16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. -2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Serving God and others can be tough. It can drain you emotionally, mentally, financially and spiritually. To love other is to allow them to drain you. This is why the Apostle Paul writes that he is outwardly “wasting away” as he serves others.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. This past week at Harvesters our founder Will talked about the importance of sacrifice in the Christian faith. Yes, there’s sacrifice in Christianity, but there is also glory. When we give ourselves to God and to others, we receive more of God, so much more that what we sacrifice doesn’t even seem like a sacrifice. This is what Paul meant when he writes, “For our light and momentary troubles achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
It’s like God is asking us to sacrifice a Kia Rio so he can give us a Ferrari 812 Superfast. Is giving up the Kia for a Ferrari even a sacrifice? I heard one pastor say it this way: It’s like God asking us to sacrifice McDonald’s fries so that He can give us a steak dinner or a full sushi meal. Is giving up fries for steak even a sacrifice?
What’s God asking you to give up right now? Do you believe that having God is far better than what God is asking you to let go of?
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