Sore Joints and Weak Muscles

The Apostle Paul is praying for the Ephesian Christians:

¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.   Ephesians 3:16-19

The older I get, the more I can appreciate the Bible writers, like Paul, when they pray for continued development, maturity and strength.  Yes, I know his prayer is for an inner strengthening which happens when we yield more of ourselves to the direction of the Holy Spirit.  But you will see the applications apply to bodies with age, when there is a constant plea for the joints and muscles which need strength.  And you will never pray a better prayer, than to pray that you can be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  

There is another section of Scripture from Paul which sounds like it would fit perfectly with our topic:

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 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.   2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I love the way Paul teaches us with his word pictures.  And his teaching is quite simple to understand.  We grasp what it is like to grow physically.  We watch our children and grandchildren mature and get taller and stronger.  We would quickly know something was wrong if their physical development didn't happen.  But Paul paints another picture for us when he points out how our bodies eventually waste away.  And while that is happening and we learn to live with our aches and pains, there is the description given that "inwardly we are being renewed day by day."  Even with the troubles and problems that face us in daily living, I want to cling to his promise that I am being renewed day by day.

My prayer for you can be found in Paul's words from Ephesians 3.   My encouragement for you, regardless of your age, young or old, is found in Paul's writing in 2 Corinthians.  Read and meditate on these two important sections of scripture.

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