March 3

For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body. — 2 Cor 4:11 BSB

What is meant by the expression “our mortal flesh”? It doesn’t refer to the carnal mind, but rather to our physical bodies, our earthly vessels. This is similar to the phrase earlier in the chapter: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” It is in this frail, imperfect body, burdened with weaknesses, that the life of Jesus is made manifest. This divine life often shows itself in fervent prayers, in the exercise of living faith, in the sweet fellowship believers have with each other, in reading Scripture, in the application of God’s promises, and in hearing the Word preached. From time to time, it wells up like a spring. Though it may sometimes run underground, buried under the weight of our mortal flesh, it resurfaces again and again, drawn out by the Sun of Righteousness. “Spring up, O well.” The rising of this life is always proportionate to its sinking.

As we stop praying in our own strength, we pray more in the Spirit; as we stop hoping in our flesh, we place our hope in the Lord; as we stop believing with mere head knowledge, we believe with the heart. When we see the end of all human perfection, we begin to find perfection in Christ. When we recognize nothing in ourselves but sin, misery, and wretchedness, we start to experience spiritual comfort. In this way, as our fleshly nature decreases, the life of Jesus increases and is made manifest in our mortal bodies.

Is your soul longing for sweet experiences of the life of Jesus? Where should you go to find them? What does the Word of God say? “Where does wisdom come from? Where is understanding found? It is hidden from the eyes of all living; destruction and death say, ‘We have only heard a rumor of it’” (Job 28:20-22).

Until we experience the destruction of fleshly hopes and the death of man-made religion, we don’t even hear rumors of true wisdom. But when we enter into darkness, light begins to shine; when we face despair, hope rises; when we struggle with unbelief, faith emerges. The wisest are those who have set aside human wisdom; the strongest are those who have come to know their own weakness; the holiest are those who are most aware of their own sinfulness. True religion arises as we die to our own religious efforts, and in proportion to the death of the flesh, the life of Jesus rises and reveals itself to us.