So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wearing away our inner self is being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:16
God has given people five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Metaphorically, He has given believers spiritual equivalents: spiritual eyes to see His acts, spiritual ears to hear His voice, and spiritual taste buds to, as the Psalmist says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Believers even have a spiritual smell, “the aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). There is also the spiritual sense of touch (Luke 24:32).
The apostle Paul faced death many times on his missionary journeys. As his body endured sufferings his spiritual senses did not suffer, in fact they became sharper and healthier. As it says in today’s verse, the inner self can be renewed day by day. How can believers renew their inner self even as the outer may be enduring trials, persecution, or just the physical sensory issues that come with aging?
Renew your mind. Read the Bible. Pray. Fast. Do His will. Prioritize the spiritual. Prioritize the Kingdom of God. Seek His face to develop yourself spiritually. As your spiritual senses sharpen, express gratitude to the Lord. Just like a person is greatly blessed when their physical senses operate well, how much more will you be blessed with healthy spiritual senses?
Ask God for ears to hear how to pray for the country. With so many philosophies abounding, sometimes it is hard to discern what’s true. Pray for the nation’s leaders and citizens for eyes to see the truth in all its passions, problems and political views.
Today’s Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:16
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 2 Corinthians 4:6-18
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
