For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.–2 Cor. 4:11
The key here is “for Jesus sake”. That describes why his enemies hated him and the motivation for his ministry. Jesus paid the ultimate price to deliver sinful man from his wretched condition and Paul was willing to do as his Master. What price would you pay for the same? Remember– others can be saved only by Christ being made known to them, and God has chosen to involve us in that process. We are His witnesses. Although this work is pleasurable it is not painless. Service requires suffering. Sadly many shrink back from their duty due to difficulty and danger. But Paul was different. In his mind no price was too steep, no cost was too great, and no burden was too heavy to keep him from his duty, which I might add was also his delight. He laid his life on the line daily for the sake of making Christ known.
It was this sacrificial spirit that made his ministry effective and enabled him to emulate Christ. But it did even more. He himself was edified as a result of his suffering. His character was forged and formed on the fiery trials and the anvil of suffering. That’s why he could “glory in tribulation””. Like the Psalmist, he could say, “it is good for me that I have been afflicted”(Ps.119:71). In other words, what hurt him helped him.
Could not, should not the same be said of us? Better men than we have suffered worse than we. Should we then complain. Back to Jesus for a moment—Knowing full well what awaited Him, He set His face like a flint toward Jerusalem where He would be crucified. This He did for the sake of others. Shall we then resent the difficulties of duty? Surely we would not be so arrogant and bold as to request exemption from troubles and trials if they be the means of making the life of Jesus “manifest”to others. Should we not be embarrassed to give less than our best for the sake of Him who gave all for us? While none of us enjoy pain, we can take pleasure in knowing what it can produce. Let us then embrace it as a friend rather than hold it at arms length like a foe. What hurts us can help us help those who are hurting. The product makes the pain worth the price.
