OUR BODIES Devotion 6 of 15 The Apostle Paul was acutely aware of the role of the body in the faith-life. He interpreted the difficulties through which he was led as an opportunity for God to be glorified in his body. Hear him reason. "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. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor 4:8-11). – Tomorrow:
" . . . Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body . . . Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? . . . Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:13-20, KJV).
Paul provides internal and external perspectives; spiritual and fleshly. On the inside--within the human spirit--he was "NOT crushed . . . NOT in despair . . . NOT abandoned . . . and NOT destroyed." On the outside, or bodily, it appeared as though he was "hard pressed . . . perplexed . . . persecuted . . . and struck down." His body – as well as yours – is identified with both the death and life of Jesus. "We always carry around in our body THE DEATH of Jesus," as seen in the world's repudiation of us. Having been "translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son," we no longer harmonize with the "fashion of this world," which is passing away (Col 1:13; 1 Cor 7:31). The difficulties and oppositions of life are thus associated with Christ's death, in which we have participated. As it is written, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism INTO DEATH: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4). And again, "Now if we be DEAD WITH CHRIST, we believe that we shall also live with him" (Rom 6:8). "Wherefore if ye be DEAD WITH CHRIST from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances" (Col 2:20).
Another expression of this twofold view is found in the sixth chapter Second Corinthians. "But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God . . . By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Cor 6:4-10). Those judged the Apostles according to the flesh, seeing only their bodies, charged them with dishonor, evil report, and being deceivers. According to the flesh they appeared to be unknown, dying, chastened, and having nothing. However, according to the Spirit they possessed honor, a good report, and were true. In Christ they were well known, alive, not killed, always rejoicing, making many rich, and possessing all things.
All of these responses, whether from the godly or the ungodly, were being made manifest in their bodies. The life of Jesus was being revealed in their "mortal bodies." That is how Paul saw it – it is the Pauline perspective. He saw it, whether anyone else did or not. It is essential that a godly persuasion of this sort be found in you also.
Because we have been "destined . . . to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess 5:9, NRSV), much is being revealed through us. Our bodies, given to God as a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1-2), become a means of displaying the life of Christ. This is in order that "the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh." What a marvelous way to perceive the body. In fact, it is the only acceptable way to see it!
PRAYER POINT: Father, may more of Your Son be seen in my body.