Bible Study Break - II Corinthians 4: 8 - 18

II Corinthians 4:8 - 18
(Paraphrased in my words, this is the whole passage as revealed to me.)
Ministry and following after Jesus breeds ground for being hard pressed on every side- like a flower press or a wheat grinder. Being perplexed or full of doubt and uncertainty; persecution or being harassed, constantly resulting in injury or distress (Struck down or beaten) and the death of Jesus is carried around in us so we are always given over to death.

Strangely enough this is a passage of hope because even though those are written as if guarantees, there are responding promises of life and hope to go with each angle of concern or death.

We are promised to never be crushed while being hard pressed; we won't be in despair or distress while being perplexed; we can't be destroyed by those who strike us down. And while it's true that we carry the death of Jesus with us- it's so that the life of Jesus can be revealed in us. And through the life in Jesus, when we die or are given over to death, it reveals who He is through our mortality. So the death (of our mortal, fleshly, desires, our "before Christ" selves) shows off Christ's life at work in us.

With faith we believe, and if we believe we speak (the gospel, the truth, the treasure) Because the One who raised Jesus also has the power to raise us and present us in His presence. And get this, it's for our benefit! It's for us to see the grace that is reaching more and more people. This is cause for us to have thanksgiving and have it overflow to the Glory of God!

So, we cannot lose heart. Though on the outside we are always wasting away. On the inside, we are being renewed, not just once, but daily. For these things that are coming at us are just light and momentary troubles. These things are actually working for and achieving for us an eternal glory and reward that so outweighs them all.

In light of this we need to fix our eyes (or my heart, soul, mind and strength) on nothing that we visibly see, because anything that we can look at is temporary. But we need to focus on what is unseen, because those things will last for eternity.