2 Corinthians 4:8-12 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
What a wonderful, helpful insight the Holy Spirit gives us here.
Three things jump out at me: Firstly, I should not be surprised if (when?) things get tough and go pear-shaped when I’m seeking to live my life for Christ.
Secondly, when this happens it does not mean that God has lost control of things or that he has stopped caring for me.
Thirdly, the Saviour whom I serve died in order to save, so I should not be surprised if death plays a significant part in living for him. I am reminded that he warned his disciples during his ministry among them: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24) The Apostle Paul expresses it so well: “… hard pressed … not crushed; perplexed, … not in despair; persecuted, … not abandoned; struck down, … not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
I think of Elisabeth Elliot’s book ‘Through Gates of Splendour’ (later made into a movie) and how the violent death of five young missionaries at the hands of cannibal Auca tribes in Ecuador led to their wives going back among them with the life-giving message of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, bringing them to eternal life through faith in him. Yes, I pray much and often for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are working in many places throughout the world where there is violent persecution and death. I pray earnestly for our sovereign God’s protection of these faithful servants of Christ, but it is good and comforting to me that Paul was able to write as he did to the believers in Corinth about his own missionary experiences. This same Paul wrote to the Philippians (1:21): “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” – not only for me, but for the whole Kingdom of God.
– Bruce Christian