2 Corinthians 4:7–12 ‘We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.’ (v10)
Mortality is a daily reminder that death awaits us, a reminder that whoever we are will disappear when we die. What is it that we consider the greatest prize in life? Jesus chose to obey His Father regardless of the consequences. This gave meaning to His life and ministry. Indeed, He taught that we, like Him, are to lay up treasure in heaven, and not false deposits of hope on earth (Matt. 6:19–21). Paul says that God’s grace is most easily perceived in fractured and broken lives (2 Cor. 12:9–10), how it is our everyday struggles that reflect the suffering of Jesus on the cross, the battle with everything that resists God’s kingdom breaking into our three-dimensional world.
The cross tells us that our mortal life will prove a struggle. There will be purple patches and nettle beds. When we feel impaled by life’s events, it is a season for struggle, with our sole encouragement that of Jesus enduring the cross and emerging victorious. We can also find resurrection, but some aspects of our life will be changed forever. Is this fair? Well, comparison with others, or some imagined measure of fairness, proves futile. Where would we begin? Is it fair that I am born in an established economy with educational and health advantages which peers born elsewhere in the world don’t enjoy? In working out the nature of our relationship with Christ and the world, we discover who we are and what we will choose to live for.
SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Psa. 119:49–56; Eccl. 3:1–8; Rom. 4:16–25; Col. 1:21–29.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: Are you in need of an anthem that resonates through the ups and downs of life, with the melodic accompaniment of enduring hope?
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, help me to be Your hands, feet and voice today in serving Your purpose. Amen.’
