Daily Devotional: Tuesday, Feb 23
Speaker: Rick Enloe
Theme: The Roman Flower and Garden Show
Weekend Music links on iTunes: Yesterday, Today and Forever by Vicky Beeching, Let the Praises Ring by Lincoln Brewster; Cannons by Phil Wickham; You'll Come by Hillsong.
Read: Romans 11:16-18; Hebrews 12: 1-11
Think: Every good parent takes the time to teach and discipline their child. It's an act of love when done in the right spirit. Through that discipline and training the child learns self-discipline and the tools to become the best person he/she can be! In the same way a parent often allows their children to go through tough experiences - even those we could rescue them from. As adults we understand that those experiences help form their character, give them compassion for others and develop their strength.
As Pastor Rick shared, there are times when God is working "behind and under" (Romans 11:16) our lives. Much like the Penn and Teller story he shared, God is busy at work behind the scenes for our good and to make us more like Him. As the olive oil is the precious commodity from the pressing and crushing of the olive, so are the Fruit of the Spirit the product of the pressing and crushing experiences we go through this side of heaven.
God disciplines and teaches us, His own sons and daughters, because He loves us. Sometimes this happens directly or He allows life's difficulties to melt us, mold us, and make us more like Jesus. In Hebrews 12:6, we're assured that "It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects." But it sure doesn't feel very loving while in the middle of it does it? But sometimes its the way our loving Father rescues us from our selfish, stubborn, rebellious ways.
God's discipline trains us for right and holy living (vv.7-11). Rather than resisting God's correction or hiding from life's difficulties, we can yield to Him in the middle of it, and rest assured that His goal is our transformation and spiritual growth. Whatever our circumstances, God knows the seriousness of our troubles and is working powerfully behind the scenes for our good.
Do: What troubles are you facing today that God just may be using to mold you and make you more like Jesus? Choose today to cooperate with the process instead of fighting against it. Ask God to show you what He wants to do in your heart through the difficulties.
Pray: God, I see the troubles in my life but sometimes I can't see You "behind or underneath" them... Help me to trust that You know all that I am going through and that you are doing a work in my heart and that something good will come out of them. Father help me to cooperate in the process of you making me to be more like You. Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.
|
