16 Mar March 15th Weekly Devotional
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.
Serving God comes with affliction. It just does. Difficulty and hardship comes with being a child of God, and Paul wants us to be forewarned of this suffering that we are to endure so that we can be prepared.
He would continually remind Timothy, Corinth, and others of the afflictions and persecutions that he, and they together, received throughout their ministry.
He opens his letter of 2 Corinthians speaking about the afflictions that we all will face and that with the comfort that we receive from God, who is the God of all comfort, we can then comfort our fellow brothers and sisters, and the same is true for them in when we are afflicted, they may comfort us.
He will write in 2 Cor. 1:8, For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
Affliction, burdens, despair. These afflictions they were facing and experiencing were so severe that they thought they would not survive!
However, he reminds us at the end of chapter 4, that these afflictions are but temporary. Through these sufferings, we have a great hope, a hope of salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and just as God raised Jesus from the grave, He is going to raise His children up also.
These sufferings of this life, that we can see, are momentary, but the things which we cannot see, are forever. 2 Corinthians, 5:7 says, For we walk by faith, not by sight.
We are hard pressed on every side but we will not be defeated, we will not give up, we will not give in, and even if we are to die for the faith, we will not lose heart because Jesus is revealed in us and is our Salvation and He will not forget us.
Our physical body may be dying a little more every day, but our Spiritual body is growing stronger every day.
Paul will say in Romans 8:18, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
So in a busy week ahead, let’s not focus on the things which are seen, but on the things which are unseen.
