October 9, 2005

WE HAVE THIS TREASURE

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

 

   "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God , and not of us.

 

We are troubled on every side
yet we are yet not distressed,
we are perplexed
but we are not in despair,
we are persecuted
but we are not forsaken,
we are cast down
but we are not perishing,
We are always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus,
that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body
For we who 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 works in us
but life works in you.

 

   "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, 'I believed, and therefore I spoke.' We believe, and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might, through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God . Therefore we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:7-16).

   God's frail humble servants, following the pattern of the Lord Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry, are kept by God through thick and thin, yet they can take no glory this side of resurrection, after which we shall be presented together before the Lord. This demonstrates His favorite saying, "Whosoever saves his life shall lose it, but whoso loses his life for My sake shall find it." (Mt. 16:25).

 

Ivan L. Burgener