"He leadeth me" - what a pleasant thought - or is it? "For we who are living are always being HANDED OVER TO DEATH." It seems that our heavenly Father delights to show His own character in us by causing our earthen vessels to be continually oppressed, crushed, perplexed, and struck down. Through always bearing about in our flesh the "putting to death" of the Lord - the Life of Jesus becomes manifest in OUR MORTAL BODY.
When you stop and think about it, how else is the world going to realize that we contain the life of God? The excellency of His power can only become evident if we are continually given over to difficulties that would destroy a normal person. Through always being given over to death - the LIFE of Christ can become manifest in our MORTAL body. If a mortal body is continually surviving troubles that destroy the life of others- something IMMORTAL must be hidden within!
No one had more of this IMMORTAL LIFE than the apostles. That is why God put them on display as the last men in a procession of captives, men condemned to death, a spectacle to the world - both to angels and men. The apostles were made as "the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things." And how did they respond to being placed in such a condition as this? Paul said -"being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we forebear; being blasphemed, we encourage."
In this way Paul and the apostles and all who come to share in the fellowship in Christ's sufferings are led in a triumphant procession - like lambs to the slaughter." That's the real triumph over the world - becoming like the Lamb Who was Slain! Dying that others may live!
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