Posted on March 28, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters
Don’t lose Heart!
Why not?
Because, “… though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,” (2 Cor 4:16-17).
It is the unrelenting focus on our physical and material circumstances that blinds us to the fantastic and eternal work that our God is accomplishing by conforming us to the image of Christ, which is establishing an eternal joy in our souls.
Paul tells us this renewal is without distinction and anchored in the ‘true knowledge of the One who created him’ (Col 3:10). He goes on to say this renewal of those ‘who believe’ involves, “…clothing yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Making allowances for each other’s faults, and forgiving anyone who offends you.
For we must remember, the Lord forgave us, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:12-13). But more importantly than all of this, “clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony” (V.14).
For when we humble ourselves, submitting to God’s work in our lives and stop focusing on the physical and material stuff that so easily distracts us; we ‘let the peace that comes from Christ rule in our hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful”(v.15). When we do this, we “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill our lives.”
It is here that Paul returns to the clay vessel analogy that depicts us as carrying around the “glory or Spirit of Christ in our decaying bodies for the purpose of ‘teaching and counseling each other with all the wisdom God gives,’ causing us ‘to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.’ And always remembering that ‘whatever we do or say, we must do it as a representatives of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father’”(Vs. 16-17).
You are not left alone to do this yourself… remember the key is “God himself has prepared us for this purpose, and as a guarantee to His promises, He has given us His Holy Spirit to help and encourage us. So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord; for we live by believing in His Word and not by trusting in our own seeing or doing.” (2 Cor 5:5-7)
Please don’t be distracted or discouraged by your present circumstances, God is at work renewing you… using these ‘temporary afflictions’ to remove ‘the ‘sins’ that so easily derail us, and keeps us from running with endurance the race that is He has set before us’ (Heb 12:1).
Look to Jesus, ‘the One who is at work perfecting your faith… who for the joy set before Him in bringing Glory to the Father, He endured the Cross, despising it’s Shame (momentary afflictions), and now sits at the right hand of God as your Advocate.
Now consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself for your sake, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
You are not on your own; the same Spirit that rests in Him is in you too. Trust Him to do his work in you.
Choose wisely…
“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)
Praying you trust Christ today
Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is the Associate Pastor of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church. He is the author of two devotional books, “From a Chair by the Window.” And “#PrayerWinsThe Day”.
Think About This: “Often God will take away something you never expected losing, to bless you and replace it with something you’ve never expected to receive! –Unknown Author
The Daily Bible Reading: Joshua 18-20. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.” (Joshua 21:45)
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
