2 Corinthians 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Do you have a problem with always? Yes, me too. When I see the term always in scriptures I feel that sting of failure. It doesn’t seem to matter how good I am doing at any particular time in my life, as it pertains to walking by faith, always seems to apply to someone else. Always is difficult.

If I could pick one always to try and succeed at, perhaps this one would be a good one to hold true to in my life. His dying is where my sins were carried away. Now bearing in my body the knowledge or awareness of what Christ did for me that day would help me resist temptation. The awareness might help me bridle my tongue. The awareness might allow me to be more gracious to others who need more mercy than judgment. The awareness might remind me that I cannot do any of all that is asked of me without the fact that for this cause He died.

This manifest life of Christ cannot be seen if I am always putting myself forward. John the Baptist said it best when he declared that he had to recede so that Christ would be increased. I cannot do that if I am always thinking about myself. Always is easy when it comes to self.

Even as I write these words I think, “What am I trying to say?” It is so easy to slip right out of the always Jesus moment and back into self. He knows that. That’s another reason He died for us, forgiveness.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Paul didn’t say always here but might just as well have by using the word every.

It is good that Jesus sent us a Helper.