Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Heart – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Renewed Day By Day – Growing As Disciples
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
Fix Your Eyes
I want you to have the proper perspective. How can I have the proper perspective? Am I thinking about life incorrectly? Are my values misplaced? Is my attention focused in the wrong direction? Do I have improper priorities? What exactly do you want to tell me? I want to fix your eyes. What does that mean? You are looking at the wrong things. What am I looking at? You are looking at yourself. You are worried about the brevity of life. As you are aging, you have become concerned that your outward body is slowly but surely wasting away. You’re right, I don’t even like hearing the sound of that. I’m definitely not a fan of aging. It is true, I have let myself become discouraged and depressed about the brevity of life and seeing my body get old and continue to as you say, “slowly and surely waste away.” I have not liked watching the passage of time. I have been saddened by the loss of what once was. Yes, I have noticed. There is no need to be discouraged or saddened or depressed. Why is that?
This life is not all that there is. This life is like the snap of the fingers or the blink of an eye. Your life is like the morning mist that quickly burns off when the sun rises in the sky. You will be here today and gone tomorrow. This is supposed to encourage me? This life is like a mirage. Your real life is forever, in heaven, with me. What are your years on this earth compared to your life with me, forever in eternity? Maybe, this life is like less than a blink of an eye or a snap of the fingers. Maybe, my life on this earth is like less than the mist that appears on the ground, in the morning. That’s right.
You said you want me to fix my eyes. Yes, I did. By that, I meant I want to change your perspective. Yes, I’m starting to understand what you wanted to tell me. Now, I want you to fix your eyes. Now, you have me confused. What do you mean you want me to fix my eyes? You have changed your perspective. You are no longer looking at this life as all that there is. Yes, that’s correct. Now, I want you to fix your eyes on me. I want you to fix your eyes on heaven. I want you to see this life and your remaining days on earth from my perspective. I want you to know that even as your external body wastes away, I am renewing you inwardly day by day. I am renewing you and reviving you and refreshing you, so I can use you to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Will you fix your eyes on me? Will you allow me to use you to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.
Lord, my eyes are fixed on you and the things of heaven. I will not grow weary, lose heart or give up as I go through difficulties in life. As my body wastes away I know that day-by-day you are renewing me on the inside. Use me in your service for your glory. Amen
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Heart – 2 Corinthians 4-16-18 – Renewed Day By Day – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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