Thursday, July 30, 2009
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
STRUCK DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED
Our lives are full of difficulty, pain, sorrow, sickness and distress. We are constantly "hard pressed," "perplexed," "persecuted," and "struck down." Paul reminds us that we carry in our bodies sin and its natural result--death. When we face difficulties in our lives we are reminded of why Jesus came to this earth--what He came to accomplish for us.
Death is constantly at work in us every day of our lives, but through the Spirit of God, we are also made alive--spiritually. "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." Paul goes on to assure us that the suffering that we face now is only temporary, while we look forward to the blessings of God that are eternal.
It is easy for us to get discouraged when everything around us seems to be falling apart. But those are the things that are seen, and we are to keep our mind on what cannot be seen. Knowing what our Savior has done and the eternal blessings He has prepared for us though His death and resurrection, Paul says, "Therefore we do not lose heart."
Knowing what our Savior has done, and what He has prepared for us, we can have confidence that though we are hard pressed, perplexed and struck down, we will not be forsaken, we will not despair, and we will not be destroyed. Our Savior Who has defeated sin and death is by our side!
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 427:4)
