God Renews, So

 

“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 

Don’t lose heart, become spiritless, give up, and lose the will to go on. Yes, our physical bodies are aging and decaying. But, if we, individually, believe in Jesus, God will renew our inner self—heart, mind, and spirit—to be like Christ’s. We do not and cannot renew our inner selves.

God’s renewing our inner selves makes us more able to daily know what to do, say, and think. When we stay in tune with God daily, He renews us. He never grows tired or weary, like we mortals do. God continues to renew us, strengthen and embolden us, guide, and teach us. His never gives up on renewing us or calling the unsaved to turn to Him. God’s love, power, and patience are limitless. He is our strength, power, inspiration, teacher, guide, protector, and provider. We hold onto Him by continuing to pray, read and study the Bible, worship Him, and do what He says. 

There’s more. The “therefore” at the beginning of this verse leads us to consider what Paul wrote before verse 16. This “therefore” means that because of something or despite something…. we must remember God is renewing us, so we shouldn’t become spiritless, afraid, faint, or give up, unless God says to.

What happened before verse 16 that Paul wants us to remember? Verse seven tells us to remember we are mortal. As God’s servants and children, we will be… 

*hard-pressed, but not crushed

*Perplexed but not despairing

*Persecuted but not forsaken

*Struck down but not destroyed

Why? Because God is more powerful than anything that comes against us, and He renews us. He keeps His children from being crushed, despairing, forsaken, and destroyed. Only God can utterly destroy anything and anyone. 

Nothing anyone or spiritual being does can ever remove us from God’s hands. Our mortal flesh already is decaying, but God is renewing our inner self. He gave us the new inner self when we believed. Nothing and nobody can take it from us. 

Instead, though we are mortal, we gladly give our lives for Jesus’ sake to reveal Him to other people (verse 11). We do this so those people can see the life of Jesus through our words, actions, and attitudes, and believe in Him for themselves.

Therefore, don’t lose heart, faint, or grow weary because of the task, fatigue, numbers of people and their needs, or persecution that may come. Yes, your mortal body is decaying. Yet, God is renewing your inner self daily to be more like Jesus and be in closer communion with Him. 

“Those who wait upon the Lord will receive renewed strength and will Mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:31

Rowing Without Paddles

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1 [NASB])

In Genesis 15 and Psalm 91, both writers speak about the terror of night. What does this mean? For David, the man God appointed to lead His people, Israel, and a commander of an army, the terrors of night might have meant an army sneaking up and taking him and his army by surprise during the night. It could have meant the depression of the minds of his men as they awaited the battles of the next day. Or, in looking back on his life as King, it could have been the time David awaited his and Bathsheba’s son’s death. He feared it and understood the punishment was because of his sin with Bathsheba. David’s sin caused the death of the child. For Abram, the terrors of the dark night could have been the kings he and his allies defeated to get his nephew, Lot, out of captivity. The terrors that day showed his fear of not having an heir.

Terrors and fears begin in the hearts and minds of people. Satan puts the terrors and fears in our hearts and minds to distract us from the One who casts out darkness and brings light and truth to a situation and to life. Paul stated in 2 Corinthians that Satan “blinded the minds of the unbelieving so they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” In 2 Corinthians 11:14, he said, Satan must disguise himself as an angel of light to trick people, to “blind” them. Satan is not from the light of God; he is darkness and brings darkness.

This state of mind need not happen; people can avoid being tricked. How?  John said in 1 John 1:5, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness.” We can choose to follow God and have His power to defeat Satan and the darkness in which he tries to envelope us. God is more powerful than Satan and that is why Satan must resort to trickery. He knows the goodness and love of God will win people’s hearts and minds. John said in John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” The darkness could not break through the light, but God’s light casts out darkness. Darkness cannot exist where light is.

What does this mean for us? How do we defeat the terrors of night and live the life for which God gave us the vision? With hope. With belief in God. Abram’s biggest fear as of Genesis 15 was that he would die with no heir. That was his darkness, the “terror of his night.” As Abram rested that night, God told him He would give him an heir and descendants too great to count, just like the stars in the heavens. Abram was in God’s presence. God’s Spirit came in the form of a smoking oven and flaming torch to seal His covenantal promise to Abram (Genesis 15:17). Abram dwelled in God’s presence and slept with His peace.

