Today we read the entire book (13 chapters) of 2 Corinthians.

One of my favorite passages in this book is 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 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 be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you

I can summarize this passage in this way: Life is hard, but God is good. Life is hard. We know what Paul means when he talks about being hard-pressed, perplexed, struck down.

But let’s not lose this point–how we react to those hard things can display Jesus to others. By the way we hold up under the hard stuff, we bear witness to how good God is. When we go through those things that make us hurt, but doing it knowing that God is good, others see that and are drawn to our good God. That is what Paul means when he says “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”

What Biblical truths does God show us in these verses?
Life is hard, but God is good. We display God’s goodness when we persevere under hard stuff.


Since God tells us in the book of James to be doers of the Word and not merely hearers, how can I apply these Biblical truths to my life?
Today I will remember that the world is watching how I hold up under trial. I will seek to display God’s goodness, even when life is hard.


If you would like to be able to make comments on the blog entries, you will need to register an account. Click here to do that.