“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-11

We celebrated Easter eleven days ago. We heard about the empty tomb. We read and heard the words from our Risen Savior. These two verses remind us today, that we ALWAYS carry around in our body the death of Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote ‘Always’.

I have written about Eternal rewards a few times this week and we can see the temporal reward woven into the lines of those verses from 2 Corinthians. I am of the opinion that this is part of what Paul meant when he wrote, that the life of Jesus "may also be revealed in our mortal body." Can you possibly imagine a more satisfying and encouraging reward than deeply realizing that our actions are visible expressions of Christ to others.

And Paul went on to write in verse 15 of this same chapter “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” It's not hidden; you can feel it bubbling inside as the Spirit uses your time, treasures and talent to serve others for our Risen Savior. The Lord comes up front and says that when you and I take the role of a servant, there is the joyful realization that a thankful spirit is being stimulated. And who gets the glory? Me? Nope. God gets the glory. Every drop. It overflows!

Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

May God be with you,

Jay