December 6, 2004

 

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

-Romans 8:29

 

I can remember as a boy getting pains in my legs. Growing up in the 1950s, everyone thought these symptoms led straight to polio. It scared me, and I would cry out. My mother would come in and massage the muscles in my legs and say, “Jack, these are growing pains.” It helped to calm my fears and I realized I could get through it if the pains were just from growth.

 

God also massages the spiritual muscles of our lives. When we exercise, I’m told that the blood flows to the muscle that is challenged. The greater the need—the greater the supply. In the same way, God knows our limits, our pains, and how we need to grow. He has an agenda for us to follow by, and that is to make us more like Jesus.

 

Many people think that God just wants to make us happy. But more than that, God wants to make us holy. So much of what we do that we think makes us happy, doesn’t make us holy. God is committed to our holiness and conforming us into the image of His Son. He’s more interested in making us conformable than comfortable. Hence, the spiritual growing pains.

 

You have been called out by God to bring others to the knowledge of His saving grace. In your workplace, at home, with your family, and with your friends, you are to exercise the privilege you have as a Christian to share Christ. Even when you experience cramps or pain in your spiritual life, remember that God is working behind the scenes to massage and conform you. Thank Him for consistently and constantly working with you each day to make you more like His holy Son.

 

GOD’S INTERESTED IN MAKING YOU CONFORMABLE—

NOT COMFORTABLE.