Though Our Bodies Are Dying, Our Spirits Are Being Renewed Every Day
Never Give Up
2 CORINTHIANS 4:15-18
“For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
”II Corinthians 4:15-18 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.4.15-18.NKJ
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Paul suffered as he preached the Good News; he struggled with trials, suffering and destress daily. But he knew that the day was approaching when the suffering would be over.
He understood affliction produces glory, and the glory far outweighs the affliction (MARK 10:30).
He knew that the suffering was temporary and he would in time, receive God’s rest and reward.
As we face our trials and challenges, it is easy to focus on the pain and suffering rather than on our ultimate goal of salvation.
Just as athletes ignore the discomfort and remain focused on the finish line, we believers must ignore the discomfort and focus on God’s promises; the reward for our faith and the joy and contentment that will last forever.
Just like Paul, their are moments when we lose heart. We have all faced problems in our lives that have caused us to contemplate giving up. But Paul, rather than giving up, concentrated on the inner strength that comes from the Holy Spirit (EPHESIANS 3:16).
Like Paul, you don’t have allow fatigue, pain, or criticism force you from your job.
Renew your commitment to serving Christ. Don’t allow the intensity of today’s pain steel your eternal reward; call upon the Holy Spirit to renew your strength; your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you more moment by moment.
Our trials and challenges should not diminish our faith or disillusion us. We need to understand that there is purpose to our suffering.
God uses our sufferings to teach and build us, that we become perfect and complete needing nothing (see JAMES 1:2-4).
In deed, God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them (ROMANS 8:28).
Our ultimate hope when experiencing troubles, illness, persecution, or pain is the realisation that this life is not all there is; that truly, the best is yet to come.
There is life after death; life with God, that is not only wonderful, pain free and perfect, it is eternal. ( see REVELATION 21:3-7).
The truth is, for Gods people, pain and death is just a doorway into resurrection life.
My beloved, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:31-39 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
