Once More on the Resurrection and Sanctification

Day By Day By Grace

Bob Hoekstra

March 25, 2010


For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which
came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above
strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence
of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God
who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does
deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.
(2 Corinthians 1:8-10)

Our passage speaks again of the Lord's resurrection power operating in
our daily Christian lives, in the process of sanctification and
spiritual growth. The setting in which the Lord did this resurrecting
work was in the midst of trials while Paul and his team were serving
God.

Paul did not want other believers to be unaware of his difficulties.
"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which
came to us in Asia." Too often, we are tempted to keep our struggles
totally private. Thereby, we rob glory from God when He delivers us.
Also, we keep others from learning important lessons that come from
watching God fulfill the faithful promises of His word.

Paul's battles were severe on this occasion. "We were burdened beyond
measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had
the sentence of death in ourselves." Spiritually speaking, these trials
were "killing" Paul and his missionary team. They were pressed down,
overwhelmed, helpless, and hopeless. When we are in hopeless despair,
our sufferings seem to be pointless. Yet, our difficulties (like
Paul's) have this invaluable purpose built into them: "that we should
not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead." We have
frequently noted that living by grace requires humility and faith. God
gives grace to the humble, and faith accesses grace. Well, in the
trials of life, God is working on developing these relational realities
(spiritual realities that become real through a growing relationship
with Jesus).

Trials and difficulties become occasions to be humbled before God. We
are provoked to cry out to God in helplessness. Also, trials present
new opportunities to trust in the Lord. When the trials are intense,
God is purging us of the primary obstacle to trusting in God, and that
is self-trust. "Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we
should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead." Thus,
convinced that we cannot handle it, we call upon God, who faithfully
resurrects us from our circumstantial death: "Who delivered us from so
great a death." Thereby, faith grows, bringing assurance that He will
continue to rescue us: "and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He
will still deliver us."

O Lord, my Deliverer, come to my aid in the trials that bury me in
despair. Show me where I am trusting in myself. Purge me of self-trust.
I want to embrace humility and put my trust in You. Resurrect me, Lord,
in Jesus' name, Amen.