Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland
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discern<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Lord's body." 1 Cor<strong>in</strong>thians 11:29.<br />
This, <strong>in</strong> fact, is <strong>the</strong> basic difference between sa<strong>in</strong>ts<br />
and s<strong>in</strong>ners.<br />
When this discernment dawned on <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d of<br />
Paul, it worked an immense transformation <strong>in</strong> him.<br />
And <strong>the</strong> same transformation is worked <strong>in</strong> you and<br />
me if we "discern" <strong>the</strong> Lord's body and believe:<br />
"The love of Christ constra<strong>in</strong>eth us; because we<br />
thus judge, that if one died for all, <strong>the</strong>n were all<br />
dead [that is, all would be dead]: and that he died<br />
for all, that <strong>the</strong>y which live should not [that is, will<br />
f<strong>in</strong>d it impossible] henceforth [to] live unto<br />
<strong>the</strong>mselves, but unto him which died for <strong>the</strong>m, and<br />
rose aga<strong>in</strong>." 2 Cor<strong>in</strong>thians 5:14, 15.<br />
In this passage Paul is talk<strong>in</strong>g about how<br />
people th<strong>in</strong>k he may have lost his m<strong>in</strong>d. Why<br />
devote himself so untir<strong>in</strong>gly to <strong>the</strong> service of<br />
Christ? Why not settle down <strong>in</strong> a comfortable villa<br />
by <strong>the</strong> Mediterranean and enjoy a well-earned<br />
retirement? Why keep on and on <strong>in</strong> those long<br />
missionary journeys, stoned, imprisoned, beaten,<br />
shipwrecked, maligned, "<strong>in</strong> deaths oft"?<br />
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