Thursday, March 13 || GOD SHAPES US THROUGH DISCIPLINE

Read : Acts 26: 1-23

“... Do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, ...” - Hebrews 12: 5,6

God gently but firmly shapes His sons and daughters according to His pattern for their lives, through discipline. Through what may sometimes be a difficult course, He brings His servants to maturity and readiness for service that He has designed for them. The life of Paul is a shining example for this. Paul was a rough stone that needed much polishing. He was so committed to the cause of his nation that he was determined to destroy the new Christian sect. But God chose to put an abrupt stop to Paul’s mission. God’s plan for Paul called for a complete reshaping of his life to make him a fit servant for His kingdom. This would involve much stress and strain. It would mean like training a wild horse. What was Paul’s training program like? Acts 9 makes it clear to us that it began immediately following his conversion. Paul began to proclaim Christ to everyone. He even went with great boldness into the Jewish synagogues. (Acts 9:20) People were amazed at the change in his life and the power in his preaching. But he had to undergo a great deal of opposition wherever he went. (II Corinthians 11: 23-29)

Dear friends, God took an angry, rebellious man and perfected him for His service through a long and tough course, but Paul seemed to accept without complaint what God brought into his life in order to accomplish His purpose. How about us? Let us accept His working in our lives without questioning, trusting Him to perfect His plan in us.