To prevent the frustration of falling behind, which most of us tend to do when following a Bible reading plan, each month of this plan gives you only twenty-five readings. Today we start a few “free days” . We encourage you to catch up on any readings you may have missed this month.
If you have finished the month’s readings, you can use these final days of the month to study the passages that challenged or intrigued you.
Daily Devotion
How Strong Are You?
Ephesians 3:16 “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”
The phrase, “inner man” is only mentioned this ONE time in scripture. We have many other scriptures that support it though.
“Inward man” is mentioned two more times.
- Romans 7:22 “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:”
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
I am working my way through, for a second time, the book entitled Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald. This time I am answering the questions found in the study guide at the end of the book. It has been a powerful read and helped me evaluate the strength of my inner person.
Disorganization of our private world can lead to “accidents” with names such as burnout, breakdown, or blowup. We need our inner man STRONG so when the pressures from life come we don’t crumble.
So what’s the difference between our the outer world and inner?
- Outer world: measurable, visible, expandable. Consists of work, play, possessions, our social network. Easiest to evaluate.
- Inner World: more spiritual in nature. Choices and values are determined. Solitude and reflection are pursued. Worship and confession take place here.
Back to Ephesians 3:16. This quote is taken from The Bride’s Pearl by Brian Kinsey page 178 in reference to this verse. “The “inner man” is the seat of the will. A person’s will must be submitted to Christ before it can be strengthened byChrist. The inner man must be renewed every day and fed by the word of God. Thus, refreshed and renewed, the believer can possess the fullness of Christ.”
Matthew Henry Commentary says this about the same verse. “What the apostle asks of God for these his friends – spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings, and the most earnestly to be sought and prayed for by every one of us, both for ourselves and for our friends. 1. Spiritual strength for the work and duty to which they were called, and in which they were employed: That he would grant you, according to the riches of his grace, to be strengthened, etc. The inner man is the heart or soul. To be strengthened with might is to be mightily strengthened, much more than they were at present; to be endued with a high degree of grace, and spiritual abilities for discharging duty, resisting temptations, enduring persecutions, etc. And the apostle prays that this may be according to the riches of his glory, or according to his glorious riches – answerable to that great abundance of grace, mercy, and power, which resides in God, and is his glory: and this by his Spirit, who is the immediate worker of grace in the souls of God’s people. Observe from these things, That strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man is the best and most desirable strength, strength in the soul, the strength of faith and other graces, strength to serve God and to do our duty, and to persevere in our Christian course with vigour and with cheerfulness. And let us further observe that as the work of grace is first begun so it is continued and carried on, by the blessed Spirit of God.
So how do we DAILY renew our inner man as 2 Corinthians 4:16 instructs?
- Submit our will to God
- Ask God to order our steps after his will
- Read the word, purposeful study
- Fast
- Pray
- Repent
When our inner man is strong we will delight to do the things of God (Romans 7:22), obey His word, submit to His will instead of following our own fleshly desires.
Lord, help us strengthen our inner man. The storms of life will blow, but if we allow You to prepare us, we will have a calm assurance that all is OK because You are in control.
~Sarah Seagraves