Verse of the Day 9/5

Verse of the Day 9/5

 

2 Corinthians 4:16  New King James Version (NKJV) - Seeing the Invisible

   
^16" Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."

 

 

What are some of the things that cause us to "lose heart"?  I mentioned previously that this past week was a tough one with friends and acquaintances dealing with various illnesses and injuries.  Some of these have lingered for some time.  This "lingering" can where us down and sometimes cause us to lose hope, at least for the time being.

 

Paul knew something of facing adversities from beatings, stonings, shipwreck, and illness, his "thorn in the side".  Yet he did not let them control him, or keep him down.  This passage explains why.  Any time you see the word "therefore" to start a verse or a passage, go back a few verses to see what it is there for.  In this case, Paul, points to what Christ has accomplished for us and promised to us that believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour.

 

2 Corinthians 4:14-15  New Living Translation (NLT) ¹⁴ We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. ¹⁵ All of this is for your benefit. And as God's grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

 

C.S. Lewis in his book "The Weight of Glory", for which the title comes from verse 17, writes: "I believe in Christianity as I believe the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."  Paul, and everyone who truly believes, has a different perspective and worldview.  They see through different lenses, their lives illuminated by the light of the Sun.

 

In Him there is hope for the present and hope for the future.

 

Malachi 4:2 "But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings;" 

 

So don't give up, don't lose heart.  Let God do a work in you from the inside out.

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Through the Bible - Psalms 146-147, John 1:1-28

 

2 Corinthians 4:13-18

The Message (MSG)

 ^13-15We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!

 ^16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.