Happy Wednesday! It's May 24, 2023. The Bible is full of opposites. Want to live? Die. What to get? Give. Want to be exalted? Humble yourself. And here's another contradiction: 'Want to be strong? Learn to become weak.' So today, let's talk about spiritual strength conditioning with the most unlikely trainer. Read on...
Today's Reading:
1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalms 136; Romans 5
Scripture
“… we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:2-5)
Observation
Do not be afraid of weakness—it positions us for learning and readies us for a growth spurt. The strength that weakness can bring is unparalleled, humbling even the mighty, the invincible, the proud, and the arrogant, transforming them into spiritual giants once again. New growth is about to be experienced! Paul exemplifies the posture of an avid student.
- Tribulation, when perceived correctly, will reward you with perseverance or punish you with loss. These teachers are strict but always fair—not always equal, but always just.
- Perseverance is another basic competency. Its rewards will be proven character, even though most tend to drop out of this class and seek an easier course.
- Proven character's by-product is Hope—ranked in the trilogy of the most prominent virtues alongside faith and love. It's found in 1 Corinthians 13. This hope gives you stalwart confidence—that you know without a doubt, an unshakeable conviction, assured predisposition, and an indomitable spirit that exudes heaven's gracious but firm authority over hell.
Application
See everything as something to learn from, not run from, and view it as a trainer rather than a torturer. Each setback is a lesson from heaven, not necessarily a legion from hell. Ask yourself, 'How can I become better because of this? What can I learn? How can I become more like Christ through this?'
This process resulted in Daniel possessing a noticeable 'extraordinary spirit,' which led God to use him in influencing six kings.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, please help me be a student of life and learn from every teacher You send. And when these lessons arrive, may I ace the class, receive perseverance, graduate with proven character, and receive the prize of hope that engenders a confident faith that will never fade away.
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