Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 307

November 3;      2 Corinthians 4:16;       153/260(III);        ‘Outward & Inward’

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

Growing older is a fascinating experience.  Doing some things that used to be easy are no longer so.  Though I am a faith minister and I am in good health, the reality is that the human body changes as we age.  The Bible teaches that the glory of young men is their strength (Proverbs 20:29).  When there are things that need to be done around the church that requires lifting, I am so glad for strong young men that lift what needs to be lifted with ease.  If I was not a Christian, the reality of getting older would be extremely troubling.  Thank God for Jesus and the Word.  What Paul, by the Holy Spirit shares in this verse is so true.  By the Word of God, prayer and doing the work of the ministry, our spirit man, our inward man becomes stronger all of the time.  If doing the work of the Lord is important to you, being stronger all of the time spiritually, more than compensates for whatever ‘slowing down’ there is of your outward man.  As you grow up, different things become enjoyable and important to you.  Sports, traveling, hobbies, etc. all can bring joy and satisfaction to you, and that is good.  What I have found, is that sharing the Lord with someone, having the privilege to pray for someone or helping anyone in the name of Jesus, far exceeds any previous joy.  A great blessing of being older is that people do not intimidate you, which frees you to minister freely to them.  Ministering to people, leading them to Jesus are things we can do at any age of our life.