David defeated the terrors of the night and the arrows that flew by day by being in God’s presence, too. He said in Psalm 91:1, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” David had learned from experience that God was his refuge and fortress. He had learned to live in the presence, in the shadow, of Almighty God. David was like any other person born; he sinned. Still, David recognized God as His Lord and repented when he sinned. He trusted God over all things.

David knew from Whom to seek shelter, comfort, provision, guidance, and protection. He recognized Who was almighty. David had learned to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. He had learned to live in the shadow of God. David didn’t worship God on the sabbath then live the rest of the week solely in his own strength and with his own wisdom and reasoning. He had learned how to live while being with God. Abraham lived while being with God, too. These men recognized God as being sovereign over the world and over their lives. What terrors could defeat them? None, not with God as their strength, hope, refuge, and fortress.

What terrors haunt you? What causes you fear for your future or for now? If you are a Christian, you know Jesus as your Savior, the One who redeemed you from Satan and the power of sin and death. You already have the victory because Jesus has overcome the world. Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.” When you are a Christian, you already have victory from the terrors of darkness and the arrows that fly by day. Remember that. Believe God will protect you and don’t allow the darkness of Satan to creep into your mind. If you aren’t a Christian, you can have this peace and hope. You can have redemption from sin and death and take refuge in God when Satan tries to force darkness upon you. Believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior who died for your sins, so you can have eternal life with Him in heaven. Give your terrors from the darkness to God and let Him be your light and refuge.

As we each live our lives and live the vision and calling God gives, we must live in His presence, under His wings. Don’t leave to do His work, instead do the work He calls you to do while you are with Him. Abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

You can’t row a boat without paddles. You can’t live life as God’s child without God.

God’s calling doesn’t mean we leave His presence to work.

It means working WITH Him.

Lord, I’m a mess. I say I am Your child, but then I later find I am not with You. I have walked off living my life by my own reasonings. In my busy-ness, I forgot to stay with You and live life with You as my guide, refuge, and strength. I trusted You with my life, but then I took it back. Lord, help me remember to live in Your presence, to live life as You lead and provide. You know all things and are all-powerful. I know only the small part of my life that is in front of me now. I cannot see the past or future and so I really don’t know how to live as You want me to live. Lord, forgive me for walking in my own way. Forgive me for taking control of my life. Forgive me for making my heart, mind, and body my gods instead of You. You are merciful and kind. You are faithful and continue to love me. Lord, I give my life to You. Please guide me with each breath I breathe and each beat of my heart. Amen.

Downhilling Days

Aging and ending are oft avoided stories

The pain, the loss of independence

The fear of future always present

Confrontive nature replacing meek and calm.

Onlookers see, but do not really know that

Beloved child tries to help, is rebuffed

Offers of aid not given off the cuff

Great love enters thought with every assist.

Mornings awaken with great possibility

Fresh air, birds’ calls, gentle breezes blow

Deep breaths, twinkling eyes, promises sow

Before talking between family members.

First word, bite or balm, the silence broken

Confused thought, intention mixed, gasping

Spoken word a dart, wound fresh, hurt lasts

Then silence comes as confusion takes its place.

Time slips on, sun downhills, bright eyes dim

Sluggish and tired, weight of years, head sags

Feet plod forward, shoulders droop, heart lags

Though body weary, mind asks where went the day.

Time shifts forward, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Crisp was the day, how children did play

Mem’ries so vivid, leaves, blossoms, gone gray

Sadness conflicts with gaiety of life’s Spring.

Puzzled, broken, aging, life’s tokens of time

Questions in eyes beam as tears glisten

Unasked thoughts, fears, endless wondering

Until last night’s breath and thought gently caress.

The soft touch, the caress of time’s gentle kiss

Leaves faint shadows of life’s mem’ries made

Echo they down fam’ly’s hist’ry laid

As quilt pieces of lives lived out and replayed.

