Suffering

II Corinthians 4:8-18

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; --

God enables us to "bounce back" from whatever works against us, whether it be sickness, doubt, attack, or any other kind of overpowering; we need never give up or give in.

always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, 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 that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. --

Paul was constantly being persecuted and slandered and attacked, so was near death much of the time. He was willing to risk death and opposition in order to teach God's Truth to the Corinthians. Paul knew Jesus had taken his (Paul's) place in death, so he, in effect, died with Him, so now he knows that he will also be Resurrected with Him. So he says that Jesus' death is working in himself so that the Corinthians can have life.

But having the same spirit of faith according to what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke" (Psalm 116:10), we also believe, therefore also we speak. --

Paul is saying that the same spirit that allowed the Psalmist to have the confidence in God to speak out is also in him (and in us) to say out loud what God has done for us and that He also wants to do for others.

Knowing that He Who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. --

All of Christ's church will be raised in Resurrection together.

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace that is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. --

Everything Paul has gone through so far in his missionary travels is for the good of the church in bringing the benefit to them by bringing more and more people into the knowledge of God, increasing the multitudes who will magnify and glorify God.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. --

Even though our physical bodies get sick and wounded and grow old and wear out, we can rejoice that our inner man, our spiritual parts, are growing stronger every day through the troubles we experience in this world.

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, --

No matter how serious and painful our problems are now, they are only temporary in this world; but are gaining for us so much more life and wealth and joy, more than we can even imagine, forever.

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. --

Our focus needs to be on what will last, not on what is only temporary. Anything we can see with our eyes, hear with our ears, and feel in our bodies, is only, in reality, for a very short time, and is not even worthy of our notice. When we focus on God and what He's preparing for us to enjoy for ever and ever, then whatever we are suffering through now looses its hold on us.

While we are here in this schoolhouse of an existence, we are to learn the lessons our Heavenly Father wants to teach us. I don't want to have to "repeat a grade" because I didn't pay attention the first time.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!