ESOCS Devotional 22 September 2023 – Do Not Lose Heart
MEMORY VERSE: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV
TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-END (KJV)
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Two brothers were taken as an apprentice in a particular shop. The owner of the shop is said to be rigid, and stingy, and never condoles any atom of waste. The brothers saw him as a wicked man who will never give his workers rest from work. But, in the heart of those two were different thoughts, on how to handle the man as they stay with him as apprentices. One thought in his heart to play along and endure the days of his service to his master, while the other thought in his heart to quit and be free from their master’s troubles. Years passed with these thoughts in their hearts as a driving force for life. The one who decided in his heart to stay back was settled by his master; while the one who resolved in his heart to quit was yet to find his ground in the business and had nobody to help him.
Our memory verse says, “We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity.” We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal weighty glory far beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17 TPT).
The way you see any challenge, difficulty or training coming to you has a long way in determining the lesson learnt, and what you achieve from the training. God is impressed in saving man from all his trouble, tribulation and challenges of life; but he is more interested in what lesson man has learnt from those experiences and how those lessons learnt have transformed him. If a lesson must be learnt, the heart must not lose focus and must at all times be fixed on Jesus and the leading of the Holy Spirit. So, as you engage your day, let your heart be fixed on the word of God, the Cross on which His Son Jesus died to purchase our victory; and the leading of the Holy Spirit to step into the victorious life. Focus on the things that are eternal, and carry glory; and not on the temporal things or situations facing you. For the temporal things, have but a little time to reign, while the things that are eternal last forever.
- See your momentary troubles as what is achieving for you an eternal glory, that far at outweighs the troubles.
- Oh Lord, help fix my eyes on the eternal glory in every trouble in life, seeing how the eternal glory will outweigh all troubles of life and not the troubles.
FURTHER READING: Job 40:1-end, Luke 20:27-40, Proverbs 25:11-end
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ESOCS Devotional 22 September 2023
