Devotional - July 8, 2026
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4: 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.
It's something we often take for granted, but when asked about it, we often get surprised. If I ask you, are you a happy person? Some people would say yes and others would say no. To those who say no, I ask, why not, and they say, I don't know... So I ask, are things difficult for you? They say, no. Are you feeling bad or ill? They say, no. Are others who are close to you not doing well, ...no. Sounds to me like you are doing well. But, they say, ...no. The problem may be, they are doing well, but they are bored. In many ways, I'd rather be bored than not doing well. It's good to do a personal check every now and then to make sure our attitude lines up with how things are actually going for us. Counting our blessings, and giving thanks for them when you pray (Philippians 4:6), is always good for the soul. So is laughter, even when we are laughing at ourselves (Proverbs 17:22). One other thing that disrupts our outlook is change. We feel depressed when we are bored and angry when things change regardless of the nature of the change. When we paint a picture in our mind that depicts life as it should be, or we have planned for, and we get something else. We get angry and try to keep the picture the same, but life just keeps changing things. So, what do we do? Paul is going through this with the Corinthian church. They want to have services and enjoy fellowship with one another, but they face persecution on a daily basis. I'm sure they thought, how can this be church? Paul tells them, focus on the eternal, focus on God. They did not realize they were the initial phase of a new thing that God was doing (Isaiah 43:19). Something that would extend far beyond their borders to envelop the entire world. A world that far exceeded anything they perceived in their minds. They focussed on their problems and their difficulties, which were real and significant, but that is all they focused on. It became their world view. Paul encourages them, and us, to remember that what is seen is temporary, but God is eternal. We never know the full ramifications of our life and the role we play. Do not let the things that trouble you distort your world view, or who God is, and what God is doing with you (Romans 8:37).
Pray with me..., Holy God, we confess we let things get us down. Our troubles in life become our life. Grant us Your Spirit of encouragement and quicken our souls. Hear us as we pray for our loved ones. We ask Your blessing upon them and we ask Your blessing on our church. Guide us Lord, so we can be the people You call us to be, in Jesus name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
