RUGGED AND DOGGEDLY MADE
TEXT
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." (2 Corinthians 4 verses 8 to 10, King James Version)
The life of the Christian is one that is characterized by trials, persecutions and infamies in the world he lives in. For these, he's called upon to joy about.
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;" (James 1 verse 2). Not to go through these in the world could cast a serious doubt as to whether one is truly a Christian. At a time when the Apostles suffered, they went "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." (Acts 5 verse 41). In yet another place, Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Church reminding them that as Apostles, they were appointed to afflictions and tribulations (1st Thessalonians 3 verses 3 and 4).
It's amazing how the Apostles remained resilient in the face of what they went through. They went ahead with what they believed in, despite the onerous and trying ordeals that they encountered.
"But none of these things move me," says Apostle Paul in Acts 20 verse 24. Let's get him right. He didn't say that he was not hurt by the afflictions he went through. What he meant was that though he was probably hurt by what he went through, yet none moved him. The ill treatments and sufferings couldn't stop him from doing what the Master had called him to do. His loyalty to Christ and to His cause were what moved him, but nothing else. This is an important lesson for us as Christians. This is how we ought to stand!
As our Scripture reading for today says, "We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed. We carry the death of Jesus in our own bodies, so that the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies." (2nd Corinthians 4 verses 8 to10, International Children Bible). What an astounding statement of assurance, reminding us of who we are and Whose we are! Boy, I'm glad that I belong to Jesus! Though, we are not different kinds of persons in ourselves, there's something about us, we have a different kind of power in us. We are a different stock of people. We are not ordinary! Things that would crush other men cannot crush us because we have a power in us that makes us resilient. This is what makes us so rugged and dogged. As a Christian, you've got to understand that.
2nd Corinthians 4 verse 7 says it all.
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." Like the Biblical Samson whose strength laid in his Nazarite vow, our strength comes from the indwelling Spirit, Who is very God of creation. Dear Child of God, understand from henceforth that you carry in you a Treasure of inestimable value, even the Lord of glory. This translates to His Strength becoming your strength, His Power, becoming your power, His Wisdom, becoming your wisdom, etc. Do you realize that we carry God Himself in us? Do you realize that you carry in you all the power that could shake and transform the entire universe for God? I pray that our eyes be open to this truth, in Jesus name. Like someone said, "All the flippancy of the children of God would cease too if they realized the greatness of the treasure deposited within them." In the same vein, all the fear and anxiety that is characteristic of some of us will vanish once we get a hold of this truth! Praise the Lord!
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for taking Your residence in me, thereby filling me with Your entire Self and all it takes for me to live for You.