Life Is At Work In You

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:8-18

It is easier for us to focus on our problems than on God’s love.

The Apostle Paul’s life was certainly an example of a cross-shaped perspective. He described himself in times of suffering as being “persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

He believed that in the hard times, God is at work, “Achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.”

To “fix our eyes…on what is unseen” doesn’t mean we minimize the problems.

Jesus gave His life for us. His love is deep and sacrificial. As we look at like “through the cross,” we see His love and faithfulness. And our trust in Him grows.

Look at everything through the cross.

Our Daily Bread – July 19, 2018