- Sep 29, 2006
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If you have something really valuable, where do you keep it?
2 corinthians4:7-12(kjv)
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; We are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the bpdy the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
There are some tough places in the world to be a christian, where you may be persecuted and suffer for the sake of following Jesus. For example, just this month (as I Write this)churches have been burnt down in Pakistan and Iraq- Christians have had to flee for fear of their lives.
ough thay are
Suffering for the gospel was very much as a part of Pauls experiance and he describes it as carryng around in his body the death of Christ (v10)- it's integral to what it means to be a Christian (and a leader). Most of us lock valuable things away in a safe or somewhere secure to protect them. THe gospel is an incredible treasure, but rather than being locked away Paul uses an image of fragility and vunerability: It's carried in a clay jar that can easily be broken(v 7). The mystery is that when broken, somehow the lif eof God shines through. This is the way of Christ. None of us would voluntarily choose sufering, but the church has ofen radically reflected the love of God when she has suffered(v 11).
Pray for those sufering for the sake of the gospel that: though they are troubled on every side they will not be troubled; though they are perplexed, they will not despair; though they are persecuted, they are not forsaken; and though they are cast down they will not be destroyed.
2 corinthians4:7-12(kjv)
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; We are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the bpdy the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
There are some tough places in the world to be a christian, where you may be persecuted and suffer for the sake of following Jesus. For example, just this month (as I Write this)churches have been burnt down in Pakistan and Iraq- Christians have had to flee for fear of their lives.
ough thay are
Suffering for the gospel was very much as a part of Pauls experiance and he describes it as carryng around in his body the death of Christ (v10)- it's integral to what it means to be a Christian (and a leader). Most of us lock valuable things away in a safe or somewhere secure to protect them. THe gospel is an incredible treasure, but rather than being locked away Paul uses an image of fragility and vunerability: It's carried in a clay jar that can easily be broken(v 7). The mystery is that when broken, somehow the lif eof God shines through. This is the way of Christ. None of us would voluntarily choose sufering, but the church has ofen radically reflected the love of God when she has suffered(v 11).
Pray for those sufering for the sake of the gospel that: though they are troubled on every side they will not be troubled; though they are perplexed, they will not despair; though they are persecuted, they are not forsaken; and though they are cast down they will not be destroyed.
