Belligerent
| But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2Corinthians4:7-9) |
This is a word that can be used of all the heroes of the faith.
We are not guaranteed an easy life - in fact, Jesus promised the opposite. He said: "In this world you will have trouble but take heart: I have overcome the world."
We are people of the resurrection:
Our Saviour took the worst that sin, Satan and brokenness could throw at Him and triumphed. He rose from the dead, proving that you just can't defeat love.
As followers of Jesus, we are clay pots. Fragile. Chipped. Cracked. But there is treasure inside: The power of the Holy Spirit and the resilience of love make us people who can face trouble and heartache and be overcomers.
- Hard-pressed?
Yes, but circumstances and criticism. But not crushed! - Perplexed?
Yes, things go wrong and we don't understand. But we don't despair! - Persecuted?
Yes, people resist and mock us, but God never leaves us! - Struck down?
Yes. But physical and spiritual setbacks, but God keeps us from being destroyed.
Ours is a belligerent faith - It faces trouble because our Saviour did and it has courage because our Saviour did. It loves no matter what because that's what our Saviour did.
