow, the sorrow is for brothers and sisters in Christ. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:28, "And apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches." The sorrow is short-lived because God is our shepherd, and I have come to realize this truth deeply over the past years. I have struggled multiple times alongside with my brothers and sisters and Christ and sometimes I feel helpless when I look at their circumstances. However, I have also seen how God has opened a way for them in the wilderness, rivers in the desert and my heart rejoices with them.

Paul also said, "Poor, yet making many rich." Poverty does not necessarily refer to the wallet, but also refers to "spiritual poverty". There are people with all sorts of wealth in this world, but are spiritually poor. For people who are serving the Lord, God himself has become our satisfaction. Whenever we preach the gospel, we are also sharing Christ's riches with those who are spiritually poor.

Finally, "having nothing, and yet possessing everything." This is the most difficult thing to understand based on our flesh. In reality, God is indeed the God who always supplies all our needs. Just like our fathers on earth who strive to provide for their children's needs, how much more so will our Almighty God? God not only can, but He also will bless us gladly.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I thank you because from a human perspective, we are nothing, but from your point of view, we are alive, happy and prosperous. Because of you, we lack nothing, and we can rely on you daily to allow our spirit to be renewed. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!