“Therefore, as we have received this ministry, we do not lose heart. . . But we have this treasure in earthen vessels [clay pots], that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be manifested in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10).
Dear Praying Friends:
Last night, Dori and I attended a revival service at our church. The preacher rightly applied this passage to all believers and reminded us that, no matter how hard our life may be, we don’t have to be discouraged. We remember what Jesus said to Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in [your] weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:19).
Thank you for praying last week. God enabled me to make good progress on the story about Pastor Ren and on the chapter in the book about Lit-sen Chang and to finish writing notes on Hebrews 1. And he gave me several very encouraging conversations with Chinese friends.
About Lit-sen Chang (Zhang Lisheng): He was perhaps the only great Chinese theologian and apologist so far. Having once been an ardent believer in Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism, and a fiery opponent of Christianity, after his conversion he became a powerful exponent of the Christian message as the only hope for China and the world.
I translated his Critique of Indigenous Theology and edited a volume of that and Dr. Samuel Ling’s translation of Chang’s Critique of Humanism (reachingchineseworldwide.org/wise-man-from-the-east). A non-Christian Chinese scholar who helped me said, “He is just the man we Chinese need. He is one of us, and speaks to us from the inside.”
Now I am working on a book describing his English works on missions and apologetics (reachingchineseworldwide.org/zhang-lisheng-lit-sen-chang).
“Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Yours in his sufficient grace,
Wright