Thursday, May 10, 2018
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Yes, it was during those days of tribulation when our son was learning to drive. He made an interesting observation about our family chariot. He said, "Hey, Dad, this car really runs smooth." That was interesting, because that car had 150,000 miles on it! It definitely showed it on the outside. I mean, look, it had celebrated about ten birthdays and you could tell. But a lot of parts had been replaced along the way. The reason that car ran so well? Well, it just had so many new parts on the inside!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Old On The Outside, New On The Inside."
When the Apostle Paul was writing our word for today from the Word of God, he must have been feeling a little like our old car. He was showing and feeling the mileage on the outside, but there was a lot of new on the inside. He talks about it in 2 Corinthians 4:16.
"We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." Now make no mistake about it – the outside Paul was taking a beating...sometimes literally. Earlier in this chapter, he describes himself as "hard pressed on every side; (Maybe you can relate to that.) perplexed, persecuted, struck down." But though he's showing and feeling the mileage on the outside, he says God keeps renewing him on the inside.
Actually, that is the secret of Christian unsinkability! Twice in this chapter, once at the beginning and once at the end, Paul says triumphantly, "We do not lose heart." Now, how can that be when you are getting hammered from all sides? "We are being renewed day by day." The answer is a daily renewing in your spirit.
When you live in God's will, you understand that each day is a new beginning; that God gives you grace equal to that day (So if you have a light day, you get a light amount of grace. You got a heavy day, you get heavy grace). Like a watch that needs rewinding every morning, or like a phone that needs recharging. Our battery runs down every 24 hours, and God rewinds you if you make your first stop, your first conversation each morning time with Him. If you actually go boldly to His throne of grace, as He said to do, and you pick up that day's renewing grace and renewing perspective.
The daily replacement of "old parts" with "new parts" has kept a lot of us on the road even when the outside of us was showing the strain. You can be in a body that isn't working and still be joyful, positive, and purposeful – because of Christ. We've all known people like that haven't we? Your outer world can be caving in while on the inside there's still this settled peace because of Christ. Your outside can be slowed down by advancing years, but your spirit can still have the carbonation of a young person because Jesus renews you each day. You can be physically worn out, but still excited in your heart.
The key is not one dramatic repair job. It's a daily visit to the great soul-mechanic who will, for that day, fix or replace whatever inner part of you is worn or broken. So even when the outside is wearing out, you can still be running smoothly – because Jesus has put so much new on the inside!