Renewed day by day in Christ.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

This picnic table has seen a lot of use and abuse. It’s still functional, but you might not want to set a drink or a plate of grapes on the slanted end. And if a row of picnic tables were available for choosing, this one would probably be chosen last.

Our culture is obsessed with perfection. We spend billions of dollars every year trying to fix flaws, find the perfect house or own the best technology.  We want the beauty that we see on TV or Pinterest or social media. And we want all of this pain-free! But the more we try to fix what’s on the outside, the more warped and rickety we become on the inside. We weren’t made to strive for earthly perfection, but to strive for an eternity in heaven through Christ.

We wrongly assume that any flaws we have on the inside exclude us from God’s purpose until we overcome or eliminate them. But the good news is we don’t have to make ourselves perfect. He made us perfect through the death of His son Jesus Christ. He desires to be in relationship with us, no matter how unstable and warped we are. He made us to love, worship and serve Him!

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  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 New International Version

Thank God that He has chosen and loved you just as you are and is inwardly renewing you each day, preparing you for eternity with Him!

Copyright photo and text Desiree Bustamante