2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - We Never Lose Heart Looking Beyond the Gloom to The Glory.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) Therefore we do
not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting
away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by
day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are
achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs
them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is
seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is
temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (Phillips) This is the
reason why we never lose heart. The outward man
does indeed suffer wear and tear, but every day
the inward man receives fresh strength. 17 These
little troubles (which really are so transitory)
are winning for us a permanent, glorious and
solid reward out of all proportion to our pain. 18
For we are looking all the time not at the
visible things but at the invisible. The visible
things are transitory: it is the invisible things
that are really permanent.
COMMENTARY PEARLS
The Outward Man Wastes Away but The Inner
Man Where God Resides Is Renewed Day By Day
Early morning at the gym, I started my
workout on the elliptical. My plan was to go early
and get it over with. The gym was crowded,
everyone else probably having the same intention.
An older man, nearing ninety, pushed his
walker to the cycle beside me. His daughter helped
him make the transition from the walker to the
cycle, cradling his arms as he inched to the bike.
Once settled, the man pedaled slowly in
purposeful circles.
"Okay, Dad," his daughter said. "You're
doing great! Wow. Look at how great you're
doing."
Every now and then his daughter patted
his shoulder and said, "You got this, Dad."
Head down, sweat around his temple, the
man kept at it. Once our eyes met and he smiled
the most beautiful smile, a smile that seemed to
say, "I'm happy to be here."
I looked at the clock and then at the
controls on the elliptical, hoping no one would
notice the tear that ran down my face.
Dear Lord, I am in awe of the human
spirit that grows stronger and more beautiful with
life's challenges. Sabra Ciancanelli [Walking in
Grace 2021 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
On April 21, 2008, Katherine Wolf
suffered a massive stroke. She lost her ability to
walk, talk clearly, and care for herself. She
went from being a California model to a
wheelchair-bound patient. God stepped in. In her wonderful
book, Hope Heals, she writes, I felt a deep
awakening of the Word of God, which I had known since
I was a little girlIt was my epiphany of
hope! I would never lose heart in this situation
because my soul was not what was wasting away.
Dont try to weather this storm alone
my friend. He is still the great I AM. The
next time you pray, Is anyone coming to help me?
listen for the response of Jesus. I AM with you in
the storm. And remember my friend, you are
never alone. [Max Lucado Daily Devotional at
maxlucado.com]
God Uses Problems to Help Us Grow
God uses everything - even the pandemic
were in right now - to help our character grow.
He uses problems to help us mature. James
writes it like this: My brothers and sisters, be
very happy when you are tested in different ways.
You know that such testing of your faith
produces endurance. Endure until your testing is
over. Then you will be mature and complete, and
you wont need anything (James 1:2-4 GW).
You may feel tired and depleted right now
because of how COVID-19 is affecting your life and
the lives of those you love. This is the time to
look to God, to place your hope in him, and to
trust he is still in control.
He is a God of hope, and his hope will
not disappoint. Given time, youll see that
God can use even this pandemic to make you
stronger and to develop your spiritual muscle.
In Romans 8:28, the Bible teaches, We
know that God causes everything to work together
for the good of those who love God and are
called according to his purpose for them (NLT).
Gods purpose for you on this earth is
to prepare you for eternity. This life is
preparation for the next. Were in the warm-up act
right now! Youre likely only here for less than
a hundred years, but youll be in eternity
for trillions upon trillions of years - and even
then youre just getting started!
Todays problems get you ready for an
eternity you cant imagine right now.
Thats what Paul says in 2 Corinthians
4:17: These little troubles are getting us
ready for an eternal glory that will make all of
our troubles seem like nothing (CEV).
Todays problems may seem to be a heavy
burden. But theyll seem like nothing in heaven.
Hang on to that hope when you feel weary,
overwhelmed, or just plain ready to give up. God is
preparing you for eternity with him in heaven! [Daily
Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
God Designed You for Eternity
God created you to live in heaven with
him for eternity. Heaven is your home - not
Earth.
Thats why you sometimes experience
discontentment and dissatisfaction in life. Youre not
completely happy here because youre not supposed to
be!
If you were totally happy on Earth, you
might think you could live without God. But God
created you to long for something much better - a
home in heaven with him.
A fish would never be happy living on
land, because it was made for water. An eagle
could never feel satisfied if it wasnt allowed
to fly.
You will never feel completely satisfied
on Earth, because you were made for more. You
will have happy moments here, but its nothing
compared to what God has planned for you in
eternity.
This is also why some of Gods promises
seem unfulfilled, some prayers seem unanswered,
and some circumstances seem unfair. This life is
not the end of the story.
When you realize life on Earth is just
temporary, it radically alters your values. Eternal
values, not temporal ones, become the deciding
factor for your decisions.
The Bible tells us to fix our eyes not
on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since
what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is
eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV).
The next time you find yourself longing
for more than this life offers you, remember
thats just evidence that you were made for
something more! [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - This, Too, Will Pass.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200403-1040.html
2 Corinthians 4:17 - Look Beyond The Gloom
To The Glory!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190730-1152.html
2 Corinthians 4:18 - Focus on What Will Last
Forever.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200910-1039.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
