Paradoxes in the Christian Life
July 24
The Christian life is filled with paradoxes. Paul presents some in 2 Corinthians 4:2-12.
Not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, vs commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth. V. 4:2, CSB
Not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord. V. 5, CSB
We are afflicted in every way but not crushed. V. 8, CSB
We are perplexed but not in despair, V. 8, CSB
We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; V. 8, CSB
We are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. V. 9, CSB
We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. V. 10, CSB
For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesus’s life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh. V. 11, CSB
So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. V. 12, CSB
Our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day V. 16, CSB
Our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory V. 17, CSB
We do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. V. 18, CSB
Application
Whenever we experience difficulties, let’s apply Paul’s final description: Do not focus on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Unfortunately, we tend to live by what is seen and temporary. But there is way more to life! I have often told our church that the Spiritual realm is more real than the Physical realm that we experience through our five senses. Why? Because the Physical realm is temporary; it will be destroyed. (2 Peter 3:10–13) But he Spiritual realm is eternal.
As we will read tomorrow, Paul says that we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)