(2 Cor. 4:10-12)

"Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus." The apostle Paul applied to himself day by day the truth of the putting to death of Jesus. The Lord had died. He had died for Paid, and Paul had died with Him. Thus he could say of himself and of all believers, "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God"(Col. 3:3). And he reckoned himself "dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ" (Rom. 6:11). Carrying this out in his practical life, Paul refused that which was of the old and cultivated that which was of the new. For this, as for much else, "death is ours." It is the way of power and freedom. Of Goliath's sword David could say, "There is none like it." By it the giant's head had been removed. By the death of Christ we are delivered from the thraldom of sin and the domination of the law in order that in our freedom we may live unto God, but the flesh being still within us we are called to put to death our members upon the earth, to use the knife of self-judgment against every movement of the flesh in its desires. So pride, self-love, jealousy, self-sufficiency, as well as all grosser forms of sin, have to be put into and kept in the place of death.

'"That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." This is the thought of God for all His own -that in their bodies, once given over to self-gratification, "the life of Jesus" may be manifested.

Fragrant to God His Father, was our Lord's life on earth. The four Gospels tell out the Father's delight in His Son's way among men, and the Spirit of God presents the fourfold view of it that we may delight in it also. We wonder as we trace His path of faithfulness to God and of grace towards sinners. But that life in which He lived is now our life. As it is written, "When Christ, -who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory" (Col. 3:4). And again, "Christ liveth in me" (Gal. 2:20).

Something of that fragrance is to be produced in us even now. Careful should we be, then, that nothing should be allowed to hinder its manifestation. Christ lives in "His own" (and every true believer is one of them), that something of His graces and beauties may express themselves. He is no longer here personally, but His own are here, that He may shine out in them. Looks of love, words of love, acts of love, ways of love, such as were seen in Him, are now by the Holy Spirit's indwelling possible in the lives of all His redeemed ones.

So it is that we read, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control" (Gal. 5:22). These all came out in Christ in their perfection and these are in measure to come out in each Christian. This is God's thought for us, and should be ours. With this in view God helps us.

"For life which live." The apostle Paul is speaking of spiritual life. The Christian is living among the dead. He is spiritually alive where many around are spiritually dead. Just as in a cemetery a physically alive man may be encompassed by the physically dead, the child of God (being divinely quickened from his death in trespasses and sins) walks amid those who are still dead towards God. Thus it was with Paul.
"Are always delivered unto death." God applied to him, to Paul, day by day, "always," that which was death. Circumstances of difficulty and trial were rolled in upon him constantly, to check the workings of the flesh in him. A thorn for the flesh was given him, given him of God, though it was Satan's messenger, lest pride should overtake and overcome him. The experiences he recounts in verses 8 and 9 were all with this object.

"For Jesus' sake." That is for His pleasure, for His honor, for His loved one's prosperity and blessing. How well to look at all that which seems so contrary to our comfort naturally, and see written upon it, "For Jesus' sake." Happy indeed it is if we recognize the hand of our God acting for this in all things.

"That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." Thus the apostle's desire was furthered by the gracious action of God who had produced by His Spirit that desire in His servant. The result was produced in the success of the labor of the apostle. He could say, "So then death worketh in us, but life in you." His outward man, buffeted about on life's stormy billows, might perish; but through his means blessing flowed to those who listened to his ministry. The illustration has been used of the flower called the Sweet William. After it has flowered prettily the head dries and the seeds form. It becomes sere and brown as it dies. But the seeds are scattered and new flowers spring up around the dead stalk. Death works in the one that life may work in the others. As it has been said, "God exhibits death in the living that He may exhibit life in the dying."

The reason for few and feeble results in ministry may be traceable to the servant not being willing that death should work in him-not willing to endure suffering and deprivation. The words of our Lord Jesus should be borne in mind:"He that loveth his life shall lose it; he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." Accepting death to our natural inclinations may be the way of life, of a life that will last eternally. Inglis Fleming