Sacrificial To Fruitful Clay Pots

Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

 So death works in us, but life in you.

 

2 Corinthians 4:10-12

 

 

At the beginning of this Scripture we see the word always, which indicates the unrelieved nature of Paul's suffering… sacrificial suffering was a way of life for him. The truth that Paul was continually carrying about in his body the dying of Jesus was a powerful rebuttal to the allegations that others bestowed on him.

 

They argued that Paul suffered because God was chastening him for secret sin, but in reality he suffered at the hands of evil men because of his identification with Jesus Christ. Those who hate the Lord persecute His people. Therefore Paul's trails, far from being a sign of God's displeasure, were actually a badge of honor (See 2 Corinthians 1:5; Galatians 6:17; Philippians 3:10; Colossians 1:24).

 

Suffering for the cause of Christ should be of no surprise to us, as Jesus Himself predicted it:

 

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master (Matthew 10:16-24).

 

 

Paul's suffering was not for himself but for the building up of the Body of Christ. He literally looked death in the face regularly so he could bring the message of eternal life to the Corinthians—he was even willing to die physically so that they could live spiritually. It was Paul's joyous privilege to suffer in bringing the gospel to others, who then became the fruit of his courageous endurance.

 

How many times have you had the opportunity to share Jesus Christ with others only to be shot down?

 

Did you get up dust yourself off and continue on boldly proclaiming the gospel for God's glory alone?