28 It Takes Time

 

 

 

PURPOSE # 3

 

 

You Were Created To Become Like Christ

 

 

Let your roots grow down into Christ

and draw up nourishment from him.

See that you go on growing in the Lord,

and become strong and vigorous in the truth.

Colossians 2:7

 

 

28 It Takes Time 

 

 

Everything on earth has its own time

and its own season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

I am sure that God who began the good work

within you will keep right on helping you grow

in his grace until his task within you is finally

finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.

Philippians 1:6

 

There are no shortcuts to maturity.

It takes years for us to grow to adulthood,

and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen.

The same is true for the fruit of the Spirit.

Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time.

 

While we worry about how fast we grow,

God is concerned about how strong we grow.

God views our lives from and for eternity,

so he is never in a hurry.

God has promised that

"he who began a good work in you will

carry it on to completion."

Philippians 1:6

 

Discipleship is the process of conforming to Christ.

"We arrive at real maturity—

that measure of development

which is meant by 'the fullness of Christ."

Ephesians 4:13

Christlikeness is your eventual destination,

but your journey will last a lifetime.

 

So far we have seen that this journey involves

believing (through worship),

belonging (through fellowship),

and becoming (through discipleship).

"You have begun to live the new life,

in which you are being made new

and are becoming like the one who made you."

Colossians 3:10a

 

God is more interested in strength and stability than swiftness.

Growth is gradual.

"Our lives gradually becoming brighter

and more beautiful

as God enters our lives

and we become like him."

2 Corinthians 3:18b

 

 

What Does It Take So Long?

 

 

Although God could instantly transform us,

he has chosen to develop us slowly.

Jesus is deliberate in developing his desciples.

Just as God allowed the Israelites to take over

 the Promised Land "little by little"

Deuteronomy 7:22

so they wouldn't be overwhelmed,

he prefers to work in incremental steps in our lives.

 

Why does it take so long to change and grow up?

There are several reasons.

 

We are slow learners.

The problems keep recurring, and we think,

"Not again! I've already learned that!"

—but God knows better.

We need repeated exposure.

 

We have a lot to unlearn.

There is no pill, prayer, or principle

that will instantly undo the damage of many years.

It requires the hard work of removal and replacement.

The Bible calls it "taking off the old self"

and "putting on the new self."

Romans 13:12; Ephesians 4:22-25;

Colossians 3:7-10, 14

 

We are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves.

Only as God is allowed to shine the light of his truth on our faults,

failures, and hang-ups can we begin to work on them.

 

Growth is often painful and scary.

There is no growth without change;

there is no change without fear or loss;

and there is no loss without pain.

This fear can definitely slow down your growth.

 

Habits take time to develop.

Remember that your character is the sum total of your habits.

You can't claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest.

You must practice them—and that takes time!

There are no instant habits.

"Practice these things.

Devote your life to them

so that everyone can see your progress."

1 Timothy 4:15

The character-building habits are often called

"spirutual disciplines."

 

 

Don't Get In A Hurry

 

 

As you grow to spiritual maturity,

there are several ways to cooperate with God in the process.

 

Believe God is working in your life even when you don't feel it.

"Everything on earth has its own time

and its own season."

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There are seasons in your spirutual life, too.

Sometimes you will have a short, intense burst of growth (springtime)

followed by a period of stabilizing and testing (fall and winter).

 

Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learned.

This is not a diary of events,

but a record of what you are learning.

Record these so you can review and remember them

and pass them on to the next generation.

Psalm 102;18; 2 Timothy 3:14

"It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on

what we've heard

so that we don't drift off."

Hebrews 2:1

 

Be patient with God and with yourself.

God is never in a hurry,

but he is always on time.

He will use your entire lifetime

 to prepare you for your role in eternity.

Great souls are grown through

struggles and storms and seasons of suffering.

"Don't try to get out of anything prematurely.

Let it do its work

so you become mature and well-developed."

James 1:4

 

Don't get discouraged.

"These things I plan won't happen right away.

Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches

when the vision will be fulfilled.

If it seems slow, do not despair,

for these things will surely come to pass.

Just be patient!

They will not be overdue a single day!"

Habakkuk 2:3

A delay is not a denial from God.

 

Years ago people wore a popular button with the letters PBPGINFWMY.

It stood for

"Please Be Patient, God Is Not Finished With Me Yet."

God isn't finished with you, either,

so keep on moving forward.

Even the snail reached the ark by persevering!

 

 

 

 

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT

Thinking About My Purpose

 

 Point to Ponder: There are no shortcuts to maturity.

 

Verse to Remember: "God began doing a good work in you,

and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished

when Jesus Christ comes again."

Philippians 1:6

 

Question to Consider: In What area of my spiritual growth

do I need to be more patient and persistent?

 

 

p 217~223

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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