".... until Christ be formed in you." Galatians 4:19
In one of his writings Oswald Chambers wrote: "We are apt to think that everything that happens to us is to be turned into useful teaching; it is to be turned into something better than teaching, viz, into character. We shall find that the spheres God brings us into are not meant to teach us something but to make us something."
No doubt we can learn from the situations that come our way, but if that is all that is gleaned from them we have missed the whole point of trials, suffering, etc. The whole reason for the potter's wheel is to produce a certain kind of vessel. The purpose of the refiner's fire is to produce pure gold that is of great value. Putting coal under pressure produces a diamond. The reason for chastening is to produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness in us.
The purpose of the things that we encounter are not just meant to teach us something, but to make us into a "new man" and vessels fit for the Master's use. Job became a different man after he suffered. "I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10b) Joseph became a different man through what he went through. He went from being a prideful lad with no wisdom to a ruler with the wisdom to preserve nations during a time of famine. It was on the backside of the desert where Moses was transformed from a murdering coward to a mighty deliverer. All the suffering he went through made him into a vessel that could fulfill God's purpose.
If we see our trials and suffering in one light only- lessons to teach us something, a test of our faith, or an attack of the enemy- then we will have missed the purpose that is in the trial. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Corinthians 4:17) What is that "greater weight of glory"? "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:15) And more specifically, "until Christ be formed in us."
Have a great day. God has a purpose for you, but in order to fulfill that purpose you have to be made into the vessel that He can use to fulfill that purpose.
For further reading:
Hebrews 12:11
2 Timothy 2:21
James 1:1-4
Colossians 1:27
No doubt we can learn from the situations that come our way, but if that is all that is gleaned from them we have missed the whole point of trials, suffering, etc. The whole reason for the potter's wheel is to produce a certain kind of vessel. The purpose of the refiner's fire is to produce pure gold that is of great value. Putting coal under pressure produces a diamond. The reason for chastening is to produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness in us.
The purpose of the things that we encounter are not just meant to teach us something, but to make us into a "new man" and vessels fit for the Master's use. Job became a different man after he suffered. "I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10b) Joseph became a different man through what he went through. He went from being a prideful lad with no wisdom to a ruler with the wisdom to preserve nations during a time of famine. It was on the backside of the desert where Moses was transformed from a murdering coward to a mighty deliverer. All the suffering he went through made him into a vessel that could fulfill God's purpose.
If we see our trials and suffering in one light only- lessons to teach us something, a test of our faith, or an attack of the enemy- then we will have missed the purpose that is in the trial. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Corinthians 4:17) What is that "greater weight of glory"? "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:15) And more specifically, "until Christ be formed in us."
Have a great day. God has a purpose for you, but in order to fulfill that purpose you have to be made into the vessel that He can use to fulfill that purpose.
For further reading:
Hebrews 12:11
2 Timothy 2:21
James 1:1-4
Colossians 1:27
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