Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Wednesday, 28 May 2014 "Renewed every day"

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Wednesday, 28 May 2014  "Renewed every day"
Daily Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; 9 pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death works in us, but life in you.
16 Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; 18 while we don’t look 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.
Reflection Questions:
Paul had to "brace for impact" throughout his ministry. He was beaten, stoned, whipped, imprisoned, shipwrecked and he faced hunger, sickness, and nights without shelter (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:16-33). Yet, in verses 8-10, Paul claimed the kind of resilience we see in cartoon characters—but he was totally serious. He led a very tough life, but testified that it is possible to live beyond fear thanks to God's awesome power within us.
In verses 8-12, Paul described life's harshness: we "experience trouble," get "confused," are "harassed," and get "knocked down." He quickly countered each hardship, saying even the hard stuff isn't enough to overcome God's power within us. How have you experienced difficulties in your life? In what ways has God been with you to help in the midst of adversity? What steps can you take to build the same confidence Paul had in the midst of his hardships?
In verses 16-18 Paul urged his readers to view their lives from an eternal perspective. Even though human bodies break down and people face hardship, "the person that we are becoming is being renewed every day." He added that even though it's easier to focus on the things that are "seen," the things we can't see (e.g. spiritual growth and character) are what lasts forever. God doesn't cause hardships, but can use them for good. When and how has God helped you grow after going through a tough time?
Today's Prayer:
King Jesus, you experienced suffering first hand and braced for the unimaginable impact of death on a cross, yet you did not lose faith. Help me rely on your strength as I brace for impact in my life. Amen.
Insight from Rev. Steven Blair
Rev. Steven Blair is the Congregational Care Pastor of Live Forward and Live Well Emotional Wellness Ministry. www.cor.org/liveforward
“Renewed every day”
Wednesday, 28 May 2014 - 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; 9 pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death works in us, but life in you.
16 Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; 18 while we don’t look 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.
Modernity was a season of time in Western Civilization advanced by Philosophy and the Industrial Revolution. Key themes were The Rise of the Individual (and therefore Democracy), The Supremacy of Reason, and The Specialization of Knowledge.   While the 1500’s would include Renaissance Men (and Women) who could be an inventor, artist, and politician, Modernity would lead to people specializing in one field or another.   There is a biologist and an ethicist.   Furthermore, there is a public sphere and a private; reason and emotional.  It was a time of either/or thinking.
Our current western world is defined as Early Postmodernism.   Postmodernity is illustrated as a reaction to Modernity. It includes The Rise of Community, The Supremacy of Experience, and the Blurring of Lines between fields.   Now we have Bio-Ethics, and weisure (a mixture of work and leisure. It’s a real word, I swear.)   It is a time of both/and thinking. We are in a world of paradox … which actually isn’t anything new.
Today’s Scripture is truly beautiful. The Apostle Paul says we hold Jesus’ Gospel very gently as if it was held in breakable jars of clay AND, it has tremendous power. We are afflicted often, AND we are not crushed. We are persecuted, AND we are not forsaken. Death is at work in us, AND so is life. Our bodies are wasting away, AND our inner nature is being renewed day by day. It is even getting stronger.   Paul is describing a paradox. Both of these events are happening at the same time. Paul experienced it, the Church in Corinth experienced it, and I would imagine that most of us are currently experiencing it.
There is part of our brain that thinks in terms of either/or. We are tempted to think: Either evil exists and bad things happen OR God is alive and at work in this world. Either God gives grace based on God’s good Son, OR our good works play a role in salvation.     My coworker is either for me OR against me. What are the ways that your mind trends towards either/or thinking?
Now consider Paul.   What if today is both a time when you feel God being absent AND it is also the time when God is the nearest? What if this week is both a time when you feel spiritually dry, AND God was also renewing you day by day?
We don’t have a spiritual life compartmentalized into one corner of our life with a work life into another corner and a family life in another.   That is the thinking of modernity. Our spiritual life is also our bodily life. Our time alone is connected to our time together and vice versa.
Paul’s words open our eyes to see God’s activity in the midst of our need. Paul’s words also assert that Truth is found in the paradox. God is Loving AND Just. God is Loving AND evil still exists.   Truth is found in the Both/And.
May this Scripture both comfort AND challenge you, as it does me.
In Christ,
Steven Blair Pastor of the Live Forward Program for people with Habits and Hurts
www.cor.org/liveforward
Today’s Scripture in Full: 7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 11 For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, 18 because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.(2 Corinthians 4:7-12, 16-18)
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