I had some concern that after several months I might run out
of things to write about. I actually got a notebook and starting jotting down
ideas I already had, and I was encouraged to see that my initial list could
probably keep me going for a year or more. The funny thing is that most of
those ideas are still waiting to be written about. I have those topics to
peruse and utilize from time to time, but most of the posts are "fresh."
That is, they come from what God is currently showing me or working in my life.
Sometimes that means an entire list or series that I progress through over the course
of several months, and sometimes a last minute topic will emerge just when I am
searching for what to write about next.
It has been encouraging to see God direct me to these
various topics and series. More than once I have kind of grinned at the naiveté
of my initial concern. After all, the entire premise of my blog is that the
Christian life is an ongoing journey that will continue until the believer
reaches heaven. So as long as I continue to pursue that journey, there will
always be things to write about, because God will always be teaching me new
things.
Recent months have reminded me again of this truth. There
are times in the Christian walk that seem fairly uneventful, when life proceeds
steadily onward. Then there are times that God shakes things up. Life suddenly
becomes a perplexity of challenges, a multi-pronged assault that throws
everything out of whack and therefore becomes a great opportunity for learning
and growth. As I recently considered and recorded the lessons that God has been
teaching me, the list got rather lengthy. I figured that if I develop each of
those lessons into blog posts, I will have something to share for around six
months, (and undoubtedly other topics will come up in the meanwhile).
This realization does not reflect credit to me; rather, it
reflects the gracious and patient hand of God. When I obviously have so many
things in my life that I need to learn, I have a God who thoughtfully and
progressively addresses each one of them. He knows that I am no longer what I
used to be, but He also knows that I am not yet what He wishes me to be. His
training program addresses each of these topics in its time as God works to
mold me more and more into the image of His Son and as He helps me to know Him
better.
As long as God continues in His grace to keep my heart
tender to Him and continues to help me grow in various areas, I will never lack
for something to share with others. That's really what this blog is about - reflecting
on how God has helped and is helping me to grow, and then sharing that with
others to encourage their growth as well. The ultimate value comes as I
accurately share God's truth and as I reveal the Christian walk through the truth
of the Word.
From a human standpoint, I believe such sharing to be more
effective when it is not merely a rehashing or synopsis of things I have
already known, but rather the passion and excitement of learning fresh things. I
thank God for His continued work in my life so that I can share testimony of
His work and so that, by God's grace, others can benefit as the result of my
struggles. Yes, as long as I remain flexible and responsive to God's work,
there will always be one more thing to learn.
These thoughts remind me of several verses. There are many
others throughout Scripture, but I believe the three below clearly illustrate
the truth under consideration.
"For I am
confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect
it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6 NASB). God has
started His work in me, but He has not finished it yet. Since it is not
finished, He will keep doing it as long as there is life and time.
"But we all, with
unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being
transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the
Spirit" (II Corinthians 3:18 NASB). The transformation is a process.
It is happening and continues to progress until I see the glory of God
revealed.
"Every branch
that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit" (John
15:2b NASB). Even when I have grown enough that God is able to use me, my
growth and adjustment is not finished. God continues to work to improve my
fruitfulness for Him, just as a farmer would continue pruning his trees year
after year.
I am truly thankful for what God has done, and I anticipate
His continued work in my life as over and over again He teaches me the next
thing.
Encouraging thoughts! Thank-you!
ReplyDelete