THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS


DAILY DEVOTIONS

HI!

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I heard an excellent Sunday School teacher tell about Jonah and the whale.

He said, "Jonah didn't like those people, and he refused to go, even though God ordered it. Then Jonah spent 3 days and nights in a whale's belly. When that ole whale spit Jonah out on the shore, he started trottin', and he didn't quit 'till he'd preached all the way through Nineveh!"

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Ps 84:7
They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
KJV

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Recently, I've been running again. Since I've gotten older, I find that I start tired and end "tireder!"

Physically we begin weak, grow stronger, and then get old and weaker. But this verse reminds us that physical strength is not all that's important. Spiritual strength is even MORE important.

Each Christian goes "from strength to strength." That means we grow stronger and stronger spiritually. As we pray, study, fellowship, and work through ministry opportunities, we grow spiritually stronger. Our desire to please God is greater; and our desire to see lost people come to Christ is greater.

We may grow older and not be as physically strong; but the real power is in growing in spirit. We may travel more slowly, but we travel more surely. We may turn gray and weaker, but our zeal is stronger. God's grace supplies our needs sufficient for each calling and each day.

Isaiah speaks of this spiritual growth even during physical weakness.
"30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength ; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isa 40:30-31)

Let us emphasize that part about "they that WAIT UPON the LORD!" Those words do mean "stand by;" but they also mean SERVE. While we are waiting upon God to bring the fulfillment of His promise in eternal glory, let us SERVE ("wait upon") Him now.

For you see, it is AS we SERVE Him that we grow spiritually stronger!

You are "BORN TO GROW IN CHRIST!"

Are you GROWING?

Love ya,
Bruce