Title: Purpose-Driven Life (28) Time...
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Purpose-driven life (28) It takes time
Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1/ For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.
Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time. We often cling to the speed of growth, but God cares more about strength and stability than speed. Growth is gradual. There are no shortcuts to maturity. God is never in a hurry to look at our lives from the perspective of eternal life. We are obsessed with speed, wanting to change quickly, take shortcuts, and find solutions on the spot. That is why I want words, seminars, and experiences that will immediately solve all problems and temptations and set you free from all suffering. But true maturity is not a one-time outcome, no matter how powerful and moving the experience may be. God cares more about strength and stability than speed.
Who is wise? The wisdom that the Bible speaks of is a person who knows the future history in advance today and practices today that there will be no regrets in the future. First, we need to know that we have and enjoy because God gives us everything. In this sense, we can be said to be 'the stewards of God' in charge of God's things. What God has given us is life, material things, the body, and the talents and gifts that we have. However, the most precious of all these things is time, which can be called life. We must be good stewards of God even in time.
The wise steward of the world the Lord spoke of knew that tomorrow morning he would be kicked out of his house. The steward, realizing this deadline, called all the debtors to his master and forgave them the night before he was driven out. The Bible calls a wise person a person who knows that life has a time limit, that is, everything has a time limit, and uses this time rightly.
Being in the midst of a reality that looks good to you, you want it to last forever
Life wants it to last forever if it's in a reality that looks good to me, but everything has a time and a deadline, and none of the good things last. However, the good reality is not to live in that reality, but to realize that there is a God who gave that reality, and that there is a purpose of God. Also, as a negative time, if there is a reality that life is difficult and unhappy to see, you can sigh and when you can get out of it, but everything has a deadline. No matter how hard or painful it may be, there are times when life will die. Then you will get out of there. But the reality is that it is also in God's will. Realizing this is wisdom.
I can't. But even that good reality is drunk on it
Time gives us positive things and gives us the thrill of life, health, youth, and achievement. It gives the pleasure of pleasure, the joy of attack, the joy of possession, the joy of creation. It gives the meaning of production and the thrill of discovery, the beauty of eloquence, the memory of love, and the joy of peace. But none of these things continue, and they all have an expiration date. Don't our elderly people complain, "I should have died without seeing this..." However, it is God's providence that we can meet these and other realities in our lives.
A time to be born, a time to die, and time devours health and brings senility. It can also swallow up success and bring you a sense of loss. The joy of dancing is hidden in tears, and the attacker is defeated and becomes the fugitive. Those who have nothing will beg for nothing. Creation ends in destruction. In life, unexpected events cause a sense of loss and may lead to illness. In the end, sometimes life ends with death. He who knows the futility of this time will fall into pessimism and nihilism, and will now refrain from making productive efforts with an effort to live or a zeal for achievement.
The nihilist and the pessimist can at the same time walk the path of extreme debauchery. I am going to die tomorrow, so what is the meaning of a ephemeral life? It teaches you that wisdom is to give meaning to what you eat and drink today. Is this wisdom? If life were only today, the Bible would have taught it to be futile, and if it were to end like this, then the Bible would have taught us futileness, and would it be wisdom to live one day in the world to our heart's content, to sin and enjoy life to the fullest, to drink and sing with emptiness as snacks, and to struggle for pleasure? I do not know.
1. Why does change and maturation take so long?
1) Because it takes a lot of time to learn.
To fully understand something, we have to learn it 40-50 times. The history of Israel shows how quickly man forgets the lessons he has learned from God and returns to his old habits. We need iterative learning.
2) We have a lot to forget.
Most of the problems and bad habits we have aren't built overnight, so it's unrealistic to want them to go away in an instant. There are no medicines, prayers, or principles that can heal the wounds that have been inflicted over the years in an instant. It takes a lot of effort, but the Bible describes it as 'taking off the old man and putting on the new man'.
3) Because they are afraid to humbly accept their weaknesses.
Most of us continue to live in denial out of fear of what we will face when we honestly admit our flaws in character. So you can't grow without being proud or trying to learn.
4) Because they are afraid and painful to grow up.
With every change comes pain and loss. To experience something new, you have to let go of the old ways. But most people are subconsciously worried and afraid of letting go of old ways that defeat them, at least because they are comfortable and familiar.
5) Habits take time to establish.
Our character is the synthesis of habits. We cannot claim to be kind or honest unless unconsciously being kind all the time or being honest in everything we do. There is only one way to develop a habit of imitating the character of Jesus, to keep practicing. If we keep practicing something, we will eventually get good at it.
2. Don't rush
1) Even if we do not feel it, we must believe that God is working in our lives.
Sometimes we may grow a little bit, stay that way for a long time and continue to be tested. It is good to pray for a miracle at this time, but even if the answer is a gradual change, you should not be disappointed. In time, the dripping water will break through the stone, and the small buds will turn into big trees. Because God works. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) There is a season for everything under the heavens, and a time for every purpose to be fulfilled.
2) Take notes or keep a journal about the lessons you learn.
We need to write down all the reflections and lessons God has given us about God, ourselves, our lives, our relationships, and everything, and we need to re-read, remember, and reflect on it. Be patient with God and with yourself. God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time. God used 80 years to prepare Moses and 100 years to make a large oak tree. But mushrooms are made overnight. A great soul grows through time of trouble, typhoon, and pain.
(James 1:4) Perfect your patience, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in anything.
3) Don't be discouraged.
Think about the path you have taken so far when the waiting time is long. We're not standing where we want to be, but we're not standing where we used to be. God has not yet finished the work concerning us. So we must keep moving forward.
Day 28 / About the purpose of my life
Points to think about: There are no shortcuts to maturity.
Memorable Words: ?쏻e are sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus??(Philippians 1:6).
Questions that leave life:
1. In which areas of spiritual growth should I be more patient and persevering?
(Habakkuk 2:3) This vision has an appointed time, and its end will come quickly, and it will not be false. Wait, though it may be delayed, for it will surely come without delay.
2. How does keeping a faith journal and reviewing it regularly helps you grow spiritually?
?쏱lease be patient. God has not yet finished the work concerning me.??