Life and Death

Meditations on Second Corinthians

April 24, 2023

Life and Death

For we who are living are always being handed over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal flesh.

2 Corinthians 4:11 (NRSV) 

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

The Apostle Paul believed that nothing in his life was wasted. He knew that everything in his life was an opportunity for the world to see how he had faith in God. That is what Paul means when he says the world can see Jesus in his mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:11)       However, Paul never denies the reality of the sufferings that are part of human life, and especially to those who serve God.

Take a minute to contrast verses 8-9 in Chapter 1, where Paul talks about the intensity of his suffering, with verses 8-9 in Chapter 4, where Paul affirms how God used those experiences to reveal Jesus to the world. Paul is testifying to the fulfillment of God’s promise to work everything for good in our lives. (Romans 8:28-29) In chapter one, Paul says he was feeling crushed, perplexed, driven to despair, forsaken, and nearly destroyed. That is what he felt during his troubles. But he still trusted God, and now in hindsight he testifies, “We are afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed.” (4:8-9 NRSV)

My Takeaway: As a follower of Jesus, I want the world to see the resurrected life of Jesus in my mortal life. However, Paul has given me an important caveat. If I want to make the life in Christ my way of life, I need to be prepared to see crucifixion at work in my life as well. (See Philippians 3:10-11) 

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.