How Are We Delivered Unto Death for Jesus’ Sake?

How Are We Delivered Unto Death for Jesus’ Sake?

‘For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake. That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.’

As believers we long for Christ to be evident in our lives. For Christ to shine through us but for this light to shine there has to be death. The death of self and our will so that Christ might truly live through us.

‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it. But whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.’

‘For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.’

God shone the marvellous light of the gospel into our hearts and taught us the glory of God in Jesus Christ. Why? So that through us He might shine this light in the hearts of  others.

Are we worthy of this treasure?

No ‘But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.’

We are weak, easily broken and crushed like an earthen pot ‘But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;’ 

When the glorious light of Jesus shines through a simple clay pot then it’s evident that the glory is all His but self has to die first.

This being delivered unto death, this dying to self isn’t easy. It may mean much suffering and many trials and afflictions as it did for Paul.  

Are we, like Paul, troubled, perplexed, cast down or persecuted?

And yet although ‘troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;’

Ah dear soul, there’s no need for distress or despair, you’re not forsaken, this trouble isn’t to destroy you! But rather so that the glory of God In the face of Jesus Christ might shine all the brighter through you.

We are ‘always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,’ Why?

So ‘that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.’

Is this what you long for? The life of Jesus Christ manifested in us?

Then let self be crucified, receive the trials as permitted for your good by your loving Heavenly Father and trust Him to carry you through and use you as a vessel to shine through for His glory.

2 Cor 4:6-11, Luke 9:23-24, 1 Cor 1:27

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