Growing Old and Strong - The Secret

(go to Chinese 华文 text)

1 Maintain A Positive Attitude

• 2Co 4:16 So we do not lose heart.

2 Why we can?

See clearly that our inner man is growing strong & the Lord is strengthening our body

• Though our outer self is wasting away,

  Our physical body may be aging.

• our inner self is being renewed day by day.

  But our spiritual man is renewed, becoming young and stronger

• 
  
• see:
  • Psa 73:26  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 
  • Isa 40:29-31 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

3 The Enlightenment:

Our present troubles are stepping stones to greater glory

• 2Co 4:17 For this light momentary affliction
• is preparing for us
• an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

4 Our Attention is focused on:

The Eternal Invisible Things are not transient visible things

• 2Co 4:18 As we look not to the things that are seen
• but to the things that are unseen.

  See into the spiritual and draw God's grace into our present

• For the things that are seen are transient,
• but the things that are unseen are eternal.

5 Summary:

• The secret is maintaining a positive attitude despite the challenges of aging. While our physical bodies may weaken with age, our inner selves can grow stronger through the renewal of our spiritual man. The key is to focus on the eternal and unseen aspects of life rather than the transient and visible ones. We are to draw on God's strength and grace to face present difficulties, knowing that they are preparing us for greater glory in eternity. 

6 Prayer:

As we grow old with days, may we not just focus on our outer physical body only, but focus on the more important inner spiritual man. Seek God's presence, guidance, and strengths, and see that our troubles are but stepping stones to God's glory. As we wait upon the Lord, He will also strengthen our bodies so that we have the energy and wisdom to outdo the youth. So, lift up our heads and look forward with hope and joy, testifying God's blessings and the glory of the Gospel. Praise God. Amen.

==============

读经分享 1045

老当益壮的秘诀

1 保持积极的态度

哥林多后书4:16 所以我们不灰心。

2 我们为什么能够？

清楚地看到我们的内心在变得强大，主也在加强我们的身体，

虽然我们的外在正在衰老，

我们的身体可能在老去，

但我们的内心每天都在更新，我们的属灵之人在不断地变得年轻和更强大。

见:

诗篇73:26 我的肉体和我的心肠虽然衰败，但神是我心里的力量，又是我的福分，直到永远。

以赛亚书40:29-31 他加给疲乏的力量，使软弱的有力量。少年人必乏困倦，弱 faint 而倒；30 就是少年人也要跌倒仆倒；强壮的也必跌倒仆倒；31 但那等候耶和华的，必从新得力，他们必如鹰展翅上腾；他们奔跑却不困倦，行走却不疲乏。

3 顿悟： 我们目前的困扰是通往更大荣耀的踏脚石。

哥林多后书4:17 因为我们这至暂至轻的苦楚 要为我们成就极重无比永远的荣耀，

4 我们的关注点在于： 永恒无形的事物，而不是短暂可见的事物。

哥林多后书4:18 我们不是顾念所见的，乃是顾念所不见的。

洞悉属灵并将上帝的恩典带入我们的现在。

因为所见的是暂时的，

所不见的是永恒的。

5 总结：

秘诀在于尽管面对衰老的挑战，仍然保持积极的态度。尽管我们的身体可能随着年龄增长而衰弱，但通过属灵的更新，我们的内心可以变得更加坚强。关键是专注于永恒和看不见的生活方面，而不是短暂和可见的方面。我们要依靠上帝的力量和恩典来面对当前的困难，因为这些困难正为我们在永恒中的更大荣耀做准备。

6 祷告：

随着岁月的增长，愿我们不仅仅关注外在的身体，而是专注于更重要的内在属灵之人。寻求上帝的同在、指引和力量，并明白我们的困扰只是通向上帝荣耀的踏脚石。在等候主的过程中，主也必使我们的身体得以加强，以便我们有能量和智慧胜过年轻人。因此，我们要抬起头，满怀希望和喜乐，见证上帝的祝福和福音的荣耀。赞美上帝。阿门。

Lim Liat (c) 7 Aug 23