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Verse By Verse Devotional by Pastor Jack on 2 Corinthians #113

March 10, 2017 | by: Jack Lash | 0 comments

Posted in: 2 Corinthians

An Inner Man Daily Renewed (4:16)

4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet OUR INNER MAN IS BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY."

Our inner man is being renewed day by day. What a blessed truth! We were dead in our trespasses and sins, by nature children of wrath. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love, made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with Him. (Eph.2:1-6) And this process continues. God doesn’t just raise us up from spiritual death (which is the same as being born again)and leave us there. He continues to renew our souls day after day, filling us with the life of His Son and conforming us to His likeness. This means transforming our hearts and minds, rearranging our values, and reforming our appetites.

But is this really happening in our lives? Are we really growing and flourishing in our souls even as our bodies are wasting away? Are we coming alive more and more in the Lord Jesus? Does each day bring new joy and new love and new desire to be close to our God? It is not enough to sit around and wait for it to happen. Scripture tells us that this process of growth is something we must work at. It comes by striving after it and fighting for it. It comes by being earnest to make use of the means by which God imparts His grace to men (like attending worship, and paying close attention to good preaching and teaching, and partaking of deep fellowship with serious Christians, and spending time with godly examples, and reading rich Christian books, and praying earnestly and frequently, etc.). It comes by seeking God through His word (1Pet.2:2). He who seeks shall find.

If you are not growing in the Lord, don’t blame it on your circumstances or your spouse or your church. Hasn’t God given you much more than many who are growing rapidly in their faith? Repent of self-pity and projection of blame. Begin to take responsibility to seek after real growth with an eager heart, and God will honor your efforts.

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8)

O Lord, forgive me for the barrenness of my soul. Forgive me for how little I seek You. You are a river of life for my thirsty soul, and yet I try to assuage my thirst with success and the esteem of men. Give me a heart to seek You. Give me an eagerness that compels me to make the growth of my soul my top priority. Transform me by Your power, O Holy Spirit.

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