SMOOTH JAGGED EDGES
Romans 16:17-20
Romans 16:17: “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.”
Jagged edges—like living with difficulties or problems—hurt. People can only take so much hurt before we 1) give up, or 2) find another way. Persisting through pain, sacrificing one’s comfort-zone peace, is never our first choice. We tend to run the opposite direction away from pain.
Ten year old Jeremy was trying hard to wait. He prayed for God’s advice what language to learn in middle school. He needs to decide soon. Listening to God devotion showed that God answers people many different ways.
Waiting is Jeremy’s jagged edge that he needs smoothing.
God is never the only one answering people’s questions.
For example, the devil whispers in Jeremy’s ear, “Learn French. It’s the language of love.” Jeremy snickered at the thought. But he wants to make sure that French is God’s choice before he checks that box on the school form.
God’s Spirit often speaks from the Bible.
The “natural” person obeys what instinct (or people’s gut feeling) urges. This comes from our “flesh” nature. But Jeremy remembers 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Jeremy also learned from Romans 8:8 that “those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” Jeremy truly wants to obey and please God.
Sinful nature/new creation conflict is a jagged edge that all believers need smoothing.
Not waiting for God’s answer is the same thing as ignoring His advice. Psalm 27:14 commands, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” It’s when we lose heart that we give up. “Life’s just too hard!” we sometimes moan. Discouragement is the devil’s tool. Negative emotions are his specialty.
Emotional pain is another jagged edge that needs smoothing.
Helpless, hopeless Christians don’t appear to be “set apart” from the world. This is what sanctification and consecration means: set apart for God as holy. While believers remain in the world’s stage, we show that God’s way is different from worldly “wisdom.” Christians share God’s viewpoint and demonstrate hope to the world.
Check out the lesson, linked below.
Take Home Nugget
It helps to understand why life can be hard. Satan and his fallen angels try steering believers’ hearts away from seeking God’s plan. They want to influence every decision people make the worldly way.
Good news: God offers His grace to smooth and sooth every jagged edge. All we have to do to get it is ask.
Holy Father, Please smooth my jagged edges and sooth my pain with Your grace, asking in Jesus’ name, Amen.
J.D. Griffith
Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.
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