CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL ON YOUTUBE
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 is a great lesson on faith. The Apostle Paul has been speaking about the afflictions that we endure in our physical bodies. But the goal is that through the afflictions we would turn to Jesus to help us through this temporary physical world and into the eternal spiritual world. Paul states in 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV), “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” And Paul states in 2 Corinthians 4:14, “knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.” Paul has suffered much through the afflictions in which he obtained throughout his ministry, but the light of Christ Jesus that God has shown on his heart surpasses the afflictions. This is why Paul states in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, “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 for 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.” Paul kept his faith on the light of Christ Jesus that God shown on his heart to lead him thorough this earthly physical world and into the heavenly spiritual world where there will be no more afflictions.
This is a promise that faith (believing in what we cannot see) is a key factor in our relationship with God through our salvation in Christ Jesus.
Faith is believing. It is believing in God and His One and only Son Jesus. We cannot physically see God but we believe He is real; we believe that He is with us through His Holy Spirit living within us.
As we grow older our bodies begin to make a change from growing stronger and stronger to becoming weaker and begin to deteriorate. As we grow older and begin to deteriorate, we feel the physical afflictions of this physical world more and more. But we do not lose heart, as the Apostle Paul teaches us in 2 Corinthians 4:16. We become more and more reliant on God to fill us with the light of life through our relationship with Him in Christ Jesus. We begin to see how weak we are physically in comparison to what we once were in our younger, more vibrant days. But as we rely less and less on our physical capabilities, we rely more and more on God to sustain us spiritually. This does not mean that we cannot have a wonderful relationship with God as a youngster, but I would imagine that most of us would, looking back, wish we had.
Dear LORD,
It is never too early or too late to begin a relationship with You through salvation in Christ Jesus. Please help us to see that as we grow older and experience more and more afflictions, You are always with us and ready to strengthen us as we cry out to You. Please help us to see that the afflictions of this world are temporary, but as the Apostle Paul states, “the things which are not seen are eternal. Thank You for being so loving and caring to all who put their faith in You. In Jesus name I pray, amen.