Given over to death

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2 Corinthians 4:11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

I was contemplating this sentence from my readings today (2 Cor 4:7-12). "Always being given over to death" is the part that I was having trouble with. I do not die every day. I don't even get close to death (as far as I can tell). What does "given over to death" mean?

I thought about this and reread it several times. Then my recent study on Job popped into my mind. In Job, chapter 1 verse 8, God draws Satan's attention to "my servant Job".

Job 1: ⁷ The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

⁸ Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

I remember that in my study, this passage bothered me. I even wrote about it at the time. (see post "Job's purpose") Was this passage in Job an example of being given "over to death"? In 2 Corinthians, the word death is not capitalized as a name is but it could still mean that we are given over to evil as Job was given over to Satan.

If that is the case, we are given over to death (Satan, evil and other troubles) for Jesus' sake and if we act as we should, Jesus is revealed through us. When we react to negativity in positive ways, we are displaying the attributes that belong to Christ. Patience. Perseverance. Kindness. Forgiveness. Peace. Love. Joy. Generosity of spirit. Self-control. Faithfulness. Gentleness.

I know in my own walk I have grown in these traits. When my open purse falls onto the floor and everything falls out, I oftentimes just pick it up...without the griping that usually would pour from my lips. Sometimes, I even say a thank you to God that nothing was broken, or that the purse didn't land on my foot.

If those little (or even large) things can be considered "always being given over to death", I can understand this passage. It means that each time I react positively, as I expect Jesus would have, I am revealing the impact that Jesus has had on my life. Jesus has and is changing me. My reactions and actions should display Jesus more and more all the time.

Help me, Holy Spirit, grow so that all of life's distractions become opportunities to reveal Jesus in my life. Please forgive me for times when I abuse that opportunity by displaying my sinful nature. Thank you for continuing to mold me into Your image. Amen.

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