To Encourage You

2 Corinthians 4:11 “For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

Do you think that because you are a follower of Christ, wonderful things are likely to follow you around in this life?  Certainly, following Christ is a wonderful thing, but the wonderful things that are a part of it are often so very unexpected and other than we might choose. 

In the verse above Paul is talking about the constant persecution and conflict that followed him as he followed Christ.  Just before he wrote this verse he spoke about being “afflicted in every way . . . perplexed . . . struck down.”  Everywhere he turned he faced opposition, the same opposition that he had inflicted on others before he had become a believer.  However, in spite of these hardships, Paul says that he is “not crushed . . . not forsaken . . . not in despair . . . and not destroyed.”  He talks about how as each trouble entered his life and assaulted his frail body, the power and life of Christ within him was given another opportunity to be displayed. 

He gives one such example in his letter to the church at Philippi, a letter that he had written from prison in Rome.  Here he says “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:12-14).  In other words, Paul’s imprisonment had opened a door for the gospel message to reach Roman royalty, something that would not have been very likely otherwise. Also, as he endured this suffering, other believers were encouraged to become more bold in sharing God’s Word.  As they watched Paul endure with patience and joy, their thoughts were “if he can do this for Jesus’ sake, maybe we can as well.”

Paul’s message has much to say to us in our day and age.  While we may not face time in a Roman jail, we do face trials of many other kinds.  We are subject to all the same illnesses and troubles as the nonbelievers around us.  We may even face mistreatment at the hands of people who have no time for Christ or for anyone who wants to talk about Him.  It’s in those moments that we are placed in situations and interactions with people that we would probably never otherwise choose.  People watch other people. They observe how they react to hardships. They notice if you fall to pieces when trials come, or if you endure with a peace and joy that only Christ can give. They notice how you and I react to their actions toward us, especially if those actions are less than good. Do we react like they would, or are we different, returning good for evil? 

Jesus spoke of this with these words: “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:32-36).

Did you hear that?  “Be merciful – even to the ungrateful and evil – even as your Father is merciful.”  You see, it’s in just such times that the reality of the life of Christ (or not) is made manifest in our lives like no other.  So, are things difficult in your life right now? Are there things that you’d really rather be other than they are?  Well, it’s in just such times, as believers, we are to be alert to the opportunities God may be placing in our lives to share the message of eternal hope that He’s placed within our souls.  This awesome message, this treasure  He has placed in our frail bodies, “jars of clay,” if you will. But it’s when those jars are broken that this treasure spills out often in powerful ways to touch others, all “to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).