“…WE DO NOT LOSE HEART. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a FAR MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things WHICH ARE NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL.” (2 Corin. 4:16-18) An unemployed man in Tokyo created a job for himself. He dressed in protective padding and let people on the streets of Tokyo wear boxing gloves and beat him for three minutes. He made $10 a turn and said, “I enjoy being used as a punching bag, it’s… another way to experience life.
As we serve God, sometimes we feel like a punching bag. We don’t look for this, when we face the bumps and bruises of our Christian life, we want them to heal as quickly as possible. Paul bore many afflictions “…as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love…known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed…” (2 Corin. 6:4-6, 9) Paul probably didn’t enjoy them. Yet he saw value in them, and called them “our light affliction…” So, my prayer for you is that you will be, “RENEWED DAY BY DAY”
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham