Don’t you love walking up on a conversation and hearing, “…and THAT is why…”?
You spend the rest of the conversation trying to figure out what the “that” is.
Verse 16 of 2 Corinthians 4 is like walking into Paul’s “that” statement, but we can rewind a bit and read the previous verses to get on track: “We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.”
And THAT is why we never give up (preaching, teaching, making disciples). Because all of what we do shines on Jesus, glorifies God, and renews our spirit.
We don’t become discouraged, exhausted, or worn out through fear when life happens. We know that even though our bodies are progressively wearing out—and they are—our spirits are being progressively renewed day after day after day after day.
It’s time to recognize that the power of Jesus lives in you, Believer. It’s time to understand that even when your tired, aching body says no more, God is strengthening and empowering your spirit to keep on going, never giving up. It’s time to trust that the very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the very same Spirit living in you. He guides you. He instructs you. He corrects you. He even rebukes you. And day after day, He renews your spirit. Not recharges. A recharge still takes from the core strength. A renew restores and replaces the core strength.
Turn to the Father today, lean in and hear Him speak to you. Feel His Spirit lift you and dust you off. Revel in the knowledge that no matter what is going on in your life today, no matter what drags you down, your tired spirit will experience being made new once again today, and tomorrow, and all the days following.
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