Have you ever become frustrated at
the seemingly slow pace of progress or change in your life? In this era of ‘microwave mentality,’ it is challenging
to wrap our minds around the fact that God
works through process. In other
words, the changes that He
institutes in our lives are often implemented over extended periods of time and
through a multitude of life experiences.
Bottom-line: We cannot always trace God’s hand, but we must trust His
heart and His plan.
The story is
told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky
with his young grandson. Each morning,
Grandpa rose early and sat at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out
Bible.
His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day the grandson said, “Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. So what good does reading the Bible do?”
His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day the grandson said, “Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. So what good does reading the Bible do?”
The Grandfather
quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, “Take this coal basket
down to the river and bring back a basket of water.” The boy did just as he was told, even though
all the water leaked out before he could get back home.
The grandfather laughed and said, “You will have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was “impossible to carry water in a basket,” and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man insisted, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he watched from the window as his grandson attempted to please him again.
The grandfather laughed and said, “You will have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was “impossible to carry water in a basket,” and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man insisted, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he watched from the window as his grandson attempted to please him again.
But at that
point, the boy knew it was impossible, and he just wanted to show his
grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out
before he got very far at all.
The boy scooped
the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was
again empty.
Out of breath, he wheezed, “See Papa, I told you it’s useless!”
“So you think it is useless?” the old man said, “Look down at the basket.” The boy examined the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked quite different. Instead of the dirty old coal basket that he had first received, the one he held in his hands was now very clean.
Out of breath, he wheezed, “See Papa, I told you it’s useless!”
“So you think it is useless?” the old man said, “Look down at the basket.” The boy examined the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked quite different. Instead of the dirty old coal basket that he had first received, the one he held in his hands was now very clean.
“Son, that’s
what happens when you read the Bible. You
might not understand, retain, or remember everything, but if you keep on reading
it, it will change you…from the inside out.”
That is the work of God in our lives. He changes us from the inside out and slowly transforms us into the image of His Son. Therefore, we must resist the temptation to become exasperated and frustrated by the cadence of our change. Ultimately, we are in the hands of The Master Potter and we will be fashioned into a finished product that pleases Him and edifies His Kingdom. (Jeremiah 18:1-6) The Apostle Paul sums it up succinctly:
That is the work of God in our lives. He changes us from the inside out and slowly transforms us into the image of His Son. Therefore, we must resist the temptation to become exasperated and frustrated by the cadence of our change. Ultimately, we are in the hands of The Master Potter and we will be fashioned into a finished product that pleases Him and edifies His Kingdom. (Jeremiah 18:1-6) The Apostle Paul sums it up succinctly:
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be
ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
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