Lives go on in the memories of those who survive. At times, faint whispers and others laughter, but echo, they do. Those memories show love for the one so dear. They show respect for that one though confused, worn, dimmed, and aged. We must make sure love and respect flow toward this one so dear while he, she, is with us within heart’s beat within breath’s whisper he can hear. Whether in youth’s gaiety or life’s sun-downhilling days, love that one before his, her, sunset draws near.

“Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.” (Proverbs 17:6 [NLT])

“Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God.  I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:32 [NLT])

“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22 [NLT])

“Therefore, we do not lose heart,; but indeed if our outward man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 [NASB])

Earthen Vessels...But

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Christ, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So, death works in us, but life in you.  2 Corinthians 4:7-12 [NASB]

Each of us, when we encounter a speed bump or cliff in life, wonder why we must go through it. “Why is this happening to me?” we may ask. “How can I ever get through this trouble?” is another question that often arises. If we are believers, the answer is most obvious when we are sailing on calm seas. We get through it with God’s strength and direction. As we battle through the difficulty, we often forget God is with us and makes His wisdom, knowledge, power, and strength available to us. Yet, when we get through the trial, we realize God was there all the time. Still, we may wonder, “Why did that horrible time happen?”

Have you considered God will orchestrate difficult times? He will do it to help us grow and to bring Himself glory. How we get through the trials determine if we grow and if God gets the glory. Paul spoke in 2 Corinthians 4 about trials. He said, “We are afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” This attitude did not just happen. It came from going through trials and finding God to be faithful when Paul called upon Him. Paul spent this part of his letter to the Corinthians teaching them from his own experiences. He spoke as one who had been through the fires.

When we encounter our own fires, we wonder why we must go through that trial. “What did I do to deserve this?” we may ask. Paul explained two reasons for trials in 2 Corinthians 4:7 & 11. He said we go through difficulties “so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” (2 Cor. 4:7b) People go through trials to show God’s great power as they go through them. In verse 11b, Paul added, we go through these things “so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal (believer) flesh.” Our lives can be a testimony of Jesus’ life in us enabled by His Holy Spirit. This latter cannot happen without growth and growth cannot happen without the believer calling on God for help during difficult times. Difficult times grow a person’s faith in God and make the person more identified with the sufferings of Jesus.

Let me give an example. We have a prodigal child in our family. Many people have prodigals in their families. Our family prays daily for this adult child, for God to keep speaking to the heart of the person, to break down the walls Satan has erected in the person’s heart, to bring the person to the point of repentance, and bring the person back to living in communion with God and His children, our family included. The last five years have been painful as we watched this child live without God and walk in ways contrary to God’s moral laws. On Mother’s Day Sunday, without my foreknowledge, the pastor called me up to the front of the church. I had no idea what was about to happen. As the pastor talked about the people in our church who may have prodigals in their family, whether child, sibling, or parent, I got nervous. I had been at the point of tears in my pew and knew I could not talk or pray without crying. I called out to God silently in my heart and mind asking Him to make me strong enough to speak without crying. Eventually, the pastor asked me to pray for each person standing who has a prodigal in their family. I prayed without crying as God has led me to pray these last 5 years for my adult child.

Why did I tell you this story? I told you this story because if I had not called upon God for His strength to get through that time of prayer, I would have cried. My prayer would have been babbling. People would not have had prayers lifted for their prodigals and learned how to pray for them. And God would not have been glorified. My prayer that morning was a testimony to God’s greatness, goodness, love, and faithfulness. Nothing in me could have done it without God’s intervention. Other people would not have gained strength and grown in their walk with God about their prodigal.

Paul added two other benefits of going through trials at the end of chapter four. He said,

Therefore, we do not lose heart, but 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. (1 Corinthians 4:16-17 [NASB])

As we go through trials, God receives glory, Jesus’ life in us manifests itself and receives testimony, God renews our inner person daily, and, our affliction produces an eternal weight of glory.

For today and the next tomorrows, when you go through trials, I encourage you to consider not asking, “Why must I go through this?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” Instead, ask God to give you His strength, wisdom, and power to go through the difficulty so He will receive glory, and your life and voice will bring testimony to the life of Jesus in you. For this, you will grow in your Christlikeness and in relationship with God, and you will get a greater reward in heaven.

Lord, God, I admit, I hate to go through hard times. I hate to struggle and slog through the stormy seas that batter me. Forgive me for attempting to stand on my own and not looking to You, My Lord, for wisdom, strength, and power. Forgive me for walking away from You during those difficult times. Lord, help me remember You are always with me and I only need to call to You for help. Lord be my strength, wisdom, and Protector. Be my guide. Help me grow closer to You even if it means I must go through trials. Help me stand strong with You so You receive glory and my life testifies to the life of Your Son in me. Amen.

Giving Thanks in the Midst of Trials

          In 2 Corinthians chapter 4, Paul told the readers and hearers that suffering is part of being a follower of Jesus. He also told them that they are the cause for Paul’s giving thanks because he considered them worthy to suffer trials as Jesus did. We, as the future readers of Paul’s letter, give thanks because all things we endure abound to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:15). Christians understand that Jesus can be seen in people during the times they go through trials if they are following near to God. Instead of being bitter, the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit is apparent and God is glorified when others see the Christian’s reaction to trials.  

Paul, in this letter, gives descriptions of what his apostolic ministry has been. One aspect of that ministry included suffering; however, Paul did not consider suffering to have been an awful thing. He spoke of trials as a way to show God in human weakness. Paul juxtaposed God’s strength against human strength, the former allowing us to endure this Christian life with triumph through God’s grace. Maybe, as thoughts have been expressed, God permits suffering to mold the life of Christ living within the believer. Our lives now on earth, with the Holy Spirit embodied in our bodies, show the life of Christ to others around us. 

In 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NASB), Paul compared “this treasure we have in earthen vessels” to the treasure Christ brought to us through the powerful, immortal Godhead. When Paul spoke of this earthen vessel, he also pointed to the immortal vessel of God’s grace, Jesus Christ. In this we can see and know the “surpassing greatness of the power” of God. When God shows His power through the indwelling of Christ in our weak human state, we deign not consider to claim that the ability to withstand trials comes from ourselves. We acknowledge that we are not strong enough to withstand the fiery arrows and darts of the evil one. Christ gives us the grace and power to endure the trials from the world. By ourselves, we have little power; with God, we each have His almighty power at our disposal because the life of Christ dwells within us. 

Verse 8 shows us a few trials Paul and other believers experienced. They were afflicted in many ways but their spirits were not crushed. This means simply that they experienced very hard and troubling times. Paul speaks of this twice in 2 Corinthians, here and in chapter 7 verse 5. Paul then stated they were not “crushed.” The trials did not crush their spirits. These believers’ spirits remained strong in Christ though tormented and beaten. They knew in whom they believed and His power to sustain them. These followers trusted in the knowledge that God is faithful to His children. They heard of God’s faithfulness through the stories that passed from generation to generation regarding how God protected and provided for His chosen people. Paul continued and said they were perplexed, but did not despair. They may have wondered why people could do these evil things to them, but they did not believe God would ever leave them. The followers of Jesus were without resources by their own internal and physical strength; yet, they were not entirely at a loss. They understood that when they were at a loss, God was never at a loss. He is all-powerful. He is the sustainer, protector, and victor for His children. They understood God’s chosen ones have been, are being, and will be tried, just as  His Son, Jesus, was tried. Jesus became a conqueror over everything the world threw at Him. He even conquered death. Why should they despair? They experienced nothing that Jesus did not experience.    

Verse 9 continues the list of trials. Paul said he was persecuted, but not forsaken. He was scourged, beaten, imprisoned, and put to death, but knew God had not forgotten him. Paul understood he would ultimately not lose the battle because Jesus had already beat Satan and his evil by His own death and resurrection. Paul talked about this reality in Romans 8:35 when he said, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” Will tribulation or distress or persecution or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword?” (NASB). There is nothing, people or world disasters, that could separate Paul or us from God; God is an everlasting, all-powerful God. In verse 9, Paul continued writing saying he was struck down but not destroyed. He was knocked off his feet and lost his balance, but Jesus had paved the way and made sure his end would not be ultimate destruction. Jesus kept him standing strong in the faith. Remember in Hebrews 13:5b, the writer said we are not totally abandoned. The Hebrews write said, “He Himself said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you’” (NASB). This is not a new idea created solely for New Testament believers as encouragement. This came from Yahweh’s mouth. You can read it in Deuteronomy 31:6 and 8 and in Joshua 1:5. These are the words God spoke to Israel which He promised to His chosen people before they crossed the Jordon River to take the land Yahweh had promised them. 

Nothing men or evil beings can do will separate Paul (or other believers) from the love of God. By being afflicted with trials, Paul said he carried in his body, through his wounds and injuries, the dying of Jesus so that Jesus' life was apparent through Paul’s body. Jesus said a servant is not greater than his master is, hence, because Jesus suffered, His followers can also expect to suffer. If we suffer as He did, Jesus promises us eternal life as He has eternal life in heaven. Romans 6:8 says, “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe we shall also live with Him.” (NASB). “We are constantly being delivered to death for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:11, NASB). Paul trusted that his suffering and that of other believers served to make other believers strong as they withstood their own trials. It made the other believers strong mentally, knowing they were not the only ones standing for Jesus. It made them strong physically and spiritually because they trusted they would inherit eternal life because they followed the Master even to this extent. Jesus promised strength to get through the hard times and He promised eternal life. 

 Victorious living is more than this, though. It is more than just getting through the ordeal. Paul  spoke about being thankful during these trials and persecutions. Look at verse 15: “For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God” (NASB). Why did Paul say that? Does it appear odd he wanted to be thankful at these hard times? Consider in Romans 5:3-5 when Paul wrote,  

“We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings perseverance and perseverance brings proven character and proven character brings hope and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (NASB).  

Paul is praising God, raising Him up, because he has been through trials. He is doing this for a couple of reasons. Paul followed in Christ’s path so closely that people considered him a threat as they had Jesus; they consider him a strong follower of Jesus. Paul considered that an honor. He praised God that he went through these things because it could make other believers stronger in the face of trials when they realized they were not alone. Paul considered suffering a joy because he knew the ultimate outcome; he trusted he would be with the Father and Son in heaven when his earthly life was finished. This is his hope. Finally, he praised God because these trials gave him the opportunity to grow in his faith as Romans 5:3-5 states and 2 Peter 1 says.  

Is it odd or wrong to consider difficult times as possible good things to occur? Not according to Paul. James agrees with Paul.  James says in James 1:2-4,  

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (NASB).   

Here is another point we must consider, which James brings out. We must let these tests and trials produce these Spiritual fruit in us. If we look at them as negative events which keep us from getting what we want, then we will not grow. We will not gain endurance or the fruits of living with Jesus, self-control, moral excellence, knowledge, godliness, brotherly kindness or love for others of which Peter speaks in 2 Peter 1. These attitudes are in the mind; our attitudes are learned. We must make them habits by acting purposely and intentionally in ways Jesus wants us to act . After a while, those “chores,” those intentional actions we made ourselves do, are no longer chores but acts of love in the name of Jesus because of our attitude change. These acts of love become habits; they provide a solid foundation. This progress, then, allows us to say with Paul in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (NASB). Even when in the midst of trials, we can pray with thanksgiving trusting God is working in and through that difficult time. 

We must choose for ourselves this day who we will follow, God, or ourselves. We can face trials and persecutions with joy knowing who is in control and who is more powerful with the hope of our final destination being with God in heaven. Or, we can butt up against the trial. We can scratch and kick at it but gain nothing except a bad temper and attitude, which does not allow people to see the life of Jesus. The choice is up to each of us to make. I have no doubt, though, that people would rather be joyful even in the midst of difficult times because, if nothing else, we are happier and more at ease knowing the problem may be out of our control, but nothing is out of God’s control. Suffering is a part of living. It appears even more so for Christians nowadays. We must make the mental decision to allow our suffering to show the glory of Jesus Christ within our lives. Will we allow God to show His strength and power through our lives as we go through trials and problems in life? Will we endure suffering with joy knowing God is shining through this circumstance? Or, will we become bitter and grumbly and only show our weak human self? We must decide this day who we will serve, Jesus or ourselves.