2 Corinthians 4:1-6: a reflection

1Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint. 2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying, 4in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. 5For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake, 6seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Paul describes how the knowledge of God comes to us, and traces it back to God's own act of shining light into our hearts. It is God who said, Light will shine out of darkness, he writes, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The same God who at creation said, Let there be light, has shone his light into our dark hearts, giving us the knowledge of his glory, seen in the face of Christ. Our knowledge of God is not our own achievement, but the fruit of God's light shining into us.

Notice where the knowledge of God's glory comes from: God shining his light into our hearts. Paul does not say we attained the knowledge of God by our own searching; he says God shone it into our hearts, as at creation he made light shine out of darkness. The knowledge of God's glory, seen in the face of Christ, is God's gift, his light shining into hearts that were dark. And it is seen in the face of Christ; there, in Christ, the glory of God shines, and God has caused that light to dawn in us. The knowledge of God is the fruit of his light shining, not our own attainment.

That is worth taking to heart, for it means our knowledge of God is a gift, God's light shining into us, and is found in the face of Christ. We can imagine we must attain the knowledge of God by our own effort, our own searching and reasoning; but Paul says God shines his light into our hearts, giving us the knowledge of his glory in the face of Christ. Do not imagine your knowledge of God is your own achievement, attained by your effort; it is God's gift, his light shining into your heart, as he made light shine at creation. And seek the knowledge of God's glory where it is found: in the face of Christ, in whom God's glory shines. Ask God to shine his light into your heart, giving you the knowledge of his glory in the face of Christ, rather than trying to attain it by your own effort; for the knowledge of God is the fruit of his light shining into us, the same God who said, let light shine out of darkness, shining in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

Lord, Paul describes how the knowledge of you comes to us, and traces it back to your own act of shining light into our hearts. It is God who said, light will shine out of darkness, he writes, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The same God who at creation said, let there be light, has shone your light into our dark hearts, giving us the knowledge of your glory, seen in the face of Christ. My knowledge of you is not my own achievement, but the fruit of your light shining into me. Show me where the knowledge of your glory comes from: you shining your light into our hearts. Paul does not say we attained the knowledge of you by our own searching; he says you shone it into our hearts, as at creation you made light shine out of darkness. The knowledge of your glory, seen in the face of Christ, is your gift, your light shining into hearts that were dark. And it is seen in the face of Christ. Take that to my heart, for it means my knowledge of you is a gift, your light shining into me, and is found in the face of Christ. I can imagine I must attain the knowledge of you by my own effort; but you shine your light into my heart. Keep me from imagining my knowledge of you is my own achievement; it is your gift, your light shining into my heart. And help me seek the knowledge of your glory where it is found: in the face of Christ. Shine your light into my heart, Lord, giving me the knowledge of your glory in the face of Christ.