John 1:14,18—The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only [Begotten], Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth . . . From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.
Romans 1:4-6—I always thank God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
Would you agree it is quite enjoyable to watch people grow spiritually? Yet often the growth that is so evident to us in others goes unnoticed by the one being observed. I suppose in one respect it’s similar to watching the changes in my children as they extend vertically. On the white painted wall behind our bedroom door is a ladder of pencil marks each proclaiming a new climb in inches. Periodically they will ask my wife or me to measure them to see how they are doing in their quest for height. Without that pencil-marked wall, each of my three kids would have a tough time gauging their growth.
If we believe that spiritual advancement is validated by the Lord manifesting Himself to us we are apt to become discouraged. So many Christians crisscross the planet to wherever God is performing live to experience first-hand His power and presence. While this may render mountain-top experiences, it suggests a denial or misunderstanding of God’s valley-workings and His ever quiet omni-presence.
By conceptualizing a God who must perform signs to prove He is at work in us we are tempted to worship the signs and miss God altogether. The power of our Father is less often grasped in visible dynamic expression. Yet His invisible dynamic impression is constantly occurring. So, if someone you know cannot apprehend the changes God has wrought in his or her life and you can—be a wall marker! Share the character changes you’ve seen the Master Artist sculpt for His glory.
Inspiration
