Year 8, Day 87: 2 Corinthians 4

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What does the life of the Christian look like?  Paul gives us a great description here.  “We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways.  We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s Word. By the open statement of truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”

The Christian is one who renounces deceitful behavior.  We don’t look to trap others.  We don’t look to step on other people to put ourselves in a better position.  We don’t give false testimony about God and His ways.  We devote ourselves to being seen as a blessing into the lives of other people.

Why do we do these things?  Paul goes on to tell us that, too.  We do it for the sake of Jesus.  We do it so that we carry the crucified savior wherever we go.  We do it so that in our affliction we show perseverance.  In our persecution we are not destroyed.  We do it to show that one can live in this world but not be of it.  We do it to show that the God-infused character of the human being can rise above the world.

We do it for the sake of the rest of the world, just as Christ came and died for the world.  We put aside our sinful humanity so that we may look to the other and display a divine love.  We do it to show that while our exterior is being worn down, our inner character is built up and renewed every day by God.  We do it to show an eternal character to a transient world.

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