"He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity ... Behold, God exalteth by his power" Job 36:10, 22)
The work of God is not finished when the first act of inward adjustment has been done. The Spirit would go on from there to bring the total life into harmony with that "blissful center." This is wrought in the believer by the Word and by prayer and discipline and suffering.
It could be done by a short course in things spiritual if we were more pliable, less self-willed and stubborn; but it usually takes some time before we learn the hard lessons of faith and obedience sufficiently well to permit the work to be done within us with anything near to perfection.
In bringing many sons unto glory God works with whatever He has in whatever way He can and by whatever means He can, respecting always His own gift to us, the freedom of our wills. But of all means He uses, the Bible is the best.
The threefold purpose of the Bible is to inform, to inspire faith and to secure obedience. The Holy Scriptures will do us good only as we present an open mind to be taught, a tender heart to believe and a surrendered will to obey.
~A. W. Tozer~
No comments:
Post a Comment