READ
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. (2 Corinthians 4:7–14, NKJV)
REFLECT
The treasure in earthen vessels is God’s own life inside my human body. The power I live in is no longer my human strength but God’s Grace.
I am hard pressed on every side by evil in the world (the entire system apart from Christ), my own flesh (internal disordered desires), and demons (attack my thoughts), but I am not crushed because God’s grace is in me. I am perplexed because I don’t like this conflict all the time, but I am not in despair because God is with me and will deliver me. I am persecuted because the world does not understand the treasure I have and they hate it because it convicts their soul, but I am not forsaken, I must be courageous and stand firm in my faith. I may be struck down but I will not be destroyed, even if death I am delivered to my new eternal body.
It seems I am like Jesus, being crucified in the flesh so that the life of grace is manifested in me. This is so the Glory of Jesus is shown in my mortal flesh.
Because I believe God in the Spirit of this Faith, He will raise up my body from the fleshy one to a new immortal one just like God did in Jesus. Therefore I tell the truth of these things so others may believe and together we can be raised to life with Jesus.
PRAY
God, you have come to live inside me. You are giving me grace to live by your view, instead of living from a human point of view. I see I am definitely hard pressed from all areas around and even internally. Please deliver me!
The world (the entire system apart from Christ), my own flesh (internal disordered desires), and demons (attack my thoughts) are a constant barrage attacking me. But your grace is stronger. I am weak and get tired of the battle. I even sometimes am in denial and think it’s not that bad…then I succumb to doing things I don’t want to do.
Please my God, pick me up, dust me off from the dirt that has clung to me and help me stand strong in YOU! I cannot get through this life even one second without you. Help me pick up my cross and be courageous and joyful that you are giving me the grace to be like Jesus. I am to be conformed to his likeness. Save me, I give myself to you my LORD! No matter what I go through, even in death I will be delivered! Amen.
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