God desires to reflect His nature and His power through us. It is by His grace, however, that He governs us with His discipline in love to prevent us from displaying and falling in the foolishness of our fleshly nature.
RELEVANCE
The more we grow in Christ’s nature, the more we likewise will be subject to attack from all angles. It is wise to accept God’s discipline as we tread through life cautiously, yielding to the internal governor of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul found this to be a reality.
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
Peter also grasped hold of this truth. He experienced the love and forgiveness of Jesus and progressive sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. He came to understand what it meant to “participate in the divine nature.” He, therefore encouraged believers to “make every effort to add to your faith goodness and to goodness, knowledge and to knowledge, self-control and to self-control, perseverance and to perseverance, godliness and to godliness, brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:4).
REFLECT AND RELATE
As opportunities and threats approach you, ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment. God will protect the things He has for you that He deems valuable and precious.
What might you discern as the virtue of Christ that the Holy Spirit is working in you this season?
REFERENCES
2 Corinthians 13:1-10