God’s intervention can feel poorly timed, perhaps even prickly, sharp, and uncomfortable. But convenience is not something we should expect from God.
God may not operate on our time frame, but He is always on time. Any attempt to schedule growth or to wait until life isn’t so busy, to wait until the children are older, to wait until God’s commands feel less confrontational will mean missing out on what God is doing now and in His big picture.
It is easy to slip into comfortable religion, consuming morsels of truth sporadically to dilute their impact. But the same way that eating ice cream for every meal isn’t good for our physical health, sticking only to the Scriptures we like isn’t good for our spiritual health. God invites us to feast on all of His Word, enjoy all of His promises and heed all of His hard instructions.
Today as we learn to eat well-balanced spiritual food, we start to grow up in faith. We start to see how the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Remember, God is more concerned with your spiritual growth than your secular comfort
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God[a] may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, life seems to be a journey full of stumbling blocks and challenges. Father, with each hurdle, there is growth. With each setback, a valuable lesson. Lord, I ask that You give me the wisdom and presence of mind to learn from my mistakes and pitfalls. God help me to appreciate the rebukes, reproofs, and difficult things you ask me to do. Please give me the strength to approach these things with spiritual maturity, knowing they are for my growth bringing me closer to You. In Jesus’s name Amen.
In Reflection:
What does this passage teach us about God? How does it apply to you?
Is it possible to hear the truth and remain unchanged by it?
Is your commitment to growth and change more acceptable now? How?
