As we age, our spiritual eyesight develops with much more astute clarity than when we first believed (Ephesians 1:17-19; Hebrews 5:14). As we view the hand of God in our life over our years of following Him, we see how He worked out everything, even the negative circumstances in our life, for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). We see a golden thread of His purpose running through each subsequent year of our life. God’s ways are always perfect and His will is sovereign (Psalm 18:30). Unfortunately, God gave us a free will and we have a choice of whether or not to follow His directives and to allow Him freedom to govern our life.
More often than not, we get
caught up in the
worries and trials of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires
for carnal things, which come in and choke God’s Word and make us unfruitful (Mark 4:19).
We also get overwhelmed with the trouble and persecution, which comes because of our choice
to follow the Lord. Sometimes we get lax in our devotion and we may even fall
away from serving the Lord (Mark 4:17). At other times, Satan comes along and takes away the
word of faith we received from God. He blinds our eyes and we believe his lies
instead of God’s truth (Mark 4:15; 2 Corinthians 4:4).
The
only recourse we have when this occurs is to be self-controlled and alert, to submit our will and
our life to God and to resist the devil, our enemy who prowls around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8, James 4:7). We can put on the full armor of God,
so that we can take our stand against the devil's schemes (Ephesians
6:10-18). We defy Satan and stand firm in
our faith in God’s faithfulness, because we know that our brothers and sisters
throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering and trials that
we are (1 Peter 5:7). If we humble our self before the Lord, He will lift us up in His perfect
timing (1 Peter 5:6).
The
Psalmists had similar experiences way back in their day as well. They encouraged us not to ask for guidance from the
wicked, not to hang out with sinners and not to spend time with those who mock
Christ and His Word. Our delight is the Word of God, and we meditate on it day
and night. God’s life-giving Words allow us to grow like a tree, which is
planted right next to a stream of water, and which yields its fruit at just the
right time. It never withers or dies, because it is constantly nourished (Psalm
1:1-3, 56:4, 119:105). We will flourish
like this tree, if we deeply sink our roots into prayer and reading God’s Word (2 Peter
3:18; Hebrews 5:11-14).
We are not children for
long, but we grow up in Christ (Ephesians 4:14-15). We mature in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Our
faith increases as we walk through each trial with the Lord within us (2
Thessalonians 1:3, Galatians 2:20).
However, we never need to get puffed up with pride and think that we arrived to
total maturity, because like Peter, we are all capable of denying Christ when
life gets tough (Matthew 26:31-35; 1 Corinthians 10:12). Eventually, however, patience will have her perfect
work in us and we will be perfect and mature, not lacking in any area of our
life (James 1:4).
Prayer:
Lord
God, Jesus is the vine, we are the branches and You are the gardener. If we do
not immerse our life in Your Word, pray without ceasing and spend time with
other Believers, we will wither on the vine.
If we do not stay connected to the Vine, we will lose our source of
nourishment; but if we do stay connected, we will bear much fruit (John
15:5). When we
allow You to hook us up to Your yoke in life, You help us to carry our load, and You make
all of our burdens lighter (Matthew 11:30). According
to the riches of Your glory, You strengthen us in our inner man with the might
of Your Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).
Thought
for the Day:
Let us walk worthy of the
Lord, pleasing Him, increasing in the knowledge of God and being fruitful in
every good work. – Colossians 1:10