Wasting Away or Renewed Day by Day?

Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)

I've been thinking about "wasting away" recently. The one-car accident that put one Chelsea youth in the hospital and took the life of another is one ingredient.. I noticed too high a percentage of people filing into Cole Funeral Chapel yesterday were under the age of 25.

Getting older is another ingredient. I had several friends wag their fingers at me and warn, "Once you hit 40, physical problems start popping up." Metabolism slows. Sight troubles often make their appearance. Joints begin to ache. Injuries take longer to recover from.

We can't help "wasting away".

We try and slow it. We eat right. We exercise regularly. We get the amount of sleep we need. We reduce the level of stress. We drink plenty of water.

We may waste away slower, but we're still "wasting away".

But what about the other part of the equation?

"(Y)et inwardly we are being renewed day by day."

That's the "power" of God at work in these "jars of clay" (v7).

Think about it.

Renewed strength to complete long, difficult tasks.
Renewed vision for a dream that doesn't come quickly.
Renewed faith for a life that is floundering or floating along.
Renewed passion for a family that needs a fresh jolt of the Spirit.
Renewed sense of purpose for a person that feels unwanted or unneeded.

God longs to renew us. Let's ask Him to help us cooperate with Him today. Let's ask Him to give our church a longing for that renewal.

Grace & peace