Given Over to Death

Given Over to Death

2 Corinthians 4:10–12 “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 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. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” (NIV)

This passage raises some questions. Here are some of them:
How do we carry the death of Jesus around in our bodies?
How does carrying His death reveal His life?
How are we always being given over to death?
How does this reveal His life?
What does it mean for death to be at work in “us” and life to be at work in “you?”

As we live life in Christ we sometimes find that the godly choices into which Holy Spirit leads us often result in our loss for the gain and growth of others. It is a selfless kind of life that puts the needs of others ahead of our desire for comfort, recognition, or worldly acceptance. The spiritual fruit we bear is outward focused in large measure. Love, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, even self-control are traits that benefit and bless those around us. Peace and joy, the remaining two aspects of His fruit, are more inward benefits to us. So in this unselfish way of living, we die to the fleshly desires or "our" life in favor of the godly desires and works of His life being lived through us.