Daily Worship (March 22)

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NIV)
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.

Devotional Thought
We all know what it feels like to grow weary. Life is hard. We face stress, suffering, and discouragement. Sometimes we feel like we are doing the right things—going to church, praying, trying to obey—but we still feel tired on the inside. Paul speaks directly to that feeling in this passage. He says we do not lose heart, even though our outer self is wasting away. Why? Because we are learning to fix our eyes on what cannot be seen.

This connects directly to what faith is. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. The problem is not always that we are doing the wrong things. Sometimes we are simply looking at the wrong things. We focus on what is visible—our problems, our failures, our pain. But those things are temporary. Paul says we must learn to see the unseen reality of God’s promises.

This is where Jesus comes in. When we fix our eyes on him as Savior, we remember that our sins are forgiven through the cross. When we fix our eyes on him as Lord, we trust that he is leading us even through suffering. The cross looked like defeat, but it was actually victory. In the same way, our struggles are not meaningless—they are preparing us for eternal glory.

So if you feel weary, don’t just try harder. Look higher. Ask yourself: What am I focusing on right now? Am I looking at what is temporary, or am I trusting what God has promised? Faith means learning to see life through the lens of Jesus.

COMMA Questions

• Context: How does this passage fit into Paul’s larger discussion about suffering and ministry in 2 Corinthians 4?
• Observation: What contrast does Paul make between what is seen and what is unseen?
• Meaning: What does it mean that our troubles are “light and momentary” compared to eternal glory?
• Main Idea: Why does fixing our eyes on what is unseen keep us from losing heart?
• Application: What visible struggles are you focusing on right now, and how can you shift your focus to Christ this week?

Prayer
Lord, we confess that we often focus on what we can see instead of trusting you. Help us to fix our eyes on Jesus. Remind us that our struggles are not the end of the story. Give us faith to trust your promises and strength to keep going. Amen.

Romans 8:1–4 (NIV)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Devotional Thought
One of the hardest parts of the Christian life is dealing with sin. We feel its pull. We see how it trips us up. Hebrews says that sin easily entangles us. It wraps around our lives and keeps us from running well. But this passage in Romans gives us incredible hope: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

This is what it means to fix our eyes on Jesus as Savior. Before we can throw off sin, we need to know that our sin has already been dealt with at the cross. Jesus took the condemnation we deserve. He paid for our guilt. That means we are not fighting sin to earn God’s love—we are fighting from a place of being loved and forgiven.

The danger is that we try to deal with sin on our own. We focus on behavior but forget about the heart. We try to “do better” without trusting in Jesus. That’s like trying to run a race while still tangled up. The power to throw off sin comes from seeing Jesus clearly. When we remember what he has done, sin begins to lose its grip.

The Spirit also plays a role here. God does not leave us alone. He gives us his Spirit to help us live a new life. So repentance is not just turning away from sin—it is turning toward Jesus. It is fixing our eyes on him again and again.

If you are stuck in sin today, don’t hide. Don’t give up. Look to Jesus. Remember that you are not condemned. Then take a step of faith. Confess your sin. Turn from it. And trust that God is giving you the strength to walk in a new way.

COMMA Questions

• Context: How does Romans 8 follow Paul’s struggle with sin in Romans 7?
• Observation: What does Paul say is no longer true for those in Christ Jesus?
• Meaning: What does it mean that the “law of the Spirit of life” has set us free?
• Main Idea: How does the work of Christ free us from both the penalty and power of sin?
• Application: What sin is currently entangling you, and how can fixing your eyes on Jesus help you turn from it?

Prayer
Lord, thank you that there is no condemnation for those in Christ. Help us to believe that truth. Show us the sin that entangles us, and give us the courage to throw it off. Help us to fix our eyes on Jesus and walk in the power of your Spirit. Amen.

Philippians 3:12–14 (NIV)
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Devotional Thought
The Christian life is not a sprint—it is a race that requires endurance. Paul makes that clear in this passage. He says he has not already reached the goal, but he presses on to take hold of what Christ has taken hold of for him. That is the heart of perseverance.

This connects to fixing our eyes on Jesus as Lord. Jesus is not just the one who saves us—he is the one who leads us. He has marked out a race for us to run. That means your life is not random. The challenges you face, the people around you, the opportunities you have—all of it is part of the path God has given you.

But running this race requires focus. Paul says he forgets what is behind and strains toward what is ahead. That does not mean he ignores the past, but he refuses to be controlled by it. Many of us grow weary because we are looking backward—at our failures, our regrets, or even our past successes. But faith looks forward.

Jesus himself is our example. Hebrews says that for the joy set before him, he endured the cross. He saw beyond the suffering to the glory ahead. In the same way, we run with perseverance by keeping our eyes on what God has promised.

You may feel tired today. You may feel like quitting. But remember this: Jesus has already taken hold of you. You are not running alone. So take the next step. Keep going. Fix your eyes on him, and trust that he will bring you to the finish line.

COMMA Questions

• Context: How does this passage fit into Paul’s warning against trusting in righteousness from the law earlier in Philippians 3?
• Observation: What words or phrases describe effort and movement in this passage?
• Meaning: What does it mean that Christ Jesus has “taken hold” of Paul?
• Main Idea: Why does focusing on the goal help believers keep running the race?
• Application: Where are you tempted to quit right now, and what would it look like to take one step forward in faith this week?

Prayer
Lord, we confess that we often grow tired and want to give up. Thank you that Jesus has taken hold of us. Help us to keep running the race you have set before us. Fix our eyes on him, and give us strength to endure. Amen.