[December 15]
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. II Corinthians 4:10
WE UNDERSTAND Paul here to be referring to
the human body. The new creature owns this body.
With the people of the world there are not two personalities,
but merely the one creature. This quality
of personality is applicable only to those who have
been begotten of the Holy Spirit. The old body is suffering;
but the new creature rejoices, glad to be in
the service—gives thanks to God day by day respecting
its tribulations, knowing that these are working
out "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory." Thus the life of Jesus is manifested through
us to the world, and to the brethren. The world cannot
understand. They say, "If I were in your place
in such a trial, I would be miserable. But you are
rejoicing!" So they cannot understand. But we have
a newness of life that the world cannot appreciate.
All who can appreciate this should daily grow in grace
and knowledge. We should show forth more and more
of the Lord's life in our characters and in our bodies.
Thus we shall be manifesting more and still more of
the Lord's Spirit, doing more of the Lord's work, becoming
more like Jesus—all of which will prepare us
for the glory beyond, when the new creature shall be
completed, when all the perfections and glories of
the new nature will be ours. Z'15-121 R5671:6(Hymn
13)