Thurs., 3/5/20 Devotion (2 Cor. 4:10)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 4:10, where we read these words:

" . . . always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."

One of the best things about Christian suffering is that it does so much good for ourselves and the rest of the church. Believers are united to Jesus Christ. The church is His metaphorical and mystical "body." To be joined to Christ means that we are bonded to Him in both His death *and* His resurrection. Without being "crucified with" Christ, we cannot be "raised with" Him.

Therefore, let us look upon our most difficult heart-struggles today with a dif-ferent eye—the eye of faith. What is hard now, helps ourselves and others now, (in ways that we cannot fully understand). And, if we are willing to suffer *with* Jesus, we will also enjoy and experience His glory, in this world, and in the one to come, (cf. Rom. 8:17).

[Augustine quote of the day: “Thus, a person who evaluates according to rea-son has far more freedom of choice than one who is driven by need or influ-enced by passion.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 11.]