“See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10 NIV
The world’s way is to choose the strongest, most talented individuals to accomplish tasks. In contrast, the Lord often selects the weakest, who have nothing to offer except total reliance upon Him. And this dependency is what characterizes the mature in faith. Such maturity isn’t automatic. Our Father patiently meets us where we are but lovingly refuses to let us stagnate. Instead, He helps us to grow more like His Son (2 Corinthians 3:18). As followers of Christ, we must let go of old ways, ideas, and motivations. The Holy Spirit illuminates our understanding and lets us see from God’s perspective. Then, the Lord can build in us a dependence on Himself and a submission to His Spirit. Transformation is often gradual, but God sometimes will allow difficulty and pain to develop our reliance upon Him. We have studied Sarah and Abraham, who dealt with infertility for many years prior to receiving the promised child (Genesis 21:1-2). Joseph was sold into slavery and wrongly imprisoned before he spared his nation from the effects of famine (Genesis 45:5). In her new role as Jesus’ mother, Mary, who had been falsely regarded as an adulteress, followed the Lord’s inconvenient command to flee areas of danger (Matthew 2:13, 22). These people all faced hardship and brokenness, which allowed them to recognize both their own inability and God’s ability. What’s standing in your way of full submission to the Lord? His desire is to grow us into maturity so that in our weakness, He will be strong.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, thank you for Your desire for us to grow into maturity.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, many in the pages of Scripture faced hardship and brokenness, which allowed them to recognize both their own inability and Your ability. Your desire is to grow us into maturity so that in our weakness, You will be strong. Help us to submit to this journey. AMEN
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
Romans 13:1-7
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