I was thinking of this verse yesterday,

“Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.”-( 2 Corinthians 4:16 Amplified Bible)

As I read this translation today and the word, “wasting,” stood out to me , as I have a “wasting away” muscle disease. I can look at my legs wasting away, the muscle loss – is evident, visable, death is taking place- they are wasting away. Outwardly decaying.

What I was thinking of yesterday was this –

I’d rathet be outwardly decaying (wasting away) and inwardly progressively being renewed

Than

inwardly decaying (wasting away) and outwardly heing renewed!

Sure, it would be good to have physical and spiritual health each a gift from Him. But in the end we all die. The healthiest body at His bidding ceases, and eternity awaits.

I was speaking to a dear sweet brother whose wife was recently ushered Home to be with Jesus, and he Reminded me that those whom we know, that we are all nearer to departing to be with Him. And also how he and his wife had spoken a long time ago that they did not want to dishonor their Heavenly Father when death and its process would come. Eternal perspective for they knew as they aged death was closer and they spoke of their desire.

Life is short –

Thank God, What He begins in us He will complete -( Read Phil 1:6)

Though our bodies get older and do wear out, waste away …His Work which He began IN us, He continues to the end -(Read Phil 1:6)

Paul was

1.- CONFIDENT
Paul’s courage to continue he begins with, “WE DO NOT LOSE HEART…” He had spoken of the resurrection and the FACT that his troubles were light as compared to the glory that awaited him with His LORD. {Read 2 Cor 4:17-18}


2.— REALISTIC
– Paul states that he knew he and others whom he refers to as “we” – we are wasting away OUTWARDLY- EXTERNALLY… our bodies are decaying- we are closer to death with each passing second. For the follow if Christ this is not being morbid, but realistic. Death is part of this life that teaches is we are not Immune, nor ignorant- But realistic… and with aging bodies, comes the realization -We are dying- our bodies testify… but Paul does not end on that note for that could cause hopelessness. For God is working he proclaims and is…

3.- REJOICING
That God was Renewing him and fellow believers Inwardly and in this he was confident and declares what was happenung INWARDLY -“…inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” The work of God is daily taking place WITHIN!

God RENEWS US-

THE PROCESS FOR RENEWAL;

A.- CHANGED BY GOD- He Is the Source for CHANGE! As God CONTINUALLY WORKS IN US.- He personallly undertakes-
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work WITHIN YOU, will continue HIS work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
( Phil 1:6; Read Phil 2;13)- .

B.- CHANGED As we CONTEMPLATE JESUS –
“And we all, who with unveiled faces CONTEMPLATED the Lord’s glory, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”-Read 2 Cor 3:18)

C- CHANGED BY COMPLYING WITH THE WORD OF GOD.

Information from the Scriptures to Transformation By the Spirit of God through the Scriptures.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.”-{2 Timothy 3:16-17}

CHANGE WHO AND WHAT WE THINK ON. CHANGE our Thinking-ON TRUTH -{Read John 17:17; Philippians 4:8-9}. Change comes as we RENEW our Minds COMPLYING with His Word –

Familiarizing, meditating applying it to our lives.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”- ( Rom 12:2).

Life is fleeting- eternity is approaching, outwardly wasting away but thank God by His doing,”In Christ” we are being changed internally, Christlikeness the goal. And with Paul we do declare we have not arrived but we Press on….” I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”-{Philippians 3:12-14}.

Outwardly our bodies are changing, in my case I see it, wasting away, yet by His grace there is inward change taking place and one day we will be forever changed for all those who have turned to God and trusted Jesus Christ and His work to reconcile them to God. And just as our spiritual status CHANGED from enemies of God to being adopted into the family of God so too we will be changed from these TEMPORAL bodies into Heavenly, glorifed bodies-{Read 1 Cor 14:42-46}.

Change in our bodies reminds us of the CHANGE of the eternal destination is closer… Good news! In the mean time we can reach out and offer others Hope that is found in Jesus Christ, so they too may change allegiance from self to the Savior!

God Bless,

Aidan.