Sponges and Problems

Scripture Reading

2 Corinthians 4:6-18

For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves;

we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

always carrying about in the body the drying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So death works in us, but life in you.

But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written. "I BELIEVED THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore also we speak;

knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.   

What's the Big Idea??

"We do not give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day." 2 Cor.4:16

Think of it this way:

     We have two sponges; one moist and one dry and hard. How many of you would like it if someone called you a wet sponge? Usually, that is not a very nice thing to be called. But I am going to show you a reason that, in one way, it is good to be like a wet sponge.

     If you have two sponges, one wet, and one dry. What happens when you put pressure on the dry sponge by squeezing it in between your fingers? It stays all squashed together, and if you bend it, it will break.

     Now, if we do the same thing with the wet one you will see that there is quite a difference. When I squeeze it between my fingers if bounces right back into shape. When I bend it, it does not break.

     In our lives, there will be various things that, in a way, will squeeze or bend us--problems that we may not know how to handle or to solve. Unless we are prepared, we get crushed or broken. If we let God into our lives by choosing to follow Jesus and to obey Him, then His Spirit will come into us and fill us as water fills a sponge. Then when trouble or sorrows or problems of any kind come along, we will be ready to face them because we will always know that God is with us.