Three Tools Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Three Tools ------------------- Date: 12/12/2002 Keywords: "eternal" "temporal" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18* 16. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18. while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Questions 1. Paul says that he does not "lose heart." Fascinating phrase. It communicates the idea of despair, giving up, throwing in the towel. Have you ever "lost heart" in your battle for sexual purity?   2. How is it that Paul is able not to "lose heart"?   Practical help Paul provides three tools in this passage to those of us who want to stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. 1. We need to know that there is an inner renewal going on within us each and every day. Regardless of the shape our physical body is in, God's Spirit is working the magic of personal transformation within. (This is true, assuming that you have placed your trust in Jesus for salvation. If you have not, and you want to find out how, click here. You can launch out into a life-changing relationship with God today through faith in Christ.) We are being renewed even when we may not feel that we are being renewed. The Bible says we are. Period. 2. We need to know that the sufferings we are experiencing right here and right now are minor compared to the blessing that will be coming our way in the future in Heaven with God. Paul's "momentary, light affliction" would include the pain or saying no! to porn. Such self-denial will reap an eternal reward. 3. We need to look at eternal things, not temporal things. What a timely word for those who struggle with the very visual temptation of porn. Dirty pictures on the Web grant the essence of temporal pleasure. We need to get our eyes off of them and onto what our faith alone can see — the riches of Heaven, which will last forever! eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2002 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ----