Today we continue our new series entitled, “Press through it!”
We have been walking our way through the following passage for quite some time now. Let’s go back to it today.
“We have this treasure from God, but we are only like clay jars that hold the treasure. This is to show that the amazing power we have is from God, not from us. We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We often don’t know what to do, but we don’t give up. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed. So we constantly experience the death of Jesus in our own bodies, but this is so that the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies. We are alive, but for Jesus we are always in danger of death, so that the life of Jesus can be seen in our bodies that die.”
(2 Corinthians 4:7-11 ERV)
Today I will focus in on this line: “So we constantly experience the death of Jesus in our own bodies, but this is so that the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies.” The Passion Bible translation of this statement reads: “We continually share in the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the resurrection life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity.” This is a powerful statement. We will discuss it for the next few days. I will attempt to lay the groundwork for the discussion today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. We are called to live JUST LIKE JESUS in this world.
a) It is the will of God that we live like Jesus lived in this world. Jesus was God in the flesh. He was the incarnation of the Father. Our mandate is to be the continuation of His incarnation.
b) When people come in contact with us they are supposed to come in contact with Jesus. As Jesus is, so are we, in this world (1 Jn 4:17).
c) Jesus was not just an example FOR us. He was an example OF us. He died, but He lives on. He lives on IN us! We are His legs to walk and His mouth to talk today.
d) In ??2 Corinthians? ?5:14,15 the Apostle Paul said, “?For it is Christ’s love that fuels our passion and motivates us, because we are absolutely convinced that he has given his life for all of us. This means all died with him, so that those who live should no longer live self-absorbed lives but lives that are poured out for him—the one who died for us and now lives again.” The Bible says that we died with Jesus. His death is our death. Why is this true? It’s true so His life can be our life. Jesus died, but He lives on. He lives on in us. You may be the only Jesus someone may ever see. Remember that as you enter this day.
2. If we are going to LIVE LIKE JESUS, we should expect the same treatment He received.
a) If it is true that Jesus lives on IN us, then we must expect the world to treat us the way it treated Him. Our text teaches us that we experience the death of Jesus, so the life of Jesus can be seen in our bodies. The persecution Jesus experienced is the persecution we will experience. As we experience it, and we do not respond as mere men — because we respond the way God leads us to respond — the life of Jesus is seen in our bodies. We become walking/talking examples of what Jesus was like on this planet.
b) Jesus said, “Remember the lesson I told you: Servants are not greater than their master. If people treated me badly, they will treat you badly too… They will do to you whatever they did to me, because you belong to me.” (John 15:20,21). If we belong to Jesus, then we should expect the world to treat us the way it treated him.
c) If the world treated Jesus bad, and Jesus lives in us, then the world is going to treat us bad. But just like Jesus had the grace to press through the opposition, we have the same grace. What was on Jesus is on us. Who was IN Jesus (the Holy Spirit) is IN us. The love the Father poured out on Jesus is now being poured out on us. So what Jesus did is what we can do. Opposition cannot stop us. The more the enemy attempts to cause us to experience the death of Jesus, the more the life of Jesus is seen in us, with us and through us, as we face challenges the way He would face them.
d) See the persecution as a badge of honor. If Jesus was persecuted, and He lives in you, then you should be honored to receive the same treatment He did. You are no less than Jesus Himself. The way the world saw Jesus is the way it now sees you.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I am privileged to live AS JESUS IS, in this world. You see me no different than You saw Your own Son. You love me with the same love You loved Him with. As a matter of fact, when You look at me, You see me covered with the Blood of Your Son. You are reminded that Jesus died for me and that He now lives IN me. You filled me with the same Holy Spirit You filled Him with. And You now send me into the world to continue what He started. The world will treat me the same way it treated Him and I take that treatment as a badge of honor. AS JESUS IS, so am I, in this world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
