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by Kevin Pauley
We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus' life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. - 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 HCSB
Elohim is not interested in religiosity or ascetic practices. His foremost concern is a broken spirit. He is always attracted to broken, humbled hearts.[1]
While it is true that He considers our physical deaths valuable,[2] what He truly seeks from His disciples is an ability to take up their cross (whatever burden, affliction, talent, resource, authority or responsibility they have in this world), die to their own sinful, ambitious sinful desires, and follow Him.
Those who seek to “save” their lives, clinging to their pitiful hopes and dreams at the expense of obedience, will lose them. Those who are willing to “lose” their lives, recognizing that they don’t even really know what “good” is, will find true life.[3] Thus, in every situation, regardless of the context, the Ransomed seek to make the Lord Jesus’ authority and glory increase while they willingly allow their own to decrease.[4]
In this, we imitate our Master who was willing to disregard His own desires and comfort for our sakes. Though He existed in the form of God, He did not consider His stature or position as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead, He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death - even to death on a cross.[5]Like a grain of wheat, He was willing to die and be buried so that a large, living crop could be harvested.[6]
This death, this sacrifice that our Lord became for us, we always carry with us. It marks us, changes us and uniquely identifies us. The principle of ego-death is the very basis of the Ransomed life. We seek to reveal, to illustrate, to explain and to elucidate this wonderful truth in our daily walk. We make our lives conform to the principle of death to self so that Jesus’ life may be revealed in the daily activities of our mortal flesh.[7]
As difficult as this may be, we do not give up, knowing that even though our desires, ambitions, philosophies and thought patterns are being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. The momentary light afflictions we may suffer are considered to be absolutely incomparable to the eternal weight of glory. We do not focus on what is seen: promotions, success, materialism, personal favor, or even human relationships. Each of these is temporary. Instead, we focus on the eternal and (to the world) invisible kingdom of God.[8]
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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