2 Corinthians 4:16-18

DAILY MEDITATION:  4 Corinthians 2:16-18

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

 

16 Therefore we are not discouraged. On the con­trary, while our outer being wastes away, the inner self is renewed from day to day. 17 The slight affliction that quickly passes away prepares us for an eternal wealth of glory so great and beyond all com­parison. 18 So we no longer pay attention to the things that are seen, but to those that are unseen, for the things that we see last for a moment, but that which cannot be seen is eternal.

Beloved St. Paul's words stirs to life and brings an awareness of the beauty and truth of being a Christian.

No, we are not discouraged or dimayed - at least we ought not to be.  In life things happen - good, bad, terrible things but through it all we do not lose heart for we know with certainty that God can and will draw good from every situation.

The older we get, the greater is our awareness of how life changes us physically.  We are not as strong, our muscles not as taut, our body thickens, skin wrinkles, eyesight dims, hearing becomes weak.  But this is only the outer shell and it must be so according to the laws of nature designed by God.  All things age with time and must eventually die.  What is important is that as the outer shell slowly decays the inner being must grow more radiant.  The beauty of the soul must shine through the eyes, through the words we speak, through the love and compassion that overflows from our heart and is translated into action.  

My Beloved grant that I may not be taken up with things that are seen  but rather to be concerned with the things that cannot.  I have been created for eternity - help me fix my sight then on eternal things and not on the things that are passing.