WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Third of twelve parts in Breathtaking Promise series
Romans 8:29a: “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son,”
We saw in God’s Plan that every person He creates has purpose. Besides the gifts planted in people to achieve what they enjoy doing, God wants us to believe in and accept His Son Jesus’ offer of eternal life. The opening Scripture says that God knew all about you…and planned for your growth…from forever past.
His goal is for you to grasp and agree with your purpose of growing into Christ’s likeness. That means cooperating with His Spirit, who indwells every Believer. Not to belabor the point that Spiritual growth takes a lifetime, we also HATE parts of the growth process.
The thing is that hardship and suffering are tools that God uses to shape His kids. What we hate will likely be the very thing He uses to hone His character in us.
People aren’t meant to grow into gods, but to become godly. God’s Spirit teaches us love by placing hateful people in our lives. We learn joy during suffocating grief. Godly patience is a character best learned when pulling out our hair explaining our innocence. Peace is gained in the midst of chaos.
These godly characteristics are taught in all kinds of life situations where we find ourselves. The depth of spiritual growth as we become more like Christ seems to have no bottom. “Why is this happening?” will be something you will screech more than once.
A more mature, growing approach would screech, “What am I supposed to learn from this?” The answer is what aids your spiritual growth. God is not the author of evil, but He sure can bring good out of bad. He will bring you what challenges your core. What are you made of? Will you yield to an easy bitter road or accept the challenge to follow God’s Spirit to godly behavior?
The choice is yours.
Maybe you’ll remember this devotion at the best time to decide that your response will be godly.
Every challenge has the single purpose to grow Believers up spiritually to be like
Jesus.
Jesus.
Take Home Nugget
But wait. Don’t despair. God knows this growing up is hard. Jesus knows more than anyone how dealing with people can threaten one’s sanity. Sooo, there are gifts for God’s chosen attending Jesus’ School of spiritual growth!
Galatians 5:22b-23a says the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Believers only need to cooperate with God’s Spirit and these character traits will become second nature.
Jesus advises, “Take it slow, graduating from My school takes a lifetime. But I’ll be leading you through every test.”
Adapted from “God Wants You to Grow Up” by Rick Warren. September 10, 2016. Daily Hope. www.PastorRick.com
J.D. Griffith
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