Today’s Reading: Judges 19; Judges 20; Judges 21; 2 Corinthians 4
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:10-11, 16-18
10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body...
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Observation: I love these verses! This is the week we remember Jesus' death and celebrate His resurrection. And here, Paul explains that we undergo this death and resurrection experience in an ongoing way. We experience death through trials and struggles -- sometimes almost ready to give up. The frustration of our own weakness and inconsistency causes us great consternation, but also drives us to God and the throne of grace where we are lifted up through His divine power and His life is revealed where all we saw was death. The contrast between the death and renewal of life keeps reminding us that we are following in the footsteps of Jesus. We live because He lived. We die because He died. We are raised again because He was raised again. And I especially love verse 17 which describes our travail as "light and momentary troubles" but explains the wonderful truth that these troubles have the purpose of "achieving for us an eternal glory." Because of this, we have every reason to hang on to hope and look for the eternal payoff. We will ultimately be raised even from death to the perfection of God. Hallelujah!
Application: Keep on keeping on!
Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are producing something beautiful in my life. I am so bless to be the recipient of Your grace and glory. May I walk in resurrection power every day as I love and long for Your appearing.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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