"…On every side. In every way and on every occasion…Hard pressed…but not crushed. 'Pressed for room, but still having room.' The figure is that of a combatant sore pressed by his antagonist, but still finding room to turn himself. Perplexed, but not in despair. Constantly doubtful what way to take, and yet always finding some way open…to be at a loss as to what to say or do…to be absolutely shut up so as to have no way or means available. Persecuted, but not abandoned. That is, although God allowed men to persecute him and seek to destroy his life and usefulness, yet God never deserted him or gave him up to the power of those who thus followed him…Paul was not only persecuted or pursued by his enemies, but actually overtaken by them and cast to the ground—but not killed…He compares himself to a combatant, first hard pressed, then hemmed in, then pursued, then actually thrown down. This was not an occasional experience, but his life was like that of Christ, an uninterrupted succession of indignities and suffering….that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body…We are treated as he was treated; neglected, defamed, despised, maltreated; oppressed with hunger and thirst, and constantly exposed to death.…everywhere, from all sorts of people, the same kind of treatment that Christ himself had received…his preservation…should be a constant proof that Jesus lives and not only exercises a providential care over his servants, delivering them out of all their perils, but also attends their labors with his own divine effectiveness…The life of every believer is a manifestation of the life of Christ, for it is not we that live, but Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20)… |
