Beautiful Word Devotional #204

We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16

One hundred percent of us are growing older, are—to use Paul’s words—“wasting away.” And we see such decay all around us: bread goes moldy, fences wear out and fall down, and our dog starts having difficulty standing up. Paul overshadowed this sad news with quite a surprising and amazing truth.

Paul said, yes, decay is happening. Yes, we are wasting away. But then came the word yet. Yet God is renewing us. As we grow older, our souls can grow more beautiful and wiser every single day.

But this renewal of our soul happens only when we are open to God’s transformative work. After we die, our bodies will be renewed, but now, even on this decaying earth, God can and will renew our souls, using “our light and momentary troubles” to refine us and achieve for us eternal glory (v. 17).

Lord, thank you for the hope of this inward renewal. I welcome your promised transformation of me, from the inside out, amen.