Name change
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (verse 16)
Our church changed names recently. We wanted a name that better reflected the community we lived in and served. This was a little unusual, but not unheard of – churches do sometimes go through the process of changing their name.
In the children’s talk soon after the church changed its name, the pastor suggested we change it again! He suggested we keep the first part, but take out the word ‘church’. He thought there was a better word that could be used, and that was ‘hospital’. Try it with your church name, and replace ‘church’ with hospital.
The children didn’t think it was a good idea, until the pastor explained that the church is like a hospital. Sick people go there, and that is where they can be healed. And usually the sick part is the heart. Paul knows that the people of Corinth had ‘heart problems’ – but he encourages them not to lose heart. Although the wages of sin is death, it’s only death on this earth.
So total reliance on Jesus renews us. Being reminded of our baptism each day, renews us. Making the sign of the cross first thing in morning renews us. That’s not saying that life will be easy or problems won’t come our way, but it does remind us of who walks with us in everything.
What scares you about growing older?
Dear Jesus, thank you for walking with us in everything we do. Help us to remember that in all things. In Jesus name, Amen.
Devotion by writers from Lifeway from “Time Out … to tune in” (Australian Church Resources, 2018)
Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